Crisis Supplement

Effective: September 1, 2024

The ministry may provide a crisis supplement to or for a family unit that is eligible for income assistance, disability assistance, or hardship assistance if all of the following apply:

• the family unit or a person in the family unit requires the supplement to meet an unexpected expense or obtain an item unexpectedly needed
  • An “unexpected” expense or item “unexpectedly” needed refers to an unforeseen situation that suddenly interferes with a person’s ability to pay the expense or obtain the item.

The overall circumstances which gave rise to the unexpected need should be considered.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• A roommate moves out with no warning and the client is held responsible for the full rent
• Unseasonably cold weather causes a heating bill to be unusually high
• A power outage results in the food in a fridge to spoil and need replaced
• A sudden illness results in a need to purchase over the counter medications instead of paying a hydro bill
• A bed bug infestation has resulted in the need for a new mattress

• the family unit or person in the family is unable to meet the expense or obtain the item because there are no cash assets readily available (e.g., cash on hand, money in savings account) to meet the expense or obtain the item
  • Food banks, the BC Hydro Customer Crisis Fund, clothing drives and other charitable organizations are not considered resources.  Clients do not have to access community resources or contact third parties to meet this eligibility requirement for a crisis supplement
• failure to meet the expense or obtain the item will result in imminent danger to the health (e.g., physical or mental health) of any person in the family unit.

 A crisis supplement must not be provided to support an ongoing situation or as a way to provide assistance that is prohibited by other regulatory direction. [see Policy – Limitations]

When eligibility is determined, the least costly way to meet the need will be authorized.

Effective: August 1, 2023

There are limitations on when a supplement may be issued and what it may be used for, as follows:

• A crisis supplement may be provided only for the calendar month in which the request for the supplement is made.  The unexpected circumstance does not have to occur in the same month the crisis supplement is requested.  There is no time restriction on when the unexpected circumstance(s) had to occur.  For example, a pipe broke unexpectedly in the previous month and created a mold problem in the current month where the crisis supplement was requested.
• A crisis supplement may not be provided for the purpose of obtaining a health supplement described in Schedule C or any other health care goods or services.
• A crisis supplement may not be issued to cover a user fee required for landlord/tenant arbitration. The Residential Tenancy office will waive this fee for recipients of BC Employment and Assistance.
• Crisis supplements are not limited to food, clothing, and shelter, but the regulations set a maximum when issuing a crisis supplement for these items [See Policy - Amount of Supplement].
• A crisis supplement must not be provided to support an ongoing situation or as a way to provide assistance that is prohibited by other regulatory direction.

Effective: August 1, 2023

The amount of crisis supplements that may be issued is restricted as follows:

• Crisis supplements for food are restricted to a maximum amount per person per month, as shown in Rate Table: General Supplements & Programs – Crisis Supplement.
• Crisis supplements for shelter are restricted to the actual cost, up to the maximum combined shelter and support rates (based on the family unit) per month, plus the following actual amounts, that the family unit is eligible to receive:
  • Shared Parenting Assistance
  • Pre-Natal Shelter Supplement
  • Housing Stability Supplement

[See Rate Table: Income Assistance, Disability Assistance or Hardship Assistance]

• Crisis supplements for clothing are restricted to an annual maximum per person, as shown in Rate Table: General Supplements & Programs – Crisis Supplement. The annual maximum for crisis supplements for clothing is calculated on a "rolling" basis, using the 12-month period preceding the date the crisis supplement is requested.

Example:  Under the annual maximum per person limit, a family of four may be eligible for a maximum of $440.00 within a 12-month period, a family of five would have an annual maximum of $550.00.

[See Rate Table: General Supplements & Programs – Crisis Supplement]

Effective: December 1, 2018

A crisis supplement for emergency home repairs may be provided if recipients:

• meet the requirements for a crisis supplement [see Policy – Requirements], and
  • require emergency repairs for their place of residence, and
  • their place of residence is owned by a person in their family unit, and
  • the repairs are the least costly, appropriate option, and
  • the cost of the repairs has been pre-approved by ministry

Emergency home repairs may include essential items for the protection, replacement, and repair that are part of the physical structure of the recipient’s home and the repair or replacement of home heating and cooking appliances when no other means are available for home heating and cooking, and all other eligibility requirements are met.

