A list of links to Income Assistance and Child Cares Forms in NWT (in PDF).

Education, Culture and Employment Home Page is the online site for the ministry responsible for welfare in the Northwest Territories.

• Income Security Division - Information for students, children, seniors and adults on applying for and receiving income support.
• Income Assistance Policy Manual (in PDF) - Welfare policies in the Northwest Territories.

BC Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance is the BC government's site for welfare. It has information on how to apply, how much you are eligible for, what you need to apply, and other information.

• Applying for BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) - How to apply for welfare in BC. Translations available in Chinese, French, Hindi, Persian, Polish, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
• BC Employment and Assistance Web Orientation - You must complete an orientation session no more than 60 days before applying for BC Employment and Assistance. You can attend a session at an office, or complete a web session.
• Income Assistance Estimator - You can estimate how much you may receive on welfare.
• Enquirer's Checklist - What you need to apply for welfare.
• Assistance Rate Table - Rates for welfare, disability, child in care of a relative, hardship assistance, general supplements, health supplements and programs, and the seniors supplement.
• Information for Persons with Disabilities
• Information on Child Care Subsidies
• Cheque Issue Dates
• Factsheets and Brochures
• BC Employment and Assistance Online Resource
• Latest Updates to the site

The Community Advocates Network in Halifax has put together a mini manual for people navigating the income assistance program called Social Assistance and You (in PDF). You can download chapters of the manual below.

BCPIAC has released a fact sheet on the Emergency Needs Assessment (in PDF). The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance usually requires people applying for welfare to complete a 3-week work search before you can receive any benefits. You do not have to do a 3-week work search if you:

• need food, a place to stay or medical attention right away (if so, you must ask for an “Emergency Needs Assessment” and this assessment should happen within 24 hours);
• are 65 or over;
• have a severe physical or mental condition that doesn’t allow you to search for a job;
• are applying for “child in the home of a relative” benefits;
• are fleeing an abusive spouse or relative; and/or
• are not legally allowed to work in Canada.

Yukon Health and Social Services is the department responsible for welfare in the Yukon.

• Social Assistance Manual - Policy and Procedures (in PDF) - This manual explains welfare legislation, how and where to apply, how to appeal, eligibility, and amount of assistance.

Alberta Ministry of Employment, Immigration and Industry - Income Support - This is the department responsible for welfare (income support) in Alberta.

• Guide to Services for Lower-Income Albertans - Online guide for welfare, low-cost housing, health care, families with children, persons with disabilities, obtaining documents, important phone numbers. The guide is available: online, online text only, in PDF, in text only, Braille, and audio (mp3.)
• Eligibility Estimator for Lower Income Albertans - You can use this form to estimate how much you may receive on welfare in Alberta.
• Income Support Publications - A list of publications on welfare and Alberta Works, and information for those facing utility disconnections, for farmers facing financial difficulties, and people fleeing family violence.
• Income Support Regulations and Legislation - Links to laws and acts pertaining to welfare in Alberta.

Ministry of Family and Community Services - Social Assistance - This is the ministry responsible for welfare in New Brunswick.
Ministère des Services familiaux et communautaires - ça c'est le ministère en charge de l'aide sociale en Nouveau-Brunswick.

• Social Assistance Policy Manual - Manual of rules and regulations for applying and receiving welfare in New Brunswick.
• Directory of Financial Aid for Persons with Disabilities in N.B - A manual published by the Premier's Council on the Status of Disabled Persons with information on housing, rebates, CPP, healthcare, medical expenses, tax credits, and deductions.
  Répertoire d'aide financière pour personnes handicapées au Nouveau-Brunswick - ce guide était préparé par le Conseil du Premier ministre sur la condition des personnes handicapées avec de l'information sur le logement, les remises, le RPC, l'assistance médicale, les crédits de taxe et les déductions.

Saskatchewan Community Resources and Employment - This is the department responsible for welfare (social assistance) in Saskatchewan.

• Saskatchewan Assistance Plan - General information on welfare and other programs for low-income families in Saskatchewan.
• Social Assistance Handbook (in PDF) - How to apply, what you need to apply, your rights and responsibilities, health services, how to appeal etc.
• Financial Assistance Handbook (in PDF) - A booklet on social assistance in Saskatchewan by the Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan.
• FAQ on Social Assistance - Common questions about welfare in Saskatchewan.

Education, Culture and Employment Home Page is the online site for the ministry responsible for welfare in the Northwest Territories.

