- applied to the amount owing on the family unit’s current place of residence
- used to pay rent for the family unit’s current place of residence
- a quarterly Climate Action Tax Credit and the one-time Climate Action Dividend under the Income Tax Act (BC)
- retroactive compensation awards, including interest for pain and suffering, made under the Criminal Injury Compensation Act, for claimants who were minor victims of assault in which these compensation decisions were deferred
- tenant compensation payments [see Related Links – Income Treatment & Exemptions – Policy – Tenant Compensation]
- funds held in, or money withdrawn from, a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
- money from a lump-sum settlement paid by the Government of BC to persons awarded compensation in respect of claims of abuse at Woodlands School
- money paid or payable from a fund established by the government of British Columbia, the government of Canada and the City of Vancouver in relation to a recommendation in the final report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry
- payments granted by the government of BC under the Temporary Education Support for Parents program
- money paid or payable by the government of British Columbia to a person in accordance with an award or settlement in respect of a claim for injury, loss or damage caused by the minister, the ministry, an employee of the ministry or a person retained under a contract to perform services for the ministry
- money paid or payable by Community Living BC (CLBC) to a person in accordance with an award or settlement in respect of a claim for injury, loss or damage caused by CLBC, an employee of CLBC or a person retained under a contract to perform services for CLBC
- a disabled contributor’s child benefit – Canada Pension Plan
- foster care payments to clients for the care of children [for more information see Related Links – Income Treatment & Exemptions – Policy – Ministry of Children and Family Development]
- money paid, or payable by the Public Guardian and Trustee in respect of a child
- money that is paid or is payable by the government of British Columbia to or for a person if the payment is in accordance with an award in a legal proceeding or with a settlement agreement in respect of a claim for injury, loss or damage caused by the Minister of Children and Family Development, that ministry, an employee of that ministry or a person retained under contract to perform services for that ministry
- money that is paid or payable by the government of British Columbia to or for a person because the person was a resident of Woodlands School
- money that is paid or payable under the Memorial Grant Program for First Responders established under the authority of the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Act (Canada)
- payments (including money, or goods or services received “in kind”) made by an organization that has received a Work Experience Opportunities Grant (WEOG) from the ministry, to a person participating in a WEOG funded work experience program
- money that is paid or payable from the Ross et al. v. Her Majesty the Queen Final Settlement Agreement and Supplementary Agreement
- money that is paid or payable from the Toth v. Her Majesty the Queen Final Settlement Agreement
- a rebate of all or part of a premium paid to the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC)
- Indigenous Financial Settlements [see Related Links – Income Treatment & Exemptions – Policy – Indigenous Financial Settlements]
- money paid or payable to or for an injured person in relation to the injury if the money is paid or payable for the purpose of covering expenses that are necessary only because of the injury [see Related Links – Income Treatment & Exemptions – Policy – Payments Related to an Injury]
- money paid or payable to or for an injured person in relation to the injury if the money is not for a specific purpose and the minister is satisfied the money will be used to cover expenses that are necessary only because of the injury [see Related Links – Income Treatment & Exemptions – Policy – Payments Related to an Injury]
- income earned by a dependent child in the family unit
Asset Limits for Persons Applying for PWD Designation
Effective: July 20, 2011
Persons who intend to apply for the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation and who are in need of financial support may receive income assistance and retain their assets at the higher limits (including assets over the PWD level in the process of being transferred into a trust or Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)) applicable to recipients of disability assistance, until their PWD designation is determined.
To qualify for income assistance, these applicants are required to meet all eligibility criteria under the Employment and Assistance (EA) Regulation, with the exception that their assets are to be tested at the higher limits allowed to recipients of disability assistance as noted above [see Rate Tables or Additional Resources – Assets]. While waiting for the determination of their PWD designation, they are entitled to retain assets over the income assistance limits, but not exceeding the asset limits applicable to recipients of disability assistance except as noted above [see Related Links – Designation Application].
Asset Limits for Clients Receiving Accommodation or Care in a Private Hospital or Special Care Facility or Admitted to a Hospital for Extended Care
Effective: December 1, 2015
Clients receiving accommodation or care in a private hospital or a special care facility (other than a residential substance use facility), or who are admitted to a hospital for extended care are subject to the same general asset exemptions as clients with the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation [see Rate Tables or Additional Resources – Assets].
