General and health supplements

When you receive assistance, you may be eligible for more money or services to cover extra costs.

General supplements

Each supplement has different eligibility criteria. Contact us to find out if you qualify for any of these additional supports.

Bus pass

If you are a low-income senior, you could get a reduced-cost bus pass.

If you have the Persons with Disabilities designation, you get transportation support as part of your disability assistance. You may choose to receive this support as either:

• A bus pass or
• Money added to your monthly disability assistance payment

Get more information on the BC Bus Pass Program.

Camp fees

If you have children or are an adult with a disability, you could get money to pay part or the entire fee to attend a camp.

Clothing

If you’re living in a special care facility and have no other resources available, you may be able to get money to purchase necessary clothing.

Co-operative housing share purchase

If you are moving into co-op housing, you may be eligible for money to pay for your membership share. You will have to repay this money when you move or leave assistance.

Crisis supplement

If you face an unexpected emergency need, you may be able to get this payment which applies to situations that could affect you or your family’s health or safety.

Family bonus

If you have dependent children and have not received your Family Bonus payment from the federal government, you may be able to get a top-up supplement.

Family maintenance

You can request help to get a maintenance order for child or spousal support from your former spouse. The government also helps enforce maintenance orders.

Funeral costs

The government may assist when a person dies and there is no money to pay for funeral expenses. This is available to anyone with low-income in B.C. who has no other funds, even if they are not on assistance.

Guide dog and service dog

You may be able to get money to help with costs for your certified guide dog team, service dog team and/or a retired guide or service dog team.

Housing Stability Supplement

Some circumstances may need you to be temporarily absent from your home. Assistance may be available to maintain your shelter costs for those periods.

Identification (ID) fees

You could get money to obtain I.D. if you don't have what you need to apply for assistance.

Lost or stolen cheque

If your cheque is lost or stolen, you could get a replacement as long as you didn’t sign the lost or stolen cheque.

Moving, transportation, and living costs

You may be able to get money to cover your transportation and living expenses if you move or need transportation for:

• Starting a confirmed job, if you aren't eligible for supports from WorkBC
• Attending a court hearing when receiving family maintenance services
• Getting a court-ordered paternity blood test
• Finding a new place to live because your current housing has been sold or condemned

Pre-natal shelter

If you are pregnant, you may be able to get money to secure or maintain stable housing before your child is born. You must have no spouse and have no other dependent children.

School start-up

Extra money may be available to buy back-to-school supplies for children under 19 years old.

Security deposit

If you rent your housing, you could get help for your security deposit and/or pet damage deposit. You will have to pay this money back.

Travel

If you have a developmental disability, you could get money for travel to attend a self-help skill or work-placement program approved by Community Living British Columbia (CLBC).

Utility security deposit

If you need to get electricity or natural gas service, you may be able to get money for a security deposit. You will have to pay this money back.

Health supplements

Each supplement has additional eligibility criteria. Contact us to find out if you qualify for any of these additional supports.

Alcohol and drug residential treatment

If you are in an alcohol or drug residential treatment facility, you may be able to get help with the costs. This may include transportation to the facility or a comforts allowance.

Alternative hearing assistance

You may be able to get money for alternative hearing assistance if you:

• Have permanent profound hearing loss in both ears, and
• Can’t benefit from the supplement for hearing instruments

Dental

Depending on the kind of assistance you receive, you may be able to get basic dental coverage.

Diet

If you need a special diet for a confirmed medical condition or diagnosis, you may be able to get help with the costs. This is different than the monthly nutritional supplement available for people on disability assistance.

Extended medical therapies

You may be able to get services such as acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, podiatry and physical therapy.

Hearing instruments

You may be eligible for hearing instruments and any repairs and supplies.

Infant formula

For your child's first 12 months, you could get money for:

• Regular infant formula. This is  when the child has a medical need for regular infant formula
• Specialized infant formula. This is only if your child has a medical condition that requires special formula. You may be able to get this longer than 12 months if it's medically required

Medical supplies, equipment and devices

If you have a medical need, you may be able to get money for necessary supplies, equipment and devices.

Medical transportation

You may be able to get help if you must pay extraordinary costs to travel for essential medical treatment.

Natal supplement

If you are pregnant or have an infant less than thirteen months old, you may be able to get an extra $80 per month.

Nutritional supplement

You may be able to get money for up to three months of nutritional supplements (for example, Ensure, Boost, etc.) to prevent critical weight loss if you’re recovering from:

• Surgery
• A severe injury
• A serious disease
• Side effects of medical treatment

Optical

Depending on the kind of assistance you receive, you may be able to get optical services covered.

Orthotics and bracing

You may be able to get orthoses to meet a medically essential need.

Tube feeding

If your primary source of nutrition must be given through tube feeding and no other resources are available, you may be eligible for help with the cost of the nutritional product, and medically necessary equipment and supplies. 

Winter supplement

If you are receiving assistance for the month of December, you may be eligible for this supplement to assist with additional costs associated with the winter holiday season. Eligible families will receive this on the payment issued at the end of November.