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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Factsheet |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Factsheet |
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VICTORIA – The province has released a report projecting the number of clients that will be affected as the government follows through on its commitment to limit income assistance for employable clients to two years out of every five. The report, released by Minister of Human Resources Stan Hagen, honours a commitment made by the previous minister.
The report shows that a total of 339 employable clients who have been receiving assistance for more than two years may become ineligible over the coming year, or receive a rate reduction, as a result of non-compliance with their employment plan.
“Our commitment is to support those most in need, while helping those who are able to work to move to employment and a brighter future,” said Hagen. “A total of 339 clients will potentially be affected this year, far lower than the tens of thousands that the opposition claimed. At the same time, we are ensuring that those who are unable to work, or are doing everything in their power to find work, will be protected.”
Under the time limit policy, employable clients who do not meet any of the 25 exemption criteria are limited to a cumulative two years of assistance out of every five. The 25 exemption criteria are designed to ensure that no one who is unable to work or who is actively looking for work will lose assistance. These include persons with disabilities, pregnant women, single parents with young children, people in a special care facility or people with an alcohol or drug problem.
In particular, clients who continue to take every possible step to find work will not face time limit sanctions. Individuals who follow the steps outlined in their employment plan will continue to receive their full rate of support. These clients will be closely monitored, and the Ministry will work with them intensively to determine why they are not finding work. Employable clients nearing their time limit will be given priority job placement assistance.
“The two-in-five time limit policy is the first of its kind in Canada,” Hagen said. “It will ensure that people who are unable to work or looking for work are protected, while also ensuring that employable individuals are not able to repeatedly cycle on and off assistance for longer than a cumulative two years out of five.
“As our government has repeatedly said, no one who is able to work should be able to cycle on and off assistance for longer than a cumulative two years out of five. Two years is a reasonable amount of time for an employable person, who makes it their top priority, to find a job. If a client chooses not to follow through on their employment plan, by failing to search for or accept a job or by quitting a job without just cause, they will no longer be supported by taxpayers.”
British Columbia’s Employment and Assistance system supports those most in need while assisting those who are able to work to move to sustainable employment.
Successes include: - 85,000 people independent of assistance - $300 million invested in job placement programs - 26,000 clients placed directly in jobs through employment programs - thousands more motivated to find jobs on their own
Hagen noted that, while employable clients are leaving the caseload, more people with disabilities and barriers to employment are receiving assistance. These client groups make up, on average, 70 per cent of the caseload.
Persons with disabilities receive: - the fourth highest level of assistance in Canada - $24 million on specialized employment programs – doubled since 2001 - $400 earnings exemption – doubled since April 2001 - $20 million endowment fund for disability supports for employment
Since June 2001, more than 85,000 British Columbians have moved from dependence to self-reliance, while spending on programs and services for those who need assistance most has increased.
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