• Income Security Division - Information for students, children, seniors and adults on applying for and receiving income support.
• Guide to NWT Income Support Programs for Adults (in PDF) - Information on applying income assistance and other resources.

Financial Assistance and Support Services - This website has information on welfare and other social services in Ontario.

• Ontario Works - This is the website for welfare in Ontario. Ontario Works provides financial and employment assistance to people in temporary financial need.
• FAQ on Ontario Works - Frequently asked questions about Ontario Works.
• Ontario Works Contacts - A list of welfare offices across Ontario.

The InfoPEI: Financial/Social Assistance Program webpage has the links to Social Assistance Act (in PDF) and a list of access sites for applying for welfare.

Application for Income Support (in PDF) - This is the form you need to apply for welfare in Newfoundland.

Manitoba Employment and Income Assistance Program - This website has information on applying for welfare in Manitoba.

• Employment and Income Assistance Facts - General information, assistance rates, and shelter assistance.
• Financial Assistance - Information on services and publications on financial assistance.
• Employment and Income Assistance Administration Manual - The EIA Act and Regulations.

MESS provides financial support to economically-disadvantaged people, and it combats poverty and social exclusion. Visit the English MESS website.

• Financial Assistance - Welfare information for community organizations, families, individuals, and youth.
• L'aide finacière - L'information d'assistance sociale pour les organismes communautaires, les familles, les individus et la jeunesse.

Department of Community Services - Financial Assistance - This is the ministry responsible for welfare in Nova Scotia.

• Guide to Nova Scotia's Employment Support and Income Assistance Program (ESIA) (in PDF) - A guide on how to apply for income assistance, eligibility and your rights and responsibilities.
• Nova Scotia Employment Support and Income Assistance Manual - Information on welfare policies, definitions, basic needs, special needs, pharmacare, children's allowances, revenue recovery and appeals. The index is a webpage, but the manual is a PDF.
• Resources for Accessing Information - Links and phone numbers that can help you find information on welfare in Nova Scotia.

Human Resources, Labour and Employment - Income Support Programs and Services Branch is the ministry responsible for welfare in Newfoundland. This site has information on income support, health services, appeals etc. It's website contains a lot of useful information, such as:

• Income Support - Frequently Asked Questions - How and where to apply for welfare and other information.

Ministry of Human Resources
Regional Services Division

Practice Advisory #12: Intake Appointments for Applicants in Transition Housing

Effective Date: July 31, 2002

Purpose:

The purpose of this practice advisory is to explain the application process for women who are applying for BC Employment and Assistance due to leaving an abusive relationship. This advisory clarifies two possible application processes for women in this situation:

• Women who are staying in a transition house are exempt from the three-week employment search requirement prior to an intake appointment.

For purposes of this practice advisory the term "transition house" includes the safe homes that are funded by the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services in smaller communities.

• Women, who have left an abusive relationship, but are not staying in a transition house, will receive an emergency needs assessment, to determine whether their immediate needs require an expedited application appointment.

Context:

The ministry recognizes that women and children who are fleeing an abusive relationship are in a crisis situation. Exempting applicants who are temporarily in a transition house from the three-week job search requirement assists them to stabilize their situation sooner.

There are reasons why women might not stay in a transition house after leaving an abusive relationship. For example, there might not be a transition house within the community, the transition house could be full, or an alternate safe place to stay might be available on a temporary basis. This does not preclude the need to stabilize the applicant's crisis situation. An emergency needs assessment as set out in Section 6.1 of the BC Benefits Manual must be conducted for an applicant who discloses that she is fleeing an abusive relationship.

Practice Expectation:

Women who are staying in a transition house are to be booked the next available intake appointment, without a requirement for the three-week employment search. If an applicant staying in a transition house indicates that an immediate emergency need exists, that will not reasonably allow the applicant to wait for the next intake appointment (such as a need for medication), an expedited application appointment will be booked as is appropriate to the applicant's situation.

Women who disclose that they are fleeing an abusive relationship, who are not in a transition house, are to be assessed for an expedited application appointment, recognizing the need to stabilize the crisis situation quickly.

Any questions arising from this practice advisory should be directed to the Regional Executive Officer.

Alison Meredith
Assistant Deputy Minister
Regional Services Division

by Sheila Puga, Community Law Clinic

The following is a series of articles that will appear in Community Law Matters over the next year. (to order Community Law Matters, contact Legal Services Society).

Four main topics will be covered:

• The Appeal System;
• Contribution Requirements;
• The Definition of "Severe;"
• The Definition of "Prolonged."