The Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation announced today that effective December 1st, it will be raising the allowable asset levels for PWD recipients to $100,000 for a single person and $200,000 for a couple where both people have the PWD designation. In addition, people receiving provincial disability benefits will be able to accept cash gifts without there being any effect on their eligibility for PWD.

DABC is thrilled by this news and congratulates the Province for making these favourable changes .

For more information and to read DABC Executive Director Jane Dyson’s comments on the announcement, please visit this link:
https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2015SDSI0069-001847

The Province announced yesterday that it will implement an Annualized Earnings Exemption (AEE) model in January 2015. This means that the $800 monthly earnings exemption that PWD recipients are eligible for will be calculated over the year ($9,600) rather than the month. This will provide much more flexibility and choice and is a positive change. If you have any questions about this, please call Robin Loxton at 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-1278.

For more information, please visit this link: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2014/12/flexibility-helps-people-with-disabilities-earn.html

DABC has received the following notice from the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation:

As of Monday, November 3, 2014, the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation will have a new virtual streamlined approach for Income or Disability Assistance applications for specialized populations. 

The Ministry is realigning service delivery to better meet the needs of people receiving income or disability assistance. We are looking for opportunities to deliver services in a more simplified, standardized and streamlined way.  We are moving towards more technology-enabled and virtually delivered services in order to provide people receiving income or disability assistance with more flexibility on how, when and where to access our services.

We are introducing a new service delivery model that will bring together all service delivery functions under a provincial model, rather than a predominantly regionally based model. We anticipate consistent and standardized client experience across the province.

Information on the process for each specialized intake application will be shared with all liaisons and contacts.

Specialized Intakes will include:

–          Hospital Applications
–          Corrections Applications (Provincial and Federal)
–          Youth In Transition and Underage Persons With Disabilities Applications
–          Licensed and Registered Supportive Recovery Facilities/Homes

Further information is available by calling the ministry’s toll free number 1-866-866-0800 and following the prompts to speak with a Specialized Intake representative as outlined below:

• Select Option 2: …all general inquiries, enter your 10 digit phone number, then press option 3, and then press option 5.

Phone service is available Monday – Friday between 9:00am – 4:00pm Pacific Standard Time (PST). Please note that our peak call volume generally occurs between 9:00am – 9:30am and 1:00pm – 2:00pm each day.

Each Specialized Intake stakeholder group (as listed above) will receive further details in the near future specific to your respective client group.

We anticipate no disruption in service and thank you for your patience during this time of transition.