Ministry Overview
Purpose of Ministry
The Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance provides income assistance, disability assistance and employment programs for those British Columbians in need. These programs are administered 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, which came into force in September 2002.
Who Our Clients Are:
The ministry delivers a variety of assistance programs and services to approximately 140,000 individuals and families in need. In order to better meet the diverse needs of our clients, the ministry has established the following client groups, each of which is supported by a suite of supports and types of assistance:
- Expected to Work (ETW): These include employable clients in need of short-term income assistance and supports, as well as those who are temporarily excused from employment obligations due to a medical condition or family situation, such as a single parent with a child under 3.
- Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB): These are clients who experience significant and multiple barriers to employment that limit their ability to be financially independent.
- Persons with Disabilities (PWD): These are clients who experience a severe physical or mental impairment and require assistance as a result of significant restrictions in their ability to perform daily living activities.
- Children in the Home of a Relative (CIHR): If a parent is unable to care for and support their child and places the child in the home of a relative, the ministry may provide the relative with financial support.
- Seniors: These include persons aged 65 years or older, with low-incomes who are eligible for Senior’s Supplement benefits and subsidized bus passes, based on their annual tax return.
- Low and moderate income families: These include individuals and families who are not direct clients of the ministry, but are eligible for health and dental assistance based on their limited incomes. Providing extended coverage to these families improves health outcomes and reduces disincentives to their financial independence.
Each of these client groups may be eligible for a suite of supports and assistance. These are elaborated upon in subsequent sections of this Service Plan.
The Services We Provide:
The ministry offers a wide variety of assistance and supports to our client groups, reflective of their client designations as well as their individual and family circumstances. These include:
- Income Assistance: Income assistance provided by the ministry includes two components: shelter allowance and support allowance. Shelter allowance assists clients in meeting their accommodation costs. Support allowance is provided to eligible clients, including clients participating in employment programs, to purchase food and other basic necessities.
- Disability Assistance: Disability assistance is available to support 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: The ministry provides a wide range of supports to clients on a case-by-case basis. A range of supplements are provided including: crisis supplements for emergency needs; medical supplies and equipment; dental and optical services; medical transportation; subsidized bus passes; alcohol and drug treatment programs and employment related expenses.
- Employment Programming: The ministry provides employment and pre-employment programs and services to clients to assist them in finding and sustaining employment — thereby achieving independence and self-reliance. Programs and services are developed and provided to clients based on their needs and readiness to work.
It is important to note that the ministry supports are part of a larger network of assistance provided by a number of provincial ministries and the federal government. Clients receiving our assistance and supports may also receive additional benefits, including the Canadian Pension Plan, National Child Benefit or Child Care subsidy — thereby substantially increasing their available income and financial independence.
Where We Deliver Our Services:
Approximately 2,000 ministry staff deliver our services through 104 ministry offices, 19 Government Agent branches and 3 Service Centres across the province. In addition to these community-based centres offering front-desk service, the ministry has also undertaken a new Multi-Channel Service Delivery initiative providing improved telephone and Internet services to our clients. Our ability to provide these services has been made possible by government’s substantial progress in bridging the Digital Divide, and the continued expansion of supporting technologies throughout the province.
The ministry also delivers employment programming services through external service providers in regions across British Columbia. These performance-based contracted services provide employment supports that are tailored to meet local labour markets as well as the interests and circumstances of individual clients.
Developed in response to client feedback, emerging technologies and local partnerships, the ministry’s service delivery network reflects our focus on improving access to services, particularly for those clients living in rural areas and persons with disabilities. Ultimately, we recognize that successful implementation of these transformational service delivery initiatives requires the continued professionalism of our staff in a service-oriented culture and replacement of outdated information technology.
Vision, Mission and Values
Our Vision is:
A province in which British Columbians in need are assisted to achieve their social and economic potential.
Our Mission is:
To focus on the customer by transforming the way we deliver services in employment and assistance, using effective and outcome based practices, and working in collaboration with ministries, other levels of government and service agencies.
Our Values are:
The ministry continues to be guided by the British Columbia Public Service’s core values of integrity, fiscal responsibility, accountability, respect and choice. These values are shared throughout government and efforts are made to ensure that they are demonstrated through all of the ministry’s activities and interactions with clients, stakeholders, members of the public and staff.
Building on this foundation, the ministry has identified additional values that shape the design and delivery of our unique programs and services, including:
Personal responsibility — The ministry emphasizes personal responsibility by assisting clients who are able to work find employment and achieve independence. The ministry supports the efforts of clients who are working to enhance their self-reliance and involvement in their communities.
Active participation — Clients who are able to work are required to actively seek employment. The ministry supports these efforts with work search and job placement services, targeted employment training and tools such as employment plans. The ministry provides additional specialized supports to persons with disabilities to maximize their self-reliance.
Dignity and Respect — In order to uphold the principles of dignity and respect, the ministry commits to treating all members of the public with equity and fairness. The ministry does this through communicating in an open manner, building effective relationships and maintaining high ethical standards.
Innovative partnerships — Strong partnerships are integral to providing quality and sustainable services. The ministry continues to develop creative and innovative ways of working with a range of service providers and external agencies, as well as directly with clients.
Citizen confidence — The ministry strives to maintain public confidence in ministry programs and services, which is fundamental to realizing the long-term objective of providing a sustainable income assistance system that provides for those most in need.
Fairness and transparency — The ministry functions under the principles of administrative fairness and transparency by informing clients of the reasons a decision is made and providing access to a fair and impartial review of the original decision through reconsiderations and appeals.
Clear outcomes — The ministry sets clear outcomes, whether in the form of well-defined goals as outlined in this Service Plan, or client responsibilities as outlined in their employment plans. Clearly setting outcomes is pivotal to measuring the success of ministry programs and therefore, to improving upon business practices to enhance service delivery.
Accountability for results — The ministry is accountable to government and all British Columbians for results through performance management systems.
Over the next year, all ministry staff will be engaged in a broad-based review of these and other organizational values. Staff will also be provided with opportunities to participate in the development of a new:
- Service Code: Establishing clear expectations of how our shared values should be operationalized into our decision-making processes and daily activities.
- Service Standards: Defining specific targets, including descriptions of what services clients should expect to receive and how they should be provided. Service Standards will, where possible, be benchmarked to comparable organizations. These Standards would be shared with clients and our ongoing adherence to these commitments would be monitored and shared publicly.
Collectively, these client service initiatives will guide all of our daily activities and provide a basis for evaluating our performance in delivering services and conduct when interacting with clients, ministry staff and other stakeholders.
