Impact on daily living activities
Here are some examples of how you might describe the impact on daily living activities.
PWD
Introduction
People with severe disabilities in British Columbia can get a Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation. Having this status gives you access to money and programs under B.C.’s Employment and Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities Act. To get PWD status, you have to apply and meet the eligibility rules.
The process may take you several months from start to finish. This website helps you go through the application process step-by-step. You can take your time on each step. You can leave the site and come back later when you have more time, energy, and the documents you may need in a step.
Benefit information
This process may take you several months from start to finish
This website helps you go through the application process step-by-step. You can take your time on each step. You can leave the site and come back later when you have more time, energy, and the documents you may need in a step.
This process may take you several months from start to finish
This website helps you go through the application process step-by-step. You can take your time on each step. You can leave the site and come back later when you have more time, energy, and the documents you may need in a step.
If you are approved for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) status
- You will get up to $1,358 a month if you are a single person without dependents.
- You will get either a monthly bus pass or a $52 ‘transportation supplement’ added to your monthly cheque.
- You will not be expected to look for work.
- If you work, you will be able to keep up to $15,000 a year in earned income. This is called your Annual Earnings Exemption.
- You will be able to get extra benefits for your health. Some examples include medical equipment and devices, medical supplies, medical transportation, and nutritional supplements, just to name a few.
If you are a non-status Indigenous person and do not have health coverage, you will be eligible for a range of health supplements.
For Indigenous people, the disability assistance rates on and off reserve are the same. There are some small differences in the supplements you can get.
I am Indigenous. Is the journey different for me?
Indigenous Services Canada oversees the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) program for Indigenous people with disabilities in British Columbia.
On reserve, the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) administers the program on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada. Off reserve, the PWD program is administered by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
You can find more information at the BCANDS Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Program Overview.
I already have the CPP-D or receive palliative care supports or support from Community Living BC. Is the journey different for me?
If you are in one of these groups below, there is a simplified application process. You will not have to go to doctors to get a new diagnosis. You can use an easier PWD application process than the one we describe here. The groups are called ‘prescribed classes’ and they apply to people receiving:
- Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D)
- Pharmacare Plan P (Palliative Care)
- Community Living BC (CLBC)
- The At Home Program (from the Ministry of Children and Family Development)
Make sure to tell the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction if you are enrolled in one of these programs. Contact the ministry for help on how to begin the simplified application process.
You may also be able to use a simplified PWD application process if you are 17½ to 19 years old, and you have a confirmed intellectual disability. This means you can submit an existing psychological assessment and diagnosis rather than completing a full PWD application.
Resources
