Ministry Overview
Purpose of Ministry
The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance provides income assistance, disability assistance and employment programs
for British Columbians in need. These programs are administered under the BC Employment and Assistance program (BCEA), and
are guided by the Employment and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act, which came into effect in September 2002.
The Ministry delivers a variety of assistance programs and services to approximately 100,000 individuals and families in need.
In order to address the diverse needs of our clients, the Ministry established the following client groups, each of which
is supported by a suite of supports and forms of assistance:
- Expected to Work: This client group includes employable clients in need of short-term income assistance and supports. This
client group also includes those who are temporarily excused from or have limited employment obligations, due to a medical
condition or family situation, such as a single parent with a child under three.
- Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers: These are clients who experience significant and multiple barriers to employment
and are not expected to gain complete financial independence through employment.
- Persons with Disabilities: These are clients who experience a severe physical or mental impairment and require assistance
as a result of significant restrictions in their ability to perform daily living activities.
- Seniors: This group includes 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.
- Child in the Home of a Relative: If a parent is unable to care for and support his or her child and places the child in the
home of a relative, the Ministry may provide the relative with financial support.
Each of these client groups may be eligible for a suite of supports and assistance. These are elaborated upon in subsequent
sections of this Service Plan.
The Ministry offers a wide variety of assistance and supports to our client groups, reflective of their client designations
as well as their individual and family circumstances. These include:
- Income Assistance: Income assistance is available to support eligible clients, including clients participating in employment
programs. Assistance includes two components: shelter allowance and support allowance. Shelter allowance assists clients in
meeting their accommodation costs. Support allowance is provided to purchase food and other basic necessities.
- Disability Assistance: Disability assistance includes a shelter and support allowance, and is available to support eligible
persons with disabilities who are not expected to gain complete financial independence through employment, including clients
with disabilities who are seeking work.
- Supplementary Assistance: The Ministry provides a wide range of supplements to clients on a case-by-case basis including:
crisis supplements for emergency needs; medical supplies and equipment; dental and optical services; medical transportation;
subsidized bus passes; alcohol and drug treatment programs, and employment-related expenses.
- Employment Programming: The Ministry provides employment programs and services to clients to assist them in finding and sustaining
employment — thereby helping them to achieve independence. Programs and services are developed and provided to clients based
on their needs and degree of readiness to work. The Ministry also provides life-skills development services and access to
training and volunteer opportunities for those who are less ready for engagement in the workforce.
Individuals with an emergency medical need or an emergency need for food and/or shelter who do not have alternate resources
available can have their application for assistance reviewed on an expedited basis.
Ministry supports are part of a larger network of assistance provided by a number of provincial ministries and the federal
government. Clients receiving our assistance and supports may also receive additional benefits, including the Canada Pension
Plan, National Child Benefit and Child Care subsidy — thereby substantially increasing their available income and financial
independence. Families with children have experienced a net increase from government since 2001. For single parent families,
the increase ranges from 2.5 to over 13 per cent, and for persons with disabilities with children, from 12 to over 22 per cent.1
Where We Deliver Our Services:
Approximately 2,000 ministry staff deliver our services across the province through 88 Ministry offices, 19 Service BC centres
and 2 Service Centres offering telephone-based services. In addition to these community-based centres offering front-desk
service, the Ministry provides assistance by telephone and some services over the Internet. To further enhance service delivery,
continued development and implementation of the Multi-Channel Service Delivery initiative is underway. The initiative was
created to effectively use information technology to improve our services by simplifying procedures, enhancing tools and resources
for front line staff, streamlining business processes and developing an integrated approach that meets the needs of clients.
Multi-Channel Service Delivery will facilitate more accessible services for clients through enhancement of telephone and other
channels of service delivery, such as the Internet, and will streamline other methods of accommodating clients, such as extended
office hours. Our ability to provide these services has been made possible by government's substantial progress in bridging
the Digital Divide, and the continued expansion of supporting technologies throughout the province.
In 2006, the Ministry launched two revised programs, the BC Employment and Community Assistance Programs, developed in response
to our clients' changing needs, including enhanced life-skills support and access to training. The Ministry delivers these
programs through external service providers in regions across British Columbia. These contracted services provide employment
supports that are tailored to local labour markets as well as the interests and circumstances of individual clients.
The Ministry's service delivery network, developed in response to client feedback and to capitalize on emerging technologies
and local partnerships, reflects our focus on improving access to services, particularly for those clients living in rural
areas and persons with disabilities. We recognize that the success of these service delivery initiatives is dependent on our
dedicated staff working in a service-oriented culture and replacement of outdated information technology.
Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
A province in which British Columbians in need are assisted to achieve their social and economic potential.
Mission
To focus on the customer by transforming the way we deliver services in employment and assistance, using effective and outcome
based practices, and working in collaboration with ministries, other levels of government and service agencies.
Values
The Ministry continues to be guided by the British Columbia Public Service's core values of integrity, fiscal responsibility,
accountability, respect, and choice.
The Ministry has developed an Organizational Values and Service Code that shapes the design and delivery of our unique programs
and services. In developing this resource, the Ministry committed to a staff-driven, broadbased approach, with representation
from every region. This collaborative approach is reflective of our interactions with peers and clients, and is the foundation
for effective communication. The Ministry's Executive and leadership continue to work with employees to actively build the
new Service Code into the organization's culture.
We value:
- People — Valuing people is the foundation of our Ministry's work.
- Personal responsibility — We value personal responsibility leading to increased empowerment, self-reliance and self-worth
for staff and clients.
- Respect and Empathy — This value begins within each of us as reflected in daily interactions among staff and in serving clients.
- Equity and Fairness — To effectively serve our clients, the public and each other, we rely on our knowledge, skills and experience
in balancing equity with fairness.
- Accountability — Accountability for our decisions and actions, and for those of our clients.
- Transparency and Open Communications — Transparency and open communication in our practices and decision-making are critical
to the success of our organization.
Please see the appendix for more detail regarding the Ministry's Values and Service Code.