Effective: December 1, 2018

A crisis supplement for essential utilities may be provided if recipients meet the requirements for a crisis supplement [see Policy – Requirements], and

• where utility is provided by an essential utility provider (e.g., BC Hydro, FortisBC):

• are behind in their payments (in arrears); and
• are facing the risk of disconnection or have been disconnected; or

• where utility is not provided by an essential utility provider:

• are facing the risk of having no fuel for heating or for cooking meals.

Where utility is provided by an essential utility provider, the supplement can be provided prior to a disconnection notice being issued. Confirmation of arrears, in the form of documentation, is required.

Essential utilities are:

• fuel for heating
• fuel for cooking meals
• water
• hydro

Fuel for heating and fuel for cooking meals may include natural gas, heating oil, firewood and propane.

Effective: December 1, 2018

To determine if eligible for a crisis supplement, follow these steps:

1. Review request with recipient.
2. Determine if the situation meets the requirements for crisis assistance, as set out in policy.
3. Determine what actions the recipient has taken to meet the need prior to making the request.
4. If the amount is above your authority level, discuss your recommendation with a Supervisor and request approval via the approval process.
5. If the request does not meet the requirements, ensure the recipient clearly understands the reasons why, refer the recipient to other resources and provide information on the reconsideration process.
6. Make notes on the case.

[For information on methods of payment, see Related Links – Individual Case Management.] 

Effective: October 1, 2018

1. Advise the recipient to contact BC Hydro to provide verbal consent to discuss with ministry.
2. Advise the recipient of BC Hydro’s Customer Crisis Fund (CCF) grant [see Additional Resources – Customer Crisis Fund].
3. Contact BC Hydro to arrange payment.  During the call ministry staff will:
   1. Issue the minimum amount required by BC Hydro to avoid disconnect or reconnect hydro (usually half of the overdue amount accrued while in receipt of assistance plus reconnect fee where applicable).
   2. Advise BC Hydro that we inform all crisis supplement recipients of the CCF. Note: BC Hydro staff will review the CCF application and determine eligibility.
4. Set up automatic monthly payments for the total of:
   1. any remaining arrears after crisis supplement and the CCF grant have been applied (if BC Hydro has determined recipient is eligible), and
   2. Equal Payment Plan payment for upcoming bills.
5. Issue a BC Hydro Payment Notification Letter (HR3680) to the recipient advising of the arrangements made with BC Hydro and that they are to monitor and contact the ministry regarding any changes to their BC Hydro bill amounts [see Forms and Letters].
6. Make notes on the case.

[For information on methods of payment, see Related Links – Individual Case Management.]

Effective: June 6, 2007

Emergency/Disaster supplement is only to be used when authorized by the Assistant Deputy Minister of Service Delivery Division through a Management designate.  Staff will be advised when use of this supplement is required due to an emergency/disaster (i.e., flooding in an area, pandemic lock down, wildfires).

Depending upon the nature of the emergency or disaster, Emergency Support Services (ESS) may be involved and will provide immediate assistance generally for up to 72 hours or longer depending on the circumstances. If required, the ministry may be assisting recipients and applicants in the preparation/evacuation stage and in the recovery stage.

When use of the emergency disaster supplement has been authorized by the Assistant Deputy Minister, staff can determine if a client meets the criteria for an emergency/disaster supplement, using these steps:

1. Review request with the client.
2. Determine if the situation meets the requirements for an emergency/disaster supplement, as set out in policy.
3. Determine what actions the client has taken to meet the need prior to making the request.
4. If the request does not meet the requirements, ensure the client clearly understands the reasons why, refer the client to other resources and provide information on the reconsideration process.

If the request meets the requirements, review communication provided from Assistant Deputy Minister or Management designate for how to issue.

Effective: June 6, 2007

To assess eligibility of applicants affected by an emergency/disaster situation, follow these steps:

1. Assess emergency need and provide expedited application.
2. Complete BCEA Application Stage 2.  [For more information, see Related Links - BC Employment and Assistance Application - Stage 2 - Procedures].
3. Waive requirements for the three-week work search and record reasons. 
4. Assess eligibility for income assistance, disability assistance or hardship assistance by following policy and procedures.
   
   Example: A family affected by flooding may have employment to return to once their place of employment is operational again and may be eligible for Hardship – Income in Excess or Hardship – Assets in Excess. If your reasons for determining eligibility are due to an emergency/disaster situation, record the details of the circumstances and the asset or income.  Advise the client that if further hardship assistance is required, eligibility must be re-established each month.