Ministry update re: potential delays to mail delivery

We have received the following information from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.


“We want to provide you with a further update on potential delays in mail delivery, including client cheques and ministry documentation, due to impacts from the Canada Post strike.

Although mail delivery is resuming this week, the ministry is continuing to take special measures to ensure disability and income assistance cheques for December are not delayed due to possible backlogs at Canada Post.

Monthly assistance payments through direct deposit will be automatically deposited as usual. For clients who normally receive a monthly assistance cheque by mail, cheques will be available for pick up at their local ministry office on or after December 18.

……

If clients are unable to do direct deposit or attend their local ministry office, they can write a letter and sign it to allow someone else to pick up the cheque on their behalf. To avoid future delays, we recommend setting up direct deposit. This service allows clients to receive ministry payments directly into their bank account. To set up direct deposit, provide their bank account information to the ministry by phone, online at MySelfServe.gov.bc.ca, or in person at a local office.

Anyone concerned about not receiving an assistance cheque is encouraged to contact the ministry at 1 866 866-0800 to discuss options.

The ministry is actively planning the transition back to regular mail distribution, taking into account any backlogged mail.

The December cheque issue will proceed as planned. We aim to return to normal business processes for the January cheque issue, scheduled for January 15, 2025.”

Update on the Canada Disability Benefit for provincial disability assistance recipients

DABC is relieved to learn that all people who are eligible for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) and receiving provincial disability assistance will be able to keep all of the CDB.

Read more here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024SDPR0014-001497.

Webinar on health supplements and benefits for PWD recipients

Cream and blue poster featuring the DABC and ICBC logos, a graphic of a person on a computer screen with a speech bubble, and text that says "Join Our Upcoming Webinar - Health Supplements and Benefits for PWD Recipients. Made possible thanks to generous funding from ICBC. Location: Zoom. Date: Sept. 26th, 2024. Time: 10:00 am PST (further dates to come). www.dabc.ca"
Join our upcoming webinar on health supplements and benefits available to people receiving the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Benefit!
 
When: September 26th, 2024 at 10 am
Where: Zoom
 
Webinar made possible thanks to generous funding from ICBC.