Support, Shelter & Special Care Facilities

Effective: May 25, 2015

Assistance is provided to eligible family units in one of four ways:

• Support
• Support and Shelter
• Room and Board
• Special Care Facility User Charges and Comforts Allowance

The intent is to provide assistance of no more than the prescribed rates for the applicable situation after deducting any non-exempt income of the family unit.  [For more information, see Related Links – Income Treatment and Exemptions.] 

Applicants found ineligible for income assistance or disability assistance may be assessed for hardship assistance.  [For more information, see Related Links – Eligibility for Hardship Assistance.]

For information on dates pertaining to monthly cheque issue, see Additional Resources – BC Employment and Assistance Cheque Issue Dates.

Effective: May 1, 2022

Support allowance in the amount shown in Rate Table – Income Assistance – Support Allowance [see Rate Tables] is paid to recipients. The support allowance is prorated based on the number of days remaining in a calendar month, beginning with the date of application.

Child Benefits Top-up

For information about the child benefits top-up, see Related Links – Child Benefits Top-up Supplement.

Effective: May 1, 2022

Allowable Shelter Costs

“Place of residence” refers to the place where the family unit currently lives and is not limited to living arrangements in places such as houses or apartments [see Procedures-Determining Allowable Shelter Costs].

When calculating the actual shelter costs of an eligible family unit, only the following items may be included:

• rent for the family unit’s place of residence
• if the family unit’s place of residence is owned by a person in the family unit, any of the following costs for the place of residence:
  • mortgage payments
  • a house insurance premium
  • property taxes
  • with the minister’s prior approval, the actual cost of maintenance and repairs [see Policy – Home Maintenance and Repairs]
• any of the following utility costs for the family unit’s place of residence:
  • fuel for cooking or heating
  • water
  • hydro
  • garbage disposal provided by a company on a regular weekly or bi-weekly basis
  • rental of one basic residential single-line telephone

In addition to the shelter costs above, both of the following can be included in calculating shelter costs (to the maximum shelter allowance) for a family unit:

• monthly strata corporation assessment fees for a residence owned and lived in by the client
• a house insurance premium for co-op and strata owners

If utility costs fluctuate, they may be averaged over the following two time periods:

• October 1 to March 31
• April 1 to September 30

People over 65 Years of Age: 

Regardless of their actual shelter costs, eligible family units of two or more that include someone receiving Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS) are entitled to a maximum shelter rate for the family size in Rate Tables – Income Assistance or Disability Assistance [see Rate Tables]. 

This provision applies regardless of whether the family unit is sharing residential accommodation or is receiving room and board.

Shared Parenting:

For the purposes of determining the applicable shelter allowance, a family unit includes a child who is not a dependent child and who resides in the parent’s place of residence for not less than 40% of each month, under the terms of a court order or an agreement filed in a court in BC.  [For the legal reference, consult the EA Regulation, Schedule A 4(1) or the EAPWD Regulation, Schedule A 4(1).]

Minimum Shelter:

Regardless of their actual shelter costs, eligible family units are entitled to a minimum shelter rate based on their family unit size [see Policy-Minimum Shelter Allowance].

[For information on issuing shelter for temporarily reduced family units, see Related Links – Family Composition.]

Confirmation of Shelter Arrangement and Costs

Documentation from the client is collected to confirm the client’s actual shelter arrangement and costs. Minimum shelter allowance is provided regardless of documentation [see Policy-Minimum Shelter Allowance]. The documentation may include but is not limited to a tenancy agreement, a completed Shelter Information form (HR3037) [see Forms and Letters], and/or a rent receipt.

The landlord may or may not be the registered owner of the property or rental unit, as the landlord could be renting from the owner of the property (e.g., subletting).

A shelter allowance should not be denied because actual shelter cost information is provided by someone other than the landlord or the owner of the property.

