Orientation

Effective: June 23, 2010

To be eligible for income assistance, disability assistance, or hardship assistance, all adult members of a family unit must have an orientation prior to Stage 2 of the application process.

The orientation informs the applicant of their responsibility to pursue employment and alternate resources, provides information about eligibility requirements for assistance, and advises what documents are required for the Stage 2 eligibility interview.

This requirement applies to applicants under the Employment and Assistance Regulation and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.

Specifically, orientation should include information about:

• the reasonable work search requirement [see Related Links – Work Search]
• online resources to assist applicants with their work search
• other sources of income that may be available to applicants that they are required to explore [see Related Links – Pursuing Income]
• the Stage 2 eligibility interview, including a list of documents the applicant is required to bring to the interview [see Related Links – BC Employment and Assistance Application Stage 2 – Eligibility Interview]
• eligibility requirements for assistance
• an applicant’s legal responsibilities
• the ministry’s authority to collect and verify information

Effective: December 1, 2003

The following applicants are not required to complete an orientation:

• persons who have reached age 65
• persons who do not meet the citizenship requirements of the Employment and Assistance Regulation or Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation [see Related Links – Citizenship Requirements]
• persons who have a physical or mental condition that precludes completion of the orientation program.

The requirement to attend an orientation may also be waived or postponed for applicants who are eligible for a comforts allowance, and for those in drug and alcohol, hospital, and care facilities.

Effective: June 23, 2010

Orientation may be provided in the following ways:

• using the My Self Serve launch page [see Additional Resources - Application for Assistance]
• by ministry staff, in the office or by phone
• by a contracted service provider as needed

Note: The requirement for an orientation can be met through the completion of the application process.

In cases where the applicant has literacy or cognitive barriers, or where an immediate need for food, shelter, or urgent medical attention has been identified, staff may need to communicate the content of the information provided in the orientation directly to the applicant. [For more information on assessing for immediate needs, see Related Links – Immediate Needs.]

[For more information on 17-yr-old applicants for PWD designation six months before their 18^th birthday see Related Links – BCEA Application Stage 1 - Procedures – Completing Application Stage 1 for 17-Year-Old PWD Applicants or Stage 1 Application for 17-Year-Old At Home Program (AHP) Medical Benefits Recipients.] 

Effective: June 23, 2010

The orientation informs the applicant of their responsibility to pursue employment and alternate resources, provides information about eligibility requirements for assistance, and advises what documents are required for the Stage 2 eligibility interview.

Specifically, orientation should include information about:

• the reasonable work search requirement [see Related Links – Work Search]
• online resources to assist applicants with their work search
• other sources of income that may be available to applicants that they are required to explore [see Related Links – Pursuing Income]
• the Stage 2 eligibility interview, including a list of documents the applicant is required to bring to the interview [see Related Links – BC Employment and Assistance Application Stage 2 – Eligibility Interview]
• eligibility requirements for assistance
• an applicant’s legal responsibilities
• the ministry’s authority to collect and verify information

Effective: June 23, 2010

Orientation may be provided in the following ways:

• using the My Self Serve launch page [see Additional Resources - Application for Assistance]
• by ministry staff, in the office or by phone
• by a contracted service provider as needed

Note: The requirement for an orientation can be met through the completion of the application process. Where an applicant chooses not to complete the Application for Assistance online through My Self Serve (MySS), the worker must ensure that the orientation information is provided to the applicant.

In cases where the applicant has literacy or cognitive barriers, or where an immediate need for food, shelter, or urgent medical attention has been identified, staff will accommodate the applicant’s circumstances by providing the orientation directly to the applicant.

[For more information on assessing for immediate needs, see Related Links – Immediate Needs.]

[For more information on duty to accommodate, see Related Links – Individual Case Management.]

[For more information on 17-yr-old applicants for  PWD designation six months before their 18^th birthday see Related Links – BCEA Application Stage 1 – Procedures – Completing Application Stage 1 for 17-Year-Old PWD Applicants or Stage 1 Application for 17-Year-Old At Home Program (AHP) Medical Benefits Recipients.] 

Effective: June 26, 2009

For clients with language barriers who are unable to comprehend or communicate through written or spoken English, the ministry can provide access to contracted interpretation services by telephone and, on a case-by-case basis, in person. 

 [For information on how to access interpretation services, see Related Links – Individual Case Management.]