Ministry Overview and Core Business Areas

The mission of the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance is to provide services that move people toward sustainable employment and assist individuals and families in need. Ministry services are provided under the BC Employment and Assistance program (BCEA), and are guided by the Employment and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act.

For clients who can work, the ministry encourages personal responsibility and self-reliance through employment planning. This planning process identifies client job activities and may identify any individual specialized job search needs. The ministry will then provide clients with appropriate tools and supports to find employment, including specialized programs for clients who face additional challenges to obtaining and sustaining employment.

Some clients, particularly persons with disabilities, may be unable to obtain a level of employment that will move them to independence from income assistance. These individuals are provided with ongoing financial assistance. Additional supports may be available to address essential disability-related needs and assist these clients to participate in their communities.

To ensure that individual eligibility decisions are consistent, transparent, fair and equitable, clients have access to an impartial and responsive appeal system.

The ministry delivers BCEA programs and services through six core business areas:

Employment Programs are available to assist clients to find and sustain employment. Individualized employment plans that are signed by clients may include directed job searches or referral to job placement services.

Temporary Assistance is available to clients who are capable of financial independence through employment, or who are unable to seek work because of a short-term condition, as described in the Employment and Assistance Act. Persons with persistent multiple barriers to employment are included in this group.

Disability Assistance is available to eligible persons with disabilities who are not expected to gain complete financial independence through employment, including clients with disabilities who are seeking work.

Supplementary Assistance is available to eligible people, and provides health and other supports such as health services for persons with disabilities, seniors’ supplement, bus passes, and user fees for continuing care and alcohol and drug facilities.

The Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal provides clients with timely decisions through a single-level, regionally-based appeal system for individuals who wish to appeal decisions of the ministry. The tribunal acts independently of the ministry.

Executive and Support Services provides salaries, benefits, allowances and operating expenses for the Minister’s office, ministry corporate services and program management.