Core Business Areas
The Ministry provides its major services under the BC Employment and Assistance program, which emphasizes self-reliance and
personal responsibility, and reduces long-term dependence on income assistance for those who are able to work. BC Employment
and Assistance programs and services are delivered through six core business areas, each directly tied to the Ministry's vision,
mission and goals.
1. Core Business: Employment Programs
The Employment Programs business area provides for the operation and administration of programs to assist eligible individuals
to find sustainable employment. It also provides for the operation and administration of employment-related programs to support
individuals with multiple barriers and disabilities. This business area provides for salaries and benefits for individuals
with disabilities under the Public Service Employment Program.
The Ministry's new employment programs result in enhanced employment and life skills services to reduce barriers to employment
for our clients. The programs include work search assistance, short-term certificate training, life skills and supports, and
include:
- British Columbia Employment Program: Provides employment services and supports designed to meet the needs of individual clients
who are deemed Expected to Work or Expected to Work — Medical Condition.
- Community Assistance Program: This program has been redesigned to provide multi-barriered clients with a range of life skill
services and supports to enhance their quality of life and to help them participate more fully in their communities.
- Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities: Assists persons with disabilities in achieving their economic and social
potential to the fullest extent possible.
Employment programming is delivered through community-based, external service providers. These service providers were selected
using a procurement and performance-based contract management process designed to ensure a fair, transparent and accountable
selection process. Compensation is based partly on their ability to achieve specified client outcomes.
To ensure that assistance is available to all clients, the Ministry also offers clients assistance with transportation, work
clothing and certification fees in cases where programming gaps may exist (for example in rural and remote communities).
2. Core Business: Temporary Assistance
The Temporary Assistance business area provides for temporary assistance in accordance with the Employment and Assistance Act for the family units of eligible individuals who are capable of financial independence through employment or are currently
unable to seek work because of a prescribed short-term medical or other condition, or who have persistent multiple barriers
to employment. It also provides for support services and direct operating costs.
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. Clients experiencing difficulties, such as mental illness,
addiction or a developmental disability, can request that the ministry provide their shelter allowances directly to their
landlord to avoid loss, misuse or misappropriation of their funds. The majority of clients who receive temporary assistance
are those in the Expected to Work category.
Expected to Work
This group of clients includes individuals who are capable of employment and have ongoing employment-related obligations.
Expected to Work clients must maintain individualized employment plans detailing specific job search activities as a condition
of continued eligibility for assistance. The Expected to Work client group represents 17 per cent of the Ministry's caseload.
There are circumstances where 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 employment plans that work to address their barriers
to employment and represent 6 per cent of the Ministry's caseload.
- Expected to Work — Temporarily Excused: Clients may also be temporarily excused from standard employment 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 6 per cent
of the Ministry's caseload.
Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers
Clients may be designated as a Person with Persistent Multiple Barriers if they are unable to achieve financial independence
due to specific barriers to employment that they have been unable to overcome. Barriers may include a long-term medical condition,
or one that is likely to continue, that interferes with or precludes employment. Additionally, poor literacy skills, lack
of training or work experience may also be considered. While designated a Person with Persistent Multiple Barriers, clients
receive temporary assistance and are exempt from employment obligations. They receive increased support, a monthly earnings
exemption to facilitate their entry into the workforce, and enhanced medical coverage to recognize their need for continuing
assistance. Person with Persistent Multiple Barriers clients comprise 7 per cent of the Ministry's caseload.
Child in the Home of a Relative
Children who have been voluntarily placed in the care of a relative by a parent who is unable to assume full responsibility
for caring for the child may be eligible for financial assistance from the Ministry under the Child in the Home of a Relative
program. These are private arrangements between relatives and do not involve children who have been identified as "at risk"
or who are in the care of the government. Over the next year, the Ministry will be working with the Ministry of Children and
Family Development to ensure all services for children living with relatives are integrated into the Ministry of Children
and Family Development's continuum of services for children. Child in the Home of a Relative clients represent 5 per cent
of the Ministry caseload. In addition to the Ministry's assistance on behalf of the child, caregivers may also be eligible
for the Canada Child Tax Benefit and BC Family Bonus.
3. Core Business: Disability Assistance
The Disability Assistance business area provides for disability assistance in accordance with the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act for the family units of eligible individuals with disabilities who are not expected to gain financial independence through
employment or who are seeking work. It also provides for support services and direct operating costs.
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" designation by submitting
an application form that has been filled out by their physician and other health professionals with details concerning diagnosis,
health history, the degree of impairment and impact on their daily living activities. Applicants may be designated as a Person
with Disabilities if their medical history 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 enhanced medical coverage
which includes Medical Services Plan and Pharmacare coverage with no deductible, as well as other health supplements.
In addition to disability assistance, the Ministry offers programs to Persons with Disabilities clients designed to increase
independence, provide greater income security, promote increased participation in the community, and enhance self-reliance.
Participation in these programs is voluntary. Under the Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities, employment includes
voluntary employment, part-time or full-time paid employment, or self-employment. The Ministry also supports the Minister's
Council on Employment for Persons with Disabilities' 10 by 10 Challenge to increase employment by 10 per cent by 2010.
Persons with disabilities who successfully leave assistance for employment retain their Persons with Disabilities designation
and are eligible to maintain their medical assistance. Persons with Disabilities clients represent 59 per cent of the Ministry
caseload.
4. Core Business: Supplementary Assistance
The Supplementary Assistance business area provides for health and other supports for family units of eligible individuals
in accordance with the Employment and Assistance Act and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act, and for programs that support the purposes of the legislation. It also provides for support services and direct operating
costs.
Supplementary assistance provides eligible clients with additional assistance for expenses related to health and medical needs,
crisis assistance for food and shelter, transportation costs, some moving costs, employment-related expenses and other specified
expenses. Supplementary assistance includes:
- subsidized bus passes for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities;
- dental and optical services for clients' prescribed needs;
- dental and optical supplements to children in low-income families under the Healthy Kids program;
- employment-related expenses including work clothes, recognition of foreign credentials, language training, moving expenses
to accept confirmed employment, transportation, books and supplies;
- fees for residential care facilities;
- fees to obtain specified identification documents;
- maintenance for registered guide dog used by a recipient or their dependent;
- medical equipment and supplies;
- Medical Services Program premiums;
- medical transportation (such as flights from remote locations for medical treatments);
- burial or cremation expenses;
- moving expenses if the client has confirmed employment in a new community or their physical safety is at risk;
- natal supplements, monthly diet and nutritional supplements;
- payment for alcohol and drug counselling treatment services; and
- low-income persons with life-threatening health needs can access certain health supplements.
5. Core Business: Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal
The Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal business area provides for salaries, benefits, allowances, operating and related
expenses of the Tribunal, which provides for an independent and impartial appeal of the Ministry's reconsideration decisions.
The Employment and Income Assistance Appeal Tribunal is a single-level, regionally-based appeal system established under the
Employment and Assistance Act. Ministry clients that are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Ministry's reconsideration decisions may appeal to the Employment
and Assistance Appeal Tribunal. Costs may be recovered from other ministries and levels of government. More information about
the Tribunal can be found online at http://www.gov.bc.ca/eaat/default.htm.
6. Core Business: Executive and Support Services
The Executive and Support Services business area provides for the office of the Minister of Employment and Income Assistance.
It also provides for executive direction of the Ministry and administrative 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, 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 ministries and agencies on behalf
of the Ministry. The Ministry Information Resource Management Plan overview is available on the Ministry's website at: http://www.eia.gov.bc.ca/sp.