Service Delivery and Core Business Areas

Service Delivery

The ministry delivers a suite of assistance programs and services to approximately 140,000 individuals and their dependents through 104 ministry offices, 19 government agent branches, and three service centres across the province. The ministry also delivers employment programming services through external service providers in regions across British Columbia. The ministry's service delivery network reflects its focus on improving access to services, particularly for those clients living in rural areas and Persons with Disabilities.

Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance Services by Community. LINK TO LARGER VERSION

The ministry's major services are provided under the BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) program, which emphasizes self-reliance and personal responsibility, and reduces long-term dependence on income assistance for those who are able to work.

In order to better meet the diverse needs of its clients, the ministry established the following client groups:

  • Expected to Work (ETW): These include employable clients in need of short-term income assistance and supports, as well as those who are temporarily excused from employment obligations due to a medical condition or family situation, such as a single parent with a child under 3.
  • Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB): These are clients who experience significant and multiple barriers to employment that limit their ability to be financially independent.
  • Persons with Disabilities (PWD): These are clients who experience a severe physical or mental impairment and require assistance as a result of significant restrictions to their ability to perform daily living activities.
  • Children in the Home of a Relative (CIHR): If a parent is unable to care for and support their child and places the child in the home of a relative, the ministry may provide financial support to the relative on behalf of the child.
  • Seniors: These include persons aged 65 years or older, with low-incomes, who are eligible for Senior's Supplement benefits and subsidized bus passes, based on their annual tax return.
  • Low and moderate-income families: These include individuals and families who are not direct clients of the ministry, but are eligible for health and dental assistance based on their limited incomes. Providing extended coverage to these families improves health outcomes and reduces disincentives to their financial independence.

BCEA programs and services are delivered through six core business areas, each of which is directly tied to the ministry's vision, mission, and goals.

Core Business Area: Employment Programs

The Employment Programs business area provides for the operation and administration of programs that assist eligible individuals to find sustainable employment. It also provides for the operation and administration of employment-related programs, such as the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities (EPPD), to support individuals with persistent multiple barriers and disabilities in improving their life skills, employability, and participation in the community.

A suite of employment programs are offered to an increasingly diverse caseload. Programs range from pre-employment services to job and volunteer placements and ongoing job training supports. The ministry also provides programs, such as the Bridging Employment Program, geared toward specified client groups. This pre-employment program assists women to overcome language and cultural barriers, or barriers created through experience with violence, abuse and/or working in the sex trade, helping them move towards finding and maintaining employment.

Ministry employment programs are delivered through public and private service providers. Their services are governed by performance-based contracts, and compensation is dependent on the successful implementation of specified deliverables, resulting in positive outcomes for ministry clients.

Employment Programs accounted for $91,701,000 of the ministry's 2005/06 operating expenditures.

Core Business Area: Temporary Assistance

Temporary Assistance is provided in accordance with the Employment and Assistance Act for the family units of eligible individuals who are capable of financial independence through employment, are unable to seek work because of a prescribed short-term medical or other condition, or who have persistent multiple barriers to employment.

The Employment and Assistance Act sets out criteria the ministry uses to determine eligibility for Temporary Assistance. Temporary Assistance includes income support and shelter allowances for those with accommodation expenses. Temporary Assistance provides for the Expected to Work client group, comprising 32 per cent of the caseload.

  • Expected to Work (ETW): This group of clients includes individuals who are capable of employment, have met eligibility criteria such as a three-week work search, and have ongoing employment-related obligations. ETW clients have to maintain individualized employment plans detailing specific job search commitments as a condition of continued assistance. Research indicates that this approach benefits families and individuals over the long-term by breaking the inter-generational cycle of welfare dependency and ending the 'cycle-on, cycle-off' pattern that many clients have experienced. ETW clients comprise 18 per cent of the ministry's caseload.

