Crisis Supplement

Last updated on September 20, 2024

Overview

Subject to limitations set out in regulation, a crisis supplement may be available to recipients who face unexpected emergency needs with a one-time payment to prevent imminent danger to their health (e.g., physical or mental health).

A crisis supplement is available to recipients under the Employment and Assistance Regulation or Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.

An emergency/disaster supplement may also be available.

Policy 

 

Eligibility Criteria

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.

 

Limitations

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.
 

Amount of Supplement

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]

 

Emergency Home Repairs 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.

 

Essential Utilities Crisis Supplement

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.

 

 

Pattern of Reliance

Effective: September 19, 2008

When a pattern of reliance on crisis supplements develops (six or more in 12 months), administration of assistance may be required. 

 

Emergency/Disaster Supplement

Effective: September 1, 2024

Emergency/Disaster supplement is only to be used as directed by the Assistant Deputy Minister of Service Delivery Division through a Management designate.  Field staff will be advised when use of this supplement is required due to an emergency/disaster.

In the event of a local, regional or provincial emergency/disaster, the ministry will provide assistance to eligible affected individuals.  Depending upon the nature of the emergency or disaster, Emergency Support Services (ESS) Provincial Emergency Program may be involved and will provide immediate assistance generally for up to 72 hours or longer depending on the circumstances [see Contacts]. If required, the ministry may be assisting recipients and applicants in the preparation/evacuation stage and in the recovery stage.

The ministry may provide an emergency/disaster supplement to or for a family unit that is eligible for income assistance, disability assistance, medical services only, CIHR or hardship assistance when an emergency/disaster has been identified and if 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 due to the identified emergency/disaster (e.g. moving or storage costs due to evacuation notice);
  • the family unit or person in the family is unable to meet the expense or obtain the item because resources are not available to the family unit due to the identified emergency/disaster, and
  • failure to meet the expense or obtain the item will result in imminent financial loss or danger to the health (e.g., physical or mental health) of any person in the family unit due to the identified emergency/disaster.

An emergency/disaster supplement is intended to aid the client in an emergency/disaster when all other resources have been exhausted.

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

Applicants who meet the above criteria may be assessed for emergency need and, if necessary, be provided an expedited application.    If eligible for income assistance, disability assistance or hardship assistance, applicants may also be eligible for an emergency/disaster supplement.

For information on eligibility criteria, see Procedures - Eligibility for an Emergency/Disaster Supplement for Recipients and Applicants of BCEA.

Reconsideration and Appeal

The Emergency/Disaster Supplement is not provided under the authority of the Employment and Assistance Act or the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act. Therefore the reconsideration and appeal provisions of Section 17 of the Employment and Assistance Act and section 16 of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act do not apply. [For more information see Related Links – Reconsideration – Procedures – Decisions that Cannot be Reconsidered.]

Procedures

 

Determining Eligibility for a Crisis Supplement

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.] 

 

Issuing an Essential Utilities Crisis Supplement for BC Hydro

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.]

 

Assessing Eligibility for an Emergency/Disaster Supplement

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.

 

Assessing Eligibility for Applicants of BCEA and Issuing Emergency/Disaster Supplement

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.

Authorities and Responsibilities

 

Authorities

Effective: January 1, 2020

Employment and Assistance Worker (EAW) and Community Integration Specialist (CIS)

Authorizing crisis supplements:

  • up to $50 per person in the family unit (food)
  • up to $110 per individual per year (clothing)
  • up to $750 (furniture)
  • up to $500 (utilities)
  • up to $500 (essential utilities)
  • up to $750 (home repair)
  • up to maximum allowed amount as per policy (sum of the maximum support and shelter amounts plus applicable “top-up” amounts) (shelter)  
  • up to $100 (other)

Supervisor

Authorizing crisis supplements:

  • in excess of $750 and up to $1250 (furniture)
  • in excess of $500 (utilities) up to $5000
  • in excess of $500 (essential utilities) up to $5000
  • in excess of $750 and up to $1250 (home repair)
  • up to $500 (essential utilities)
  • in excess of $100 and up to $250 (other)

Manager

Authorizing crisis supplements:

  • in excess of $1250 (furniture)
  • in excess of $1250 (home repair)
  • in excess of $250 (other)

Emergency/Disaster Supplement Manager

Authorizing an emergency/disaster supplement:

  • staff will be advised to issue by the Assistant Deputy Minister of Service Delivery Division through a Management designate.  

A summarized Authority Level matrix is available in Additional Resources.