Disability benefits include a list of benefits and funds, provided to eligible people, in BC and across Canada.
Tips & Links
- Learn about the various provincial and federal disability benefits and supports available if you are living with a disability. Understand that different programs have different eligibility criteria and application processes, but most take into account multiple factors including severity and duration of disability or health condition, financial need and residency requirements.
- BC Disability Assistance (DA): Provides monthly income assistance for persons with disabilities (PWD) designation. In addition to criteria around a disability and/or health condition, there are financial eligibility requirements. Talk to your physician or nurse practitioner if you feel you may be eligible. Those on BC disability assistance may be eligible for additional benefits such as health supplements and transportation assistance.
- BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) Supplementary Benefits: MSP supplementary benefits provide partial payment for certain medical services obtained in British Columbia, including acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy and physical therapy. Eligibility is income-based.
- BC PharmaCare: There are a number of different PharmaCare plans to help BC residents pay for eligible prescription medications, medical supplies, and pharmacy services. Those receiving BC disability assistance are automatically enrolled in PharmaCare Plan C and receive 100% coverage of eligible medications. All British Columbians are able to enroll in Fair PharmaCare for coverage of eligible medications relative to income. To find out if your medication is covered, you can search the PharmaCare Formulary.
- Community Services and Supports: BC offers a range of community health services and supports for persons with physical and mental health disabilities. These may include support from health care professionals such as home care, nursing services, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and social work services, as well as supports focused on independence and quality of life such as assistive technology, transportation, sports and recreation.
- Learn about available benefits that support family members and family caregivers caring for a person with a disability.
- Federal EI Caregiving Benefits: EI caregiving benefits provide financial assistance while you’re away from work to care for or support a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care. As a caregiver you do not need to be related to or living with the person you care for or support.
- Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC): The CCC is a non-refundable federal tax credit available to those who support a family member because of a physical or mental impairment. The CCC can help reduce the amount of income tax owed by eligible caregivers.
- Disability Tax Credit (DTC): The is a non-refundable tax credit available to individuals with disabilities or their family caregivers. The DTC can help reduce the amount of income tax owed by eligible individuals or their family caregivers.
Tools – Handouts & Videos
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