These clients can also access the same trust policy exemptions as PWD clients, including the temporary asset exemption for assets intended for a trust or Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) [for more information, see Related Links – Trusts].
Effective: May 1, 2005
Disposing of Property or Assets for Inadequate Consideration
Applicants and recipients may not sell an asset for an amount that is less than its intrinsic value. Doing so may result in a period of ineligibility or rate reduction.
This rule applies to disposal of assets within two years prior to application or while the recipient is in receipt of assistance.
[For information on the period of ineligibility or rate reduction, see Related Links – Sanctions.]
Disposal of Property to Reduce Assets
Applicants and recipients who decrease the value of their assets by giving them to family or others with the intent of reducing their assets to make themselves eligible for assistance may have sanctions applied to their family unit’s assistance.
This rule applies to disposal of assets within two years prior to application or while the recipient is in receipt of assistance.
[For information on the period of ineligibility or rate reduction, see Related Links – Sanctions.]
Failing to Accept or Pursue Assets
Applicants and recipients who fail to accept or pursue assets may be ineligible for assistance or may have a rate reduction applied to the family unit’s assistance.
This rule applies to the failure to pursue or accept assets within two years prior to application for assistance or while the recipient is in receipt of assistance.
[For information on the period of ineligibility or rate reduction, see Related Links – Sanctions.]
Types of Assets
Effective: August 1, 2024
Cash Assets
Cash assets are defined in regulation as money on hand, money in bank accounts, money orders, or cheques that can be immediately cashed.
Note: Asset limits as set out in the Assets Rate Table include cash assets [see Rate Tables or Additional Resources].
Vehicles
When determining eligibility for income assistance or disability assistance, one motor vehicle is exempt for the purposes of determining an applicant’s or recipient’s assets if it is generally used for day-to-day transportation needs.
Subsequent vehicles are not exempt and the equity is included as part of the applicant or recipient’s asset limit.
The Vehicle Market Research (VMR) Canada Site may be used to verify a vehicle’s wholesale value and NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) Guides to value other types of vehicles (e.g., motorcycles) [see Additional Resources].
When determining the wholesale value of a subsequent vehicle, only the year, make, model, and mileage of the vehicle will be considered. Additions such as “upgrades” will not be considered. Example: 2004 Ford Focus 4 door station wagon (120,000 KM) with power locks and air conditioning would be treated as standard. Additions such as the air conditioning and power locks would not be considered when determining the wholesale value. Once the wholesale value is determined, if it is under the allowable asset level, no further documentation is needed. If the client disputes the value (e.g. because the vehicle is in poor condition) or if the client advises their equity is less than the value due to an outstanding loan on the vehicle, the onus is on the client to provide proof of the vehicle’s value and/or their equity.
A leased vehicle is not considered an asset.
Jointly Owned Assets
When it is determined that an asset that is jointly owned cannot be disposed of because the other owner will not co-operate, the Supervisor may deem the asset not available. This decision is valid for a six-month period and may be extended for a maximum of two years.
Sale of Personal Property
Money received from the sale of personal property is an asset. For example, selling a vehicle or personal property such as clothing.
Specific exemption rules apply to the sale of a primary residence, see topic below.
Sale of Primary Residence
The money received from the sale of a primary residence is exempt from income during the month of the sale and is an exempt asset for the following three months.
The ministry may grant an extension beyond three months if it is satisfied that the family unit is making reasonable efforts to purchase another primary residence for the family unit. The ministry may approve this extension for one or more additional calendar months.
In some cases, the sale may be arranged through a specific financial arrangement between the buyer and seller called a “mortgage on” or an “agreement for sale” of the family unit’s previous place of residence. These arrangements are uncommon. The money received from these arrangements may be exempt if it is used in the following situations:
- the money is used for the mortgage on the family unit’s current place of residence
- the money is used to pay rent for the family unit’s current place of residence
Compensation Payments
A compensation payment considered exempt under Section 11 (1) ss. (o) – (t), (ii), (ooo), and (5) of the EA Regulation and Section 10 (1) ss. (o) – (t), (ii), (nnn), and (4) of the EAPWD Regulations may continue to be exempt if it is converted to a non-exempt asset. It is, however, the responsibility of the client to clearly document that the funds used to purchase this non-exempt asset originated directly from the compensation payment.
