VICTORIA – The Province is recognizing the unique circumstances of people with disabilities by making it easier for those receiving disability assistance to earn more money with annualized earnings exemptions.
Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation Don McRae made the announcement today while marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Starting in January 2015, B.C. will become the first province in Canada to ensure people receiving disability assistance will be able to calculate their earnings on an annual basis instead of monthly, reducing barriers to employment.
This supports Accessibility 2024, government’s 10-year plan to make B.C. the most progressive place for people with disabilities in Canada. It also supports government’s goal of having the highest labour force participation rate for people with disabilities in Canada by 2024.
Annualized earnings exemptions are particularly helpful for people with disabilities whose ability to earn fluctuates during the year. For example, if a person earns more than $800 in a month, they can keep all of that money up to $9,600 for the year. There is no monthly maximum.
The new annualized earnings exemption is the result of a successful pilot project, which was introduced to 1,500 people in 2013. About 900 of these people accepted work shifts that they would otherwise have turned down, earned more money and described the change as an incentive to work.
Earnings exemptions are in addition to monthly disability assistance and other supports, such as: discounted bus passes, free MSP, medical supplies, dental and optical care and employment services through the Employment Program of BC.
The Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation worked with Disability Alliance BC (formerly called the B.C. Coalition for People with Disabilities) to gather public feedback to help shape the new annualized earnings exemptions policy.
