ministry of social development and social innovation · 2019. 4. 18. · kiwassa 205 powell street,...

Ministry of Social Development

and

Social Innovation

Overview of Services and

Programs - January 2014

• On-line

• Telephone access

• In person service

• Trusted third parties and third party administrators

• Mail and fax communication

Service Delivery Methods

• To be eligible for assistance all applicants in the family unit must apply online via

the Self Serve Application and proceed to an eligibility interview to supply

information and required documentation.

• Applicants must prove their family unit meets all eligibility criteria. For the

purposes of citizenship requirements, each applicant in the family must be one of

the following:

– a Canadian citizen

– a permanent resident

– a protected person (Convention refugee or person in need of protection)

– in Canada on a Temporary Resident Permit

– a refugee claimant

– under a removal order that has been stayed or cannot be executed

– a dependent child (citizenship status of a dependent child does not affect the

family unit’s eligibility. Children take their parents’ immigration status)

Eligibility at Application

The Ministry’s Policy and Program Implementation Manager is responsible for determining whether a family unit

qualifies for an exemption. The sole applicant or recipient family units may be exempt from citizenship requirements in

certain circumstances. To qualify for an exemption, all of the following criteria must be met:

• the applicant or recipient has one or more dependent children who are Canadian citizens;

• the applicant or recipient has separated from an abusive spouse;

• the applicant or recipient has applied for status as a permanent resident under the Immigration and Refugee

Protection Act (Canada);

• the applicant or recipient cannot readily leave B.C with the dependent children because:

o A court order, agreement or other arrangement with respect to one or more of the dependent children

provides custody, guardianship or access rights to another person who resides in B.C and leaving B.C with

the dependent children would likely contravene the provisions of the court order, agreement or other

arrangement,

o Another person who resides in B.C is claiming custody, guardianship or access rights with respect to one or

more of the dependent children and the person’s claims have not yet been resolved, or

o the applicant or recipient, or a dependent child of the applicant or recipient, is being treated for a medical

condition and leaving British Columbia would result in imminent danger to the physical health of the

applicant, recipient or dependent child. ** If a family unit qualifies for an exemption from citizenship requirements, their circumstances must be reviewed every 6 months to

determine if the exemption still applies.

Exemption from Citizenship Requirements

When the applicant or recipient has one or more dependent children who are Canadian citizens.

The applicant or recipient should provide evidence that confirms that at least one child in the family unit is a Canadian Citizen (e.g., birth certificate, passport).

The applicant or recipient has separated from an abusive spouse.

The abuse experienced by the applicant or recipient may be one or more types of family violence defined in the Family Law Act. Family violence includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, and emotional abuse. Where a child is involved, family violence includes direct or indirect exposure to family violence.

The applicant or recipient has applied for status as a permanent resident under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).

The applicant or recipient should provide evidence that demonstrates that they have applied for permanent resident status (e.g., proof of application fee payment). If documentation is not available, written confirmation from the applicant’s lawyer or advocate is sufficient proof to determine eligibility.

The applicant or recipient cannot readily leave British Columbia with the dependent children

Examples of evidence include court orders, private agreements or proof of other arrangements. If documentation is not available, verbal confirmation from the applicant’s lawyer or advocate is sufficient proof to determine eligibility. A medical practitioner or other prescribed professional should provide evidence to help determine whether leaving British Columbia would result in imminent danger to the physical health to a member of the family unit.

Exemption from Citizenship Requirements – Assessment

For the purposes of MSDSI eligibility, Refugee claimants include persons who:

• have made a claim for refugee protection with the Refugee Protection Division.

• have been denied protected person status by the IRB (Convention refugee and person

in need of protection) and are appealing.

• are subject to a removal order issued by CIC when the order has been stayed or

cannot be executed (i.e. no travel documents).

• are requesting a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) by CIC or are applying for

judicial review by the Federal Court of Canada. This includes:

- PRRA applicants who have exhausted appeals for refugee protection through

IRB

- Refugee claimants whose claim was refused, withdrawn, or abandoned, and

- Refugee claimants who are inadmissible for referral to the IRB but may still

qualify for protection through PRRA or the judicial review by the Federal

Court.

Refugee Claimants

• Applicants who are refugee claimants, Temporary Resident Permit holders, and

persons under a removal order that cannot be executed must provide immigration

document IMM 1442 that specifies they are in Canada under these categories when

applying for income assistance and disability assistance. The Ministry recognizes the

IMM 1442 document as primary identification and as the sole piece of identification

required from this client group while waiting to receive secondary identification.

• The following applicants and recipients are exempt from meeting the Social

Insurance Number (SIN) requirement when determining eligibility for income

assistance or disability assistance:

- Refugee claimants

- Temporary Resident Permit holders

- Those who qualify for an exemption from citizenship requirements

- Those with permanent resident status waiting to receive a Social Insurance

Number.

Refugee Claimants Continued

The entire family unit is ineligible for income assistance or disability assistance where all adults in a

family unit are:

• visitors, foreign students, and temporary workers who do not have a Temporary Resident Permit

• persons in Canada illegally

• persons whose immigration status has not been confirmed by CIC

• persons who are subject to removal order that is in force and can be executed. (This status will

be verified by the Immigration Liaison).

Note: this policy does not apply to a family unit that qualifies for an exemption.