For example, if a client received a Hepatitis C settlement and invested those funds in a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), the funds could still be considered a Hepatitis C settlement provided the client could clearly document their origin.
Payments Related to an Injury
Money paid in relation to an injury is fully exempt if it is paid for expenses or if the ministry is satisfied the money will be used for expenses. See Related Links – Income Treatment & Exemptions – Policy – Payments Related to an Injury. These exemptions also apply to the money if it is held to pay for anticipated expenses that are necessary only because of the injury.
- If a person receives an annual WorkSafeBC payment to pay for home maintenance services, and the person pays for the services each month as the year progresses, the money is fully exempt.
- If a person receives an ICBC payment and schedules a contractor to build a wheelchair ramp on their house, the money is exempt while waiting for the contractor to complete the work.
If an anticipated expense does not occur, the exemption will cease to apply because the ministry will no longer be satisfied that the money will be used to cover expenses necessary only because of the injury. A new eligibility decision would be made at that time, without assessing any overpayment for the period that the exemption was already applied.
- If a person anticipated using an ICBC payment to build a wheelchair ramp on their house and later decides not to, the ministry would make a new eligibility decision based on the person’s assets, asset limit, and potential exemptions at that time. No overpayment would be assessed for the period the person anticipated building the ramp.
- In the above scenario, if the person decides not to build the wheelchair ramp and to move into a wheelchair accessible home instead, the ministry may apply the exemption to cover the moving expenses because the move was necessary because of the injury.
Business Assets
For participants in the ministry’s Self-Employment Program (SEP), the following assets are exempt when approved in the business plan:
- any assets of the business, including business tools and equipment, that enhance the long-term viability or functionality of the small business
- a reserve account of up to the amount shown in Rate Table: Assets. [see Rate Tables or Additional Resources] established to meet anticipated future business expenses
- business loans used for permitted operating expenses or approved renovations, or deposited in the cash asset development account
Business assets (including cash asset accounts) are no longer exempt once participation in the self-employment program ends. [For more information, see Related Links - Self-Employment Program (SEP) for PPMB and PWD.]
Asset Development Account Programs and Asset Development Accounts
An asset development account (ADA) Program is a savings program established and operated by an external agency, and is designed to encourage individuals with low incomes to save money for undertakings that will lead to, or enhance, self-sufficiency. For the period that an applicant or recipient is participating in an ADA Program, the funds in their asset development account are exempt as an asset.
An ADA Program must be approved by the ministry for the purposes set out in BCEA regulations in order for the savings and contributions in a client’s asset development account to be exempt as assets. Funds saved may only be used for the purposes of enhancing self-sufficiency. Examples of accepted purposes include:
- education leading to self-sufficiency
- skills training leading to self-sufficiency
- starting a self-employment enterprise leading directly to self-sufficiency, or for PWD and PPMB clients, to increased self-reliance and independence.
If an applicant or recipient does not use all or part of the money contributed to an asset development account for the purposes specified under the program, the asset exemption ceases to apply to that portion of the money not used for these purposes.
Ministry Approval of an Asset Development Account Program
Approval of an asset development account (ADA) Program for the purposes set out in BCEA Regulations may be granted by an Executive Director on behalf of the Minister. In order for the ministry to assess whether an ADA Program meets the purposes set out in BCEA Regulations, ADA Program Operators must provide a description of the ADA Program including the following information:
- how individual client asset development accounts will be managed
- contribution amounts or matching ratios
- duration of client participation
- purpose(s) of accounts
- how clients may withdraw funds from their ADA
Letter of Understanding
Once an ADA Program has been determined to be acceptable to the ministry, an Executive Director may conditionally approve an ADA Program subject to signing a joint Letter of Understanding with the ADA Program Operator. A template for a letter of conditional approval, available from a Community Relations and Service Quality Manager (CRSQ), may be used for this purpose.
- The Letter of Understanding will outline the commitment of the ADA Program Operator as outlined in the program information. A template for the Letter of Understanding is available from a CRSQ.
- The Letter of Understanding must indicate that the ADA Program Operator recognizes any clients participating in an ADA Program approved by the ministry are subject to BCEA legislation and regulations.
- The signed Letter of Understanding shall be kept on the client’s case, and the CRSQ shall ensure that staff are advised of all ministry-approved ADA Programs.