Minimum Shelter Allowance

Recipients of income assistance, disability assistance, and hardship assistance are eligible for a minimum shelter allowance based on the family unit size [see Rate Tables].

In some cases actual shelter costs may be below the minimum shelter allowance.  For example, a single individual who has actual shelter costs of $40 (fuel for heating) is entitled to the minimum shelter allowance for a single of $75. If actual shelter costs are below the minimum shelter allowance, documentation of actual shelter arrangements and costs is not required.

The minimum shelter allowance is not provided to individuals residing in special care facilities as their shelter costs are paid for by the ministry through facility user charges.

Shared Residence

If two or more eligible family units share the same place of residence, the actual shelter costs of any one of the units is the lesser of the following:

• the calculation of the following steps:

1. dividing the actual shelter costs for all of the family units by the number of persons occupying the residence
2. multiplying the result by the number of persons in that one family unit

• the amount declared by the family unit as its shelter cost

Re-mortgaging

Re-mortgaging can be approved prior to the end of the mortgage term by the Supervisor.  Clients must be informed that if they are re-mortgaging prior to the end of the mortgage term, any increases in mortgage payments will not result in an increase in the shelter allowance even if they are currently receiving less than the family unit’s maximum shelter rate.

Home Maintenance and Repairs

Home maintenance and repair costs referred to in Schedule A, section 5 (2)(f) mean only those essential items of protection, replacement, and repair that are part of the physical structure of the recipient’s home.  The costs may be prorated to future months, provided eligibility to include these costs continues.  Schedule A stipulates that prior approval must be given by the minister (EAWs are the delegated authority) for home maintenance costs.

This category of costs does not include replacement of, or repairs to, appliances or decorative items.

Effective: August 1, 2023

An eligible family unit that is living in a room and board situation (other than in a special care facility) is eligible to receive the smaller of the following amounts:

• the sum of the actual cost of room and board [subject to the Minimum Shelter Allowance- See Policy- Minimum Shelter Allowance] plus the applicable support amount for each client and dependent child in the family unit shown in Rate Table: Room and Board, Special Care Facility and Allowances [see Rate Tables]
• the amount calculated under Schedule A for the applicable family unit size

In addition, each recipient who has a Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation is also eligible for a Transportation Supplement [see Related Links – Transportation Supplement].

Calculation

Room and board recipients receive the smaller amount of the following two calculations:

Calculation A:

Assistance amount = (actual room and board cost) + ($60 support per adult) + ($40 support per child, if applicable) + ($127 support per PWD designation, if applicable)

Calculation B:

Assistance amount = (Schedule A family unit shelter amount) + (Schedule A family unit support amount)   

Case Example

James is a single, 30-year-old recipient with a PWD designation.

Scenario 1: James pays $1,300 a month for room and board. James will receive the smaller of the following amounts:

1. the cost of their room and board ($1,300), plus the monthly support amount ($60), plus the monthly disability support amount ($127). The total is $1,487.
2. a single PWD recipient’s maximum shelter ($500), plus support ($983.50). The total is $1,483.50.

James will receive B: $1,483.50.

Scenario 2: James pays $825 a month for room and board. James will receive the smaller of the following amounts:

1. the cost of their room and board ($825), plus the monthly support amount ($60), plus the monthly disability support amount ($127). The total is $1,012.
2. a single PWD recipient’s maximum shelter ($500), plus support ($983.50). The total is $1,483.50.

James will receive A: $1,012.

Scenario 3: James pays $300 a month for room and board. James will receive the smaller of the following amounts:

1. the cost of their room and board ($300), plus the monthly support amount ($60), plus the monthly disability support amount ($127). The total is $487.
2. a single PWD recipient’s maximum shelter ($500), plus support ($983.50). The total is $1,483.50.

James will receive A: $487.

Note: Room and board calculations apply to recipients receiving income assistance, disability assistance and hardship assistance living in a room and board situation.

