Description
Provides financial assistance, medical benefits, and supplements to individuals designated as Persons with Disabilities.
Benefit Amount
Disability Assistance Rate Table – gov.bc.ca
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, you must:
- Show that you meet financial eligibility to receive assistance
- Be 18 years old (you can start the application process when you are 17 ½)
- Have a severe physical or mental impairment that is expected to continue for more than two years
- Be significantly restricted in your ability to perform daily-living activities
- Require assistance with daily living activities from;
- Another person
- An assistive device, or
- An assistance animal
Assets
You must meet certain income and asset criteria before you can receive disability assistance. Some general assets are exempt, including:
- Cash
- Personal property that can be turned into cash
- Personal interest in a trust
The general asset exemption limits are:
- $100,000 for a single, couple, or family where one person has the PWD designation
- $200,000 for a couple where both adults have the PWD designation
Some assets are allowed and don’t count towards the general limit above, such as:
- Your home
- One motor vehicle
- Clothing and necessary household equipment
- A Registered Disability Saving Plan
- Assets held in a qualifying trust
Trusts
If you are a beneficiary of a trust, someone else legally owns money or other assets for your benefit. If you have a trust or are setting up a trust, we must review and approve it before it qualifies for the exemption.
Get legal advice if you want to create a trust or if you need more information specific to your situation.
Learn more about transferring assets into a trust or Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
Annual earnings exemption
If you have a disability and get disability assistance, you can still work and earn money. The money you earn, up to a certain amount, does not change the amount on your monthly payment, as long as you don’t exceed the annual limit.
Learn more about earnings exemption
Application Process
| Standard Application Process | Simplified Application Process |
|---|---|
| 1. Check Financial Eligibility – You must first qualify for income assistance. 2. Request the PWD Designation Application, which includes: – Applicant Section – Completed by you. – Medical Report – Completed by your doctor or nurse practitioner. – Assessor Report – Completed by a prescribed professional (e.g., doctor, nurse, social worker). 3. Submit the Application – The ministry will review and notify you of the decision. | You may qualify for a shorter application if you already receive benefits from: – Community Living BC (CLBC) – At Home Program (MCFD) – BC PharmaCare Plan P – Canada Pension Plan – Disability (CPP-D) Instead of a full application, you submit a Prescribed Class Application allowing the ministry to verify your eligibility directly. |
Youth with Intellectual Disabilities: If you are 17½ to 19 years old and have a confirmed intellectual disability, you can submit an existing psychological assessment instead of a full application.
Possible Outcomes & Appeal Process
- Reconsideration: If your application is denied, you have 20 business days to request a reconsideration. Contact the Ministry at 1-866-866-0800 to obtain the reconsideration package, which includes the request form and a copy of your application. You can submit new information during this process, such as additional medical documentation.
- Appeal: If the reconsideration decision is unfavorable, you have 7 business days to appeal to the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal. The tribunal is independent from the government and provides a quasi-judicial process.