Policy Recommendations

Raise the income and disability rates to the Market Basket Measure and index them to inflation. 

Remove the Annualized Earning Exemption (AEE) for those accessing disability assistance in full.

Annualize the earnings exemption for those accessing income assistance and raise it above the poverty line.

Remove restrictions on education and training access for parents on income and disability assistance and expand the Single Parents’ Employment Initiative. 

Provide priority access to $10-a-Day childcare to parents accessing income and disability assistance, particularly those in the expected-to-work (ETW) category.

Introduce an enhanced Early Years Success Supplement for all families receiving the BC Family Benefit with children aged five and under.

Increase the BC Family Benefit rate and decrease the threshold for eligibility to ensure families in deep poverty benefit more from it.