Step 3 - Persons with Disabilities designation (BC)

Here is how you will fill out the applicant’s section of the form.

The application form for the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) status has three sections:

Section 1 is the section you fill out. For help, you can view a Sample PWD application form.

Section 2 is the section your medical practitioner (doctor) or nurse practitioner fills out.

Section 3 is the section for an ‘assessor’ to fill out.

Definition: Depending on your disability, different professionals can fill out the form. They include:

• Medical Doctor
• Registered Psychologist
• Registered Nurse, Psychiatric Nurse, or Nurse Practitioner
• Occupational Therapist
• Physical Therapist
• Social Worker
• Chiropractor
• School Psychologist

Section 1 (for you to fill out first)

Section 1 starts on page 3 of the application. You are free to have a friend, family member, or advocate help you fill it out.

Section 1A - Personal Information

Fill out each box with your name, date of birth, address, and other information the section asks for. If you do not have a phone, remember to put “no phone.”

Section 1B - Disabling Condition (your disability)

The application form says, “you are not required to complete this section,” but it can be worth doing so. Whether it helps or harms your application depends on what you say. Keep reading to get advice on how to fill this section out in ways that help. Consult an advocate, (see the ‘I need help’ page) if you are not sure what to write.

Another reason to fill out Section 1B is that your doctor or nurse practitioner and the assessor may use it as a guide when they fill out their sections (Sections 2 and 3). So, include as much information as you can about your disability when you answer Questions B.1 and B.2.

It is a good idea to do a first draft on a separate piece of paper. Make sure you understand the definition of disability as described in the eligibility section of this benefit. You may want to have someone else, like an advocate or friend, look at your first draft. They can help make sure that you have remembered everything that you want to include. When you are ready, write your answers on the application form.

Tip: Filling out Question B (1.) “Please describe your disability."

Clearly list and explain all your disabilities. For instance, a person might have Hepatitis C, depression, anxiety and learning disabilities. The more information you can add, the better. This is because the government looks at all the disabilities taken together.

Examples: Words to describe osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis:

• Chronic pain
• Restricted mobility
• Stiffness
• Hands – tremors, restricted usage, restricted gripping
• Numbness in right leg
• Uses a cane for outdoor mobility
• Medications: examples - Tramadol & Emtec

Examples: Words to describe depression:

• Low mood
• Low motivation
• Restricted memory
• Poor concentration
• Easily overwhelmed
• Severe anxiety
• Suicidal ideations (suicidal thoughts)
• Medications: for example, Zopiclone and Effexor
• Ongoing counselling

Tip: Filling out question B (2.) “How does your disability affect your life and your ability to take care of yourself?”

Before you answer this question, think about all the ways that your disability makes it difficult or impossible to do the things you need to do on a regular basis. The ministry lists the following as daily living activities:

• performing personal hygiene and self-care (for example, bathing)
• preparing meals
• taking medication
• keeping the home clean
• shopping for personal needs
• moving about indoors and outdoors
• using public transit or personal transportation
• managing personal finances.

For people with mental disabilities, daily living activities also include:

• making decisions about personal care, activities, or finances
• relating to, communicating with, or interacting with others effectively (in other words, getting along with other people).

Starting on page 11 of its Persons with Disabilities Application help sheet, Disability Alliance B.C. has a more detailed checklist of Daily Living Activities. Go through the checklist and mark things that you cannot do or find hard to do on your bad days.

Then, using the checklist as a guide, write out the answer to the question. If you need help to do any of the activities on the list, remember to put this in your answer, even if you are not actually getting the help you need.

Think about any ongoing help you get from friends, family, support groups, mental health teams, or other counselling. Think about how long it takes you to complete an activity when no help is available. For example, it may take you two or three times longer than other people to wash your dishes. Remember to include these examples when you answer question B (2).

Think about any assistive devices you need such as canes, splints, or grab bars.

Here are some examples of how other people describe the impact of their disability on their daily living activities. This may help you find words that apply to you:

Meal preparation:

• I have difficulty with meal preparation due to severe pain and restricted mobility.
• I am unable to use my hands to stir, chop, peel, or open jars due to severe pain, hand tremors, and low grip.
• I am restricted in my standing and lifting to prepare a meal.
• I need frequent breaks when preparing meals. Compared to an average person my age with no restrictions it takes me three times as long to prepare a meal.
• I have low motivation and a severely low appetite and therefore I do not prepare meals.
• My family will prepare meals for me and try to get me to eat. They will bring my meals to bed for me.

Managing finances:

• I get severely overwhelmed and anxious when I try to manage my finances.
• I forgot to pay my bills due to restricted memory.
• Due to poor impulse control, I have difficulty maintaining my budget.

Shopping for personal needs:

• I am severely restricted in grocery shopping.
• Walking, standing, and lifting are all severely restricted, which makes it difficult to shop.
• I use a wheel bag that I can put a few light groceries in. However, this elevates my pain and I need rest afterwards.
• I get help from my family with shopping.

Housework:

• I have elevated pain when I try to do housework.
• Tasks such as doing laundry, doing dishes, vacuuming, and overall cleaning severely elevate my pain.
• I am unable to iron my clothes at all due to severe pain.
• I need help from my family with housework.

Self care:

• I have to sit in the shower due to chronic pain.
• I have to sit down when getting dressed due to poor balance.
• Lifting my arms up to put on shirts elevates my pain.
• I have severe difficulty and elevated pain when trying to use my hands for things like buttons, zippers, belts, and tying shoes.
• Compared to an average person my age without any restrictions it takes me three times as long to get dressed.

Medication management:

• I need a pill pack to help me remember to take my medication.
• I need help from my family to open my pill bottles due to restricted use of my hands.
• I need my pharmacy to deliver my medications due to poor memory.

Transportation:

• Due to severe pain, I am severely restricted in my ability to use transportation.
• I cannot take public transit due to my restricted mobility.
• I am unable to walk, stand or sit for extended periods of time to use public transportation.
• My family members have to drive me to my appointments.

Decision making:

• I am very easily overwhelmed and anxious.
• I get confused and I do not understand.
• I have avoidant behavior.
• I need the help of my family members to make decisions.

Relating to and communicating with others:

• I am very withdrawn and isolated.
• I spend most of my time in bed trying to relieve pain.
• I do not see friends or go out and socialize.
• I am anxious around others.