There are circumstances where ETW clients may be temporarily excused from, or have limited employment obligations. These clients form the following two groups:

  • Expected to Work — Medical Condition: The ministry recognizes that some clients may be unable to work due to short-term medical conditions or participation in a rehabilitation program. These clients have temporarily limited employment obligations and represent 7 per cent of the ministry's caseload.
  • Expected to Work — Temporarily Excused: Clients may also be temporarily excused from normal eligibility requirements if they: are parents of children under three years of age; are caring for a dependent child or spouse with serious physical or mental conditions; have recently left an abusive relationship; or have reached 65 years of age. These clients comprise 7 per cent of the ministry's caseload.

Temporary Assistance also provides for Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers, comprising 9 per cent of the caseload; and Children in the Home of a Relative, comprising 4 per cent of the caseload.

Temporary Assistance accounted for $318,162,000 of the ministry's 2005/06 operating expenditures.

Core Business Area: Disability Assistance

Disability Assistance is provided in accordance with the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act for the family units of eligible individuals who require assistance as a result of significant restrictions to their ability to perform daily living activities.

Income and Disability Assistance legislation and ministry policies recognize that people with disabilities face unique challenges in daily living and may require additional support. Clients may apply for a "Persons with Disabilities" (PWD) designation by submitting an application form that has been completed by their physician or other health professional with details concerning diagnosis, health history, the degree of impairment, and impact on the applicant's daily living activities. Applicants may be designated as PWD if their medical information demonstrates they have a severe physical or mental impairment that significantly restricts their ability to carry out daily living activities. Clients receiving Disability Assistance are eligible for increased income support and shelter allowances, a low-cost annual bus pass, a monthly earnings exemption, and may be eligible for other supplements, described below in the Supplementary Assistance core business area.

Persons with Disabilities who successfully leave assistance for employment in B.C. retain their PWD designation and are eligible to maintain access to health supplements. PWD clients represent 55 per cent of the ministry's caseload.

Disability Assistance accounted for $573,528,000 of the ministry's 2005/06 operating expenditures.

Core Business: Supplementary Assistance

In accordance with the Employment and Assistance Act and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act, Supplementary Assistance provides eligible clients with additional assistance for expenses related to health and medical needs, emergency food and shelter, transportation costs, some moving costs, employment-related expenses and other specified expenses. These include:

  • Medical Equipment
  • Orthotics and Bracing
  • Medical Supplies
  • Physiotherapy
  • Massage Therapy
  • Podiatry
  • Chiropractic Services
  • Basic Dental and Orthodontic Supplements and Services
  • Monthly Nutritional Supplement
  • Medical Transportation
  • Confirmed Job Supplement
  • Crisis Supplement
  • School Start-Up Supplement
  • Christmas Supplement
  • Security Deposits
  • Senior's Supplement
  • Clothing Supplement for clients in special care facilities
  • Guide Dog Supplement
  • Optical Supplements (basic eyewear and repairs)
  • Natal Supplements
  • Infant Formula Supplement

Supplementary Assistance accounted for $205,255,000 of the ministry's 2005/06 operating expenditures.

Core Business: Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal

This business area provides for an independent and objective appeal tribunal. The Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal is a single-level, regionally based appeal system established under the Employment and Assistance Act. Ministry clients may appeal to the impartial and independent Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal if they are dissatisfied with the ministry's reconsideration decisions.

The Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal accounted for 14 Full-Time Equivalent employees and $1,832,000 of the ministry's 2005/06 operating expenditures.

Core Business: Executive and Support Services

Executive and Support Services provide support for the office of the Minister of Employment and Income Assistance. It also provides for leadership, direction, and administrative support services for the operating programs of the ministry. This includes strategic and business planning, financial administration and budget co-ordination, human resources, asset and risk management, prevention, compliance and enforcement, information technology, records management, freedom of information, and protection of privacy. It also provides for corporate and community based service delivery, including services provided by other ministries and agencies on behalf of the ministry. Costs are recovered for ministry services from other ministries and from parties external to government.

Executive and Support Services accounted for 1,841 Full-Time Equivalent employees and $159,237,000 of the ministry's 2005/06 operating expenditures.

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