Effective: June 1, 2024

For an eligible client who receives accommodation and care in a special care facility, the ministry pays a user charge to the facility on behalf of the client.  The ministry pays different user charges depending on the type of special care facility, as shown in Rate Table – Room and Board, Special Care Facility & Allowances [see Rate Tables].

Clients in a special care facility receive a monthly comforts allowance in the amount of:

• $115 per month for persons on income assistance, disability assistance and hardship assistance who do not have the PWD designation, or
• $222 per month for persons with the PWD designation.

Each eligible client who has the PWD designation is also eligible for a Transportation Supplement while receiving a comforts allowance [see Related Links – Transportation Supplement].

An eligible family unit cannot receive a full support allowance and a comforts allowance in the same month.

If a recipient enters a special care facility during a month for which they have received a full support allowance, they are not eligible for a comforts allowance.

A recipient may be eligible for the Housing Stability Supplement if they enter a special care facility temporarily and have a residence to maintain. See Related Links- Housing Stability Supplement.

If a recipient leaves a facility during a month for which they have received a comforts allowance, the case should be assessed to determine if they are eligible for additional assistance.

Special Care Facility User Charges

To qualify as a special care facility, facilities must be either a residential care facility or assisted living residence as outlined below.

If a recipient is residing in a facility or residence  that does not qualify as a special care facility, the ministry cannot pay user charges, but can pay an eligible recipient a support allowance and shelter allowance, or room and board.

Residential Care

Residential care facilities provide a higher level of care than assisted living facilities. People in licensed care generally have complex health care needs and may require more assistance on a daily basis. There are three types of residential care facilities: community care, mental health, and substance use.

Community Care Residential Facilities

	Licensed Community Care	Community Care - Family Care Home
Facility Description	Includes: Licensed long-term care facilities, Hospitals providing extended care, and Private Hospitals	A single-family residence that provides the same high level of service as licensed facilities, but only to 1-2 people
SDPR user fee payments	Long-Term Care Services  $1,417.00 per month, or pro-rated for partial month as follows:  [Client Monthly Rate divided by Number of Days in the Month] multiplied by [Number of Days in the Facility] = Pro-rated Amount	Long-Term Care Services   $1,417.00 per month, or pro-rated for partial month as follows:  [Client Monthly Rate divided by Number of Days in the Month] multiplied by [Number of Days in the Facility] = Pro-rated Amount
	Short Stay Services: convalescent care, respite care, and hospice care $46.59 per day (up to a maximum of $1417.00 per month)
MoH Licensing / Registration	Licensed under Community Care and Assisted Living Act (CCAL Act) or Hospital Act	License under CCAL Act not required
SDPR Regulatory authority	Licensed under the CCAL Act or private hospital or extended care beds licensed under the Hospital Act	Specialized adult residential care settings approved by the minister of SDPR for which a license under the CCAL Act is not required

The Ministry of Health applies user charges to patients who occupy a hospital bed, but who no longer require acute care and have been assessed as requiring long-term residential care services. 

Persons receiving acute care in hospital beds under the Hospital Act are not eligible for ministry user charges and comforts (persons receiving acute care in hospital are not considered Community Care Residential Facilities) but they may receive the support allowance and/or the shelter allowance.

Residential Mental Health Facilities

	Licensed Mental Health Residential Care	Mental Health - Tertiary Residential Care	Mental Health - Family Care Home
Facility Description	Licensed Mental Health Facility	Provincial Mental Health Facility – Tertiary Care Units	A single-family residence that provides the same level of service, but only to 1-2 people
SDPR user fee payments	$70 per day	$60 per day	$60 per day
MoH Licensing / Registration	Licensed under CCAL Act	Designated under section 3(1) of the Mental Health Act as provincial mental health facilities	License under CCAL Act not required
SDPR Regulatory authority	Licensed under the CCAL Act	Specialized adult residential care settings approved by the minister of SDPR for which a license under the CCAL Act is not required	Specialized adult residential care settings approved by the minister of SDPR for which a license under the CCAL Act is not required

