Clothing Supplement for People in Special Care Facilities

Last updated on August 15, 2023

Overview

Recipients residing in a special care facility, other than an alcohol and drug facility or those in Community Living BC (CLBC) facilities, may receive a supplement for the purchase of necessary clothing when clothing is not provided by the facility and no alternative resources are available.

This supplement is available under the Employment and Assistance Regulation and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.

Policy

 

Eligibility

Effective: January 1, 2020

Income assistancedisability assistance and hardship assistance recipients, who are residing in a special care facility, and receiving a comforts allowance, may be eligible for a supplement to purchase necessary clothing (i.e., basic clothing to meet the recipient’s health and safety needs).  For the purposes of this supplement, “special care facility” does not include an alcohol or drug treatment centre.  Recipients are expected to use all other resources for clothing purchase (for example, comforts allowance, other income, assets) before this supplement may be approved.

A clothing supplement may be provided if all of the following apply:

  • clothing is not provided in the facility
  • no funds are available from the recipient’s comforts allowance to purchase the clothing
  • no resources are available to the recipient’s family unit to pay for the clothing

Note:  Recipients in CLBC-contracted residential facilities are not eligible for the clothing supplement.  Clients in these facilities are expected to budget for their clothing needs.  However, as is the case for all other recipients, clients can request a crisis supplement for clothing.  [see Rate Table – General Supplements – Crisis Supplement]

Procedures

 

Issuing a Clothing Supplement

Effective: June 22, 2007

Before issuing a clothing supplement for people in special care facilities, make sure all of the following apply:

  • they are receiving a comforts allowance and their case indicates they are in care
  • the facility does not provide clothing
  • alternative funding is not available