Farm Assets
When farmland, excluding a house, is rented before being sold, any revenue obtained by an applicant or recipient is considered unearned income. When a farm is sold, the equity after the sale is considered an asset.
Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP)
Assets held in a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) are exempt. Payments from an RDSP are exempt as both income and assets. RDSP payments can be used for any purpose and do not impact eligibility for hardship assistance, income assistance or disability assistance.
A payment from an RDSP remains exempt even if it is converted to a non-exempt asset. It is, however, the responsibility of the client to clearly document that the funds originated directly from an RDSP.
For example, a client withdraws money from an RDSP and keeps the funds as cash while the client shops for a non-exempt vehicle. Both the cash and the non-exempt vehicle could still be considered exempt provided the client clearly documents the origin of the funds used to make the purchase.
Any ministry client can set up an RDSP if they meet the federal government’s criteria. To meet the federal government’s criteria, clients must be under 60 years of age and must apply and be found eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. Not all PWD clients will qualify for the Disability Tax Credit as provincial and federal disability criteria differ.
Up to $200,000 can be contributed to an RDSP. The federal government provides bonds and matching grants for contributions to RDSPs. Clients may also be eligible for a $150 gift to their RDSP from the Vancouver Foundation’s Endowment 150 program.
Payments from RDSPs are exempt as income and as assets.
Eligible clients may choose to transfer newly received assets into an RDSP (or trust), to avoid being over the asset limit in subsequent months [see Procedures].
Reporting Contributions
Clients do not need to report RDSP balances or contributions from outside their family unit, but are required to report personal contributions, contributions from their family unit, and payments. [see Procedures]
[For more information on RDSPs and Endowment 150, see Additional Resources.]
Registered Retirement Savings Plans
Money held in Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) is considered an asset for the purpose of determining eligibility for assistance. RRSPs may include any of the following:
- guaranteed income certificates (GICs)
- stocks
- bonds
- treasury bills
- mutual funds
Redeemable RRSPs – Unless an RRSP is locked-in pursuant to BC’s Pension Benefits Standards Act or similar federal or provincial legislation, it is redeemable. Money can be withdrawn from a redeemable RRSP before retirement but may be subject to a withholding tax and income tax. Redeemable RRSPs are considered assets for eligibility purposes and may impact eligibility.
Non-Redeemable (locked-in) RRSPs and Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) Only RRSPs and RRIFs that are locked-in pursuant to the Pension Benefits Standards Act are considered unavailable assets and do not impact eligibility.
The Pension Benefits Standards Act provides regulatory authority for locked-in pension plans and provides authority for transfers from those pension plans to locked-in RRSPs and RRIFs. Locked-in pension plans are employer-sponsored Registered Pension Plans (RPPs). When employment ceases, the locked-in funds must be used to provide a retirement income and may not be paid out as a cash lump sum (subject to limited exceptions permitted by the governing legislation, such as financial hardship). RPPs and locked-in RRSPs and RRIFs containing pension funds transferred from RPPs are not considered assets for eligibility purposes and clients are not required to unlock them.
Clients should provide the ministry confirmation from the financial institution where their RRSP or RRIF is held that their RRSP or RRIF is locked-in pursuant to the Pension Benefits Standards Act.
Once an RRSP or RRIF is no longer locked-in pursuant to the Pension Benefits Standards Act, it is considered an asset and may impact eligibility for assistance.
Loans and Credit
If an applicant or recipient chooses to negotiate a cash loan, the loan amount is not included in the calculation of entitlement, as it is not defined as “earned” or “unearned” income. The amount, when received, is an “asset” in the form of cash and the recipient becomes ineligible if the asset exceeds the asset level for the family. This also applies to funds accessed from a line of credit, credit card or a reverse mortgage. However, to be considered a loan, repayment terms must exist prior to acceptance.
Note: For information on policy regarding gifts, see related links – Income Treatment and Exemptions.
Trusts
The following client types may transfer assets into a discretionary trust or a non-discretionary trust, under certain conditions, without affecting eligibility for assistance:
- Clients who have the PWD designation.
- A client who resides in a private hospital or a special care facility (other than a drug or alcohol treatment centre)
- Clients or applicants awaiting a PWD adjudication decision or completing a PWD Application form [for more information, see Related Links – Designation Application]
[For information on policy regarding trusts, see Related Links – Trusts]