The following types of mental health and substance use units designated under the Mental Health Act as provincial mental health facilities are not eligible for ministry user charges:

• mental health and substance use tertiary acute care units
• mental health and substance use rehabilitation units

 Licensed Substance Use Residential Treatment Facilities

The Ministry of Health and the community use the term “substance use” rather than “alcohol and drug”. For this reason, the term “substance use” has been used in this topic to describe facility types. For the purposes of relating this policy topic to other topics in this manual, “substance use” has the same meaning as “alcohol and drug”. 

	Substance Use Residential Treatment Facility
Facility Description	Licensed Substance Use Treatment
SDPR user charge payments	$70 per day
MoH Licensing/Registration	Licensed under the CCAL Act
SDPR Regulatory authority

Registered Assisted Living Residences

Assisted living residences provide a lower level of care than residential care facilities and are registered under the Ministry of Health’s CCAL Act.  Assisted living residences are intended for persons who can live independently and make decisions on their own behalf but require a supportive environment due to physical or functional health challenges.There are three types of assisted living facilities: community care (for seniors and persons with disabilities), mental health, and substance use.

Note: While unregistered/unlicensed substance use residences are often referred to as Supportive Recovery Homes (SRHs), only registered SRHs are eligible for ministry user charges. 

	Registered Community Care – Assisted Living	Registered Mental Health – Assisted Living	Registered Substance Use - - Assisted Living (Registered Supportive Recovery Homes)
Facility Description	For adults receiving assisted living services due primarily to chronic or progressive conditions linked to the aging process or a disability	For adults receiving assisted living services due primarily to a mental disorder	For adults receiving assisted living services due primarily to substance use
SDPR user charge payments	$631.00 per month	$60 per day
MoH Licensing / Registration	Registered under CCAL Act
SDPR Regulatory authority	Specialized adult residential care settings approved by the minister for which a license under the CCAL Act is not required

Clients in CLBC-contracted residential facilities are provided support and shelter and therefore are not eligible for the ministry user charge [see Clients in CLBC Facilities]. 

Calculating User Charges

When a recipient is admitted to a special care facility, the approved accommodation and care rate for that facility is paid for the period that includes the day of admission, but excludes the day of discharge or death.

Excess earned income and unearned income received by the client must be deducted from the monthly invoice submitted by the facility to the ministry.  For example, the facility must deduct $500 from the invoice if a client receives $500 in monthly CPP benefits. Note: The system calculated CPP tax exemption should not be deducted from the invoice.

The Ministry of Health established a standard methodology for pro-rating the client rate to ensure all health authorities use the same approach (for clients). If a client is admitted to or discharged from residential care services part way through a month, the monthly amount is pro-rated as follows:

[Client Monthly Rate divided by Number of Days in the Month] multiplied by [Number of Days in the Facility] = Pro-rated Amount to ensure that providers and clients are not adversely affected, if a client is admitted or transferred they would be charged based on the actual number of days in the month that they are in the facility. Example:

Mrs. Green (whose monthly rate is $1,417.00 was admitted to a residential care facility licensed under the CCAL Act on May 10. For May, the charge would be for 22 days calculated as ($1,417.00 ÷ 31) x 22 = $1,005.61. 

The daily user charge may also be paid while a recipient is absent from the special care facility for either of the following:

• for 14 days for admission to an acute care hospital
• for 14 days for visitation, and seven days extension if approved by the EAW for valid reasons

Issuing user charges when the client has already been issued support and shelter allowances for the same month is not considered a duplicate issuance of support and shelter.

