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PWD

Step 1 - Persons with Disabilities designation (BC)

Do you receive Income Assistance?

You answered "no".

You answered "not sure".

Open a file with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR)

To apply for PWD status, you must have a file open with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. You can open a file with the ministry by sending an Income Assistance application.

Contact the ministry first at 1-866-866-0800. It is their job to help you. For further help, you can:

Make sure you say in the application that you planning to apply for PWD status. Even if you do not qualify for income assistance, you may still be able to apply for and get PWD status.

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Steps to apply for income assistance

Steps to apply for income assistance.

1. Print the Income Assistance Document Checklist. This will help you gather the documents you need to complete the application.

2. To apply, you will first have to register for My Self Serve. You (and your spouse if you have one) will need to give your email address and Social Insurance Numbers. Click ‘Create an Account’ and follow the steps.

When you complete My Self Serve registration you will have:

  • a PIN number that will be used as your electronic signature and
  • a Basic BCeID User ID.

3. Now you can apply for Income Assistance. Follow these steps:

  • Sign into your My Self Serve account using your Basic BCeID.
  • From the menu on the left, select the Service Request page. If you are applying from a mobile device, this will appear on the drop-down menu.
  • On the Service Request page, click ‘Create Service Request’.
  • Select ‘Application for Assistance’ and choose yourself as the applicant.
  • Watch the short video that explains some of the features of the online application.
Continue to step 2

Steps

Feeling overwhelmed?

Someone can help you with your application. Find an organization to help you here.

Apply After you apply

Resources

Impact on daily living activities

Here are some examples of how you might describe the impact on daily living activities.

Definitions of Arthritis and Depression

Below are definitions of Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis and Depression which can help describe these medical conditions when you and/or your medical professional complete the medical forms in benefit applications.

How do I set up a My Self Serve (MySS) account

My Self Serve (MySS) provides online access to income and disability assistance for residents of British Columbia.

What province are you from?

Knowing your province helps us make this tool the best experience for you.

Important information about benefits for Indigenous Peoples

If you are Indigenous there are many things that affect the benefits you can get and the dollar amounts you can get from them. These include the agreements your band or governing body has with provincial, territorial, and federal governments. Before applying to any benefits, you should speak with your governing body, if applicable.

AFOA Canada and Prosper Canada are currently seeking funding to develop an online tool that serves the needs of Indigenous people living in Canada.