July 26, 2017 by DABC
Community Update
Provincial Disability and Income Assistance Rates to Increase September 20th 2017
Premier John Horgan has announced a monthly increase of $100 to BC disability and income assistance rates. This change begins September 20th 2017 (October benefits).
The maximum rate for support and shelter for a single person will be:
– $710 (Income Assistance)
– $757 (Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers to Employment – PPMB)
– $1081 (Persons with Disabilities with a bus pass – PWD)
– $1133 (Persons with Disabilities without a bus pass – PWD)
Families with two adults who both have the PWD designation will receive a $200 monthly increase. This is the first increase to income assistance rates in a decade despite the rapidly rising cost of living across the province.
Disability Alliance BC applauds the new government’s fast implementation of these much needed increases.
Additional Information
The new Minister responsible for disability benefits and income assistance (Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction) is the Honourable Shane Simpson.
While there has been no formal announcement, Minister Simpson’s mandate letter from the Premier directs him to implement a $200 monthly increase to the earnings exemption for assistance recipients and restore the BC Bus Pass program.
There has also been no announcement about an increase for people receiving Room and Board benefits, or the Comforts Allowance.
We have no further information about these changes at this time.
If you have any questions about this announcement please feel free to contact Sam Turcott, Advocacy Access Program Director at 604-872-1278 or 1-800-663-127
Further detail from the BC Govt announcement of disability benefits increase 100.00 a month July 20th click here