Effective: January 1, 2018

Clients in CLBC-contracted residential facilities are eligible for disability assistance (support and shelter) as shown in the Rate Table – Disability Assistance, as well as supplemental assistance (if eligible).  As such, clients are responsible for paying their own client contribution (rent) to the service provider.  The amount a client must pay as client contribution (rent) is standardized by CLBC and adjusted whenever disability assistance is adjusted.  If clients wish to have their rent paid directly to the service provider, the client (or designate) should contact their local office. 

The remaining support allowance is intended to cover personal expenses, including clothing.  This client group is not eligible for the clothing supplement. 

Clients in CLBC-contracted residential facilities are eligible for the Transportation Supplement.

[For more information on the Transportation Supplement, see Related Links – Transportation Supplement.]

Effective: January 1, 2018

If a recipient, who turns 65 years of age while in receipt of assistance, or an applicant with the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation who is 65 years of age or older, is eligible for Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS), but is not receiving OAS and GIS, they may still be eligible for assistance.  Any assistance issued is to be on a month-to-month basis and is not repayable. Confirmation of OAS and GIS applications are required.  The amount of assistance is found in the Rate Tables – Income Assistance and Disability Assistance.  Recipients are not to be issued Hardship – Awaiting Other Income due to pending OAS and GIS.

A person described above with the PWD designation who is eligible for any amount of disability assistance is also eligible for the Transportation Supplement [see Related Links – Transportation Supplement].

An applicant, who is 65 years of age or older and is eligible for OAS and GIS may still be eligible repayable for hardship assistance if they:

• do not have the PWD designation and,
• are not receiving OAS and GIS

[For more information, see Related Links – Awaiting Other Income.]

Effective:  May 1, 2022

To assess a client’s monthly allowable shelter costs, follow these steps:

1. Review the client’s current place of residence. Note: a mailing address is not required to assess allowable shelter costs. Examples may include, but are not limited to living in a house, apartment, tent, vehicle, recreational vehicle, or boat.
2. Determine costs associated to their place of residence, including utility expenses associated to their place of residence. Note: a family unit who has no fixed address may have rent and/or utility expenses. Examples may include:

a.           camp site or dock fees;

b.           hook-up fees, such as water or septic;

c.           purchasing wood and/or fuel (gas/diesel/propane) for cooking and heating.  Where a client is living in a vehicle or boat, fuel for cooking and heating versus fuel for transportation will be calculated on a case by case basis, and be based on the client’s circumstances.

Note: house insurance premiums can only be considered as part of shelter costs for the family unit's place of residence if it is owned by a person in the family unit.  Insurance for vehicles, boats or rental accommodation does not meet the regulatory criteria for shelter costs.

Effective: June 1, 2024

To set up user charges for an eligible recipient while they reside in a special care facility, complete the Facility/Residence Admittance, Discharge or Transfer form (HR3319) [see Forms and Letters]. Prior to the setup of user charges a special care facility may submit a Confirmation of Income form (HR3639) [see Forms and Letters] requesting information regarding an applicant or recipient’s eligibility for user charges. If the recipient is required to maintain their current place of residence, see Related Links – Housing Stability Supplement.

The recipient's monthly unearned income plus any earned income (after applicable earnings exemptions) is to be deducted from the recipient's user charge to cover the cost of care in a facility.

Ensure that this amount, is noted as a deduction on the facility invoice (form HR0150A or HR0150B see table below) that is submitted to the ministry.  If the amount on the invoice is incorrect, notify the facility and request that the invoice be amended and resubmitted.

If the amount is less than the facility invoice, the difference is the maximum amount that the ministry should pay.

If the amount is greater than the facility invoice, the recipient’s unearned income plus any earned income (after applicable earnings exemptions) should be used to reduce the Comforts Allowance amount.