*** In a family unit where only one applicant meets the citizenship requirements for assistance and

the other applicant does not, assistance may only be issued for the family member who meets

the citizenship requirements. However, the excluded members’ income and assets must be

included in the income and assets of the family unit for the purposes of determining eligibility

for assistance.

Ineligible Persons:

Citizenship Status and Type of Assistance

• Case Example

A two-parent family with two children applies for income assistance. The father is a

permanent resident. The mother and children do not have status in Canada.

If all eligibility criteria are met, except the mother does not meet the citizenship

requirements, the family unit is eligible for income assistance. The dependent

children would be considered to have their father’s permanent residence status.

Income assistance will be issued based on a family unit size of three. Both adults

are required to complete and sign the Monthly Report (HR0081) each month.

Note: this policy does not apply to a family unit that qualifies for an exemption.

Ineligible Family Member:

• Single ETW (Employable) = $610/month

• Single PPMB (Multiple Barriers) = $657.92/month

• Single PWD (Disability) = $906.42/month

• Assistance consists of support and shelter portions

• A single person is eligible for $375/month shelter regardless of category (employable vs PPMB vs PWD)

• Other supplements are available where eligible (family bonus, diet, monthly nutritional supplements, natal etc) and dependent on client’s category.

MSDSI Assistance Rates:

General Supplements:

• Crisis supplement

• Security deposit

• Co-op shares

• Christmas supplement

• Clothing supplement

• Confirmed Job supplement

Supplementary Assistance:

• Family Bonus supplement

• Burial/Cremation supplement

• Guide animal supplement

• Identification supplement

• Moving supplement

• School start-up supplement

• Special Transportation Subsidy

Health Supplements:

• Monthly Nutritional Supplement (MNS)

• Dental Supplements

• Diet Supplements

• Natal Supplement

• Medical Equipment

• Hearing Aids

• Orthotics and Bracing

Supplementary Assistance:

• Medical Supplies

• Medical Transportation Supplement

• Optical Services

• Physiotherapy, Massage, Chiropractic and Podiatry

• Supplement for Alcohol and Drug Services

• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) administers the British Columbia Basic Family Bonus

(BCBFB) and the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) programs, which are

collectively known as the Family Bonus (FB) under MSDSI legislation.

• Families must file their income tax return and make an application for FB each

year in order to receive the monthly FB payments from CRA.

• A FB top-up supplement may also be provided to Refugee Claimants and clients in

Canada under a Temporary Resident Permit. The ministry may provide up to a full

top-up until a client meets the 18-month residency requirement for FB as required

by CRA. Subsequent to fulfilling the residency requirement, eligibility for the

temporary FB top-up is based on the family unit filing their taxes and applying for

the CCTB.

First Child: $185.08 per calendar month

Second Child: $163.66 per calendar month

Third and each additional child: $155.77 per calendar month

Family Bonus Supplement

MSDSI Asset Levels

• Earnings exemptions allow eligible income assistance clients to earn income (up to a

monthly limit) in addition to shelter and support assistance.

• These exemptions offer income assistance clients a better opportunity to get job skills

and experience to transition to employment, take advantage of short-term or temporary

work, and better provide for their families while receiving assistance.

MSDSI Earnings Exemptions

Administrative Fairness

• Individuals receive a clear explanation of any decision affecting

them

• Evidence, information or documentation used to arrive at a

decision is available to the individual affected

• There is an opportunity to respond and provide additional

information

• Information is considered in a fair and unbiased manner

• Decisions are offered in writing

• Opportunities for review, reconsideration or appeal are

communicated

Reconsideration and Appeals

Online Resource

• The Ministry policy manual is available through the Online Resource (OLR)

• The MSD Online Resource contains:

• Acts and Regulations

• Policy

• Definitions

• Rate Tables

• Resources for Clients

• The OLR is available to the pubic and can be accessed from the MSDSI website:

www.gov.bc.ca/sdsi and to apply for assistance online: www.iaselfserve.gov.bc.ca

Toll Free Number: 1-866-866-0800

MSDSI Resources

OFFICE ADDRESS FAX NUMBER

China Creek 201-475 E. Broadway, V5T 1W9 1-855-771-8793

Killarney 2280 Kingsway, V5N 5M9 1-855-771-8723

Dockside 180 Main Street, V6A 3V5 1-855-771-8726

Strathcona 687 Powell Street, V6A 1H2 1-855-771-8727

Kiwassa 205 Powell Street, V6A 1G3 1-855-771-8728

Grandview 2350 Commercial Drive, V5N 4B7 1-855-771-8730

West End 2nd Floor, 1725 Robson Street, V6G 1C9 1-855-771-8722

Mountainview 300-5550 Fraser Street, V5W 2Z4 1-855-771-8725

Northshore 1050 Churchill Cres, N Vancouver V7P 3M7 1-855-971-8733

Richmond 100-5760 Minoru Blvd, Richmond V6X 2A9 1-855-771-8734

Sechelt 5498 Wharf Road, PO Box 890, Sechelt V0N 3A0 1-855-771-8734

Vancouver Coastal Field Office Phone List

MSDSI COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND SERVICE

QUALITY MANAGER CONTACT LIST

ministry of social development and social innovation · 2019. 4. 18. · kiwassa 205 powell street,...

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