Facility/Residence Invoice:

Daily User Rate – HR0150A	Licensed Community Care – Short Stay
	Licensed Substance Use Residential Treatment Facility
	Licensed Mental Health Residential Care
	Mental Health – Tertiary Residential Care
	Mental Health – Family Care Home
	Registered Mental Health – Assisted Living
	Registered Substance Use - Assisted Living Residences (Registered Supportive Recovery Homes)
Monthly User Rate – HR0150B	Licensed Community Care – Long-Term Care
	Community Care – Family Care Home
	Registered Community Care - Assisted Living

Special Care Facility User Charges – Monthly Rate Examples*

Person A (an Income Assistance (IA) recipient) is admitted August 10 at a monthly rate of $1,417.00. Facility bills ministry for 22 days calculated as ($1,417.00 ÷ 31 days in August x 22) = $1,005.61.	Authorize a payment of $1,005.61 to the facility and set a Comforts Allowance of $0 (no comforts as recipient would have received August support already). 31 days in August less 10 days plus the day of admittance = 22 days.
Person B (a PWD recipient who receives disability assistance) has a facility invoice of $1,417.00.  Their income to apply to LTC is $550 and there is no other income.	Authorize a payment of $867.00 to the facility and set a Comforts Allowance of $222 + a Transportation Supplement of $52.
Person C (a PWD recipient who receives disability assistance) has a facility invoice of $1,417.00.  Their income to apply to LTC is $1,420.00 and there is no other income.	No payment is authorized  to the facility and a Comforts Allowance is set for $219.00 and a Transportation Supplement of $52 for a total of $271.00. ($1,417.00 + $222 - $1,420) = $219.00 Comforts Allowance + $52 Transportation Supplement.
Person D (an IA recipient) has a facility invoice of $1,417.00. Their income to apply to LTC is $1,535.00 and there is no other income.	No payment is authorized to the facility and a Comforts Allowance is set for $0 ($1,417.00 + $115 - $1,535.00 = -$3.00, that is, less than $0)

 *The above examples assume the PWD recipient (if the example includes a PWD recipient) chose to receive the Transportation Supplement as a monetary supplement. 

Effective: October 1, 2021

For clients living in CLBC-contracted residential facilities, the shelter amount may vary depending on the level of care provided.  CLBC will confirm the amount to be paid to the service provider.

Clients in CLBC-contracted residential facilities are eligible for the Transportation Supplement [see Related Links – Transportation Supplement].

Ministry staff must:
 

1. Obtain verification of the shelter costs from the client
2. Enter the amount on the system as rent

CLBC-Contracted Residential Facility - Example

Person resides in a CLBC-contracted residential facility and receives disability assistance in the amount of $1,483.50. The client will pay $841.13 direct to the service provider.

The $841.13 amount is entered on the system as rent.  The client will receive the balance of their assistance ($642.37) which is intended to cover their clothing and personal effects.

 

Effective: January 1, 2018

Staff may determine that a recipient, who turns 65 years of age while in receipt of assistance, or an applicant with the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation who is 65 years of age or older, that is eligible for Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS), but is not receiving OAS and GIS, is eligible for assistance.  Any assistance issued is to be on a month-to-month basis, using the scheduled cheque issue payment dates, and is not repayable [see Additional Resources – Cheque Issue Schedule and Cut-off Dates]. Confirmation of OAS and GIS applications and that they are not in pay are required (e.g., current bank statement, letter from Service Canada, etc.). If the client still requires assistance after 3 months, then approval from a supervisor is required to issue any further assistance in subsequent months. 

The amount of assistance is found in the Rate Tables – Income Assistance or Disability Assistance.  Recipients and applicants with the PWD designation are not to be issued Hardship – Awaiting Other Income due to pending OAS and GIS.  

A person described above with the PWD designation who is eligible for any amount of disability assistance is also eligible for the Transportation Supplement [see Related Links – Transportation Supplement].

Staff may determine that an applicant who is 65 years of age or older that is eligible for OAS and GIS is eligible for repayable hardship assistance if they:

•  do not have the PWD designation and,
• are not receiving OAS and GIS

[For more information, see Related Links – Awaiting Other Income.]