If you receive full Disability Benefits (DB II) from the Ministry of Human Resources (MHR) you may be able to access the following programs. Contact your Financial Assistance Worker (FAW) at your local MHR office for more details about the following:

Enhanced Medical benefits. Includes medical supplies, medical equipment and other essential health items and services. Doctor's letter usually required.

Dental Coverage. Basic dental up to $500 per year. Pre-authorized services (including dentures) for special work.

Diet Allowance. Up to $40 per month for person with special diet needs. Doctor's or dietician's note required.

Annual Bus Pass. Persons on DB II are entitled to a yearly bus pass issued by the Ministry of Finance. The pass may be used in any city or town in BC that has a transit system, and costs $45.00 annually.
Procedure for Obtaining Bus Pass:
€ call 682-0391 which is actually a Victoria number that you can dial free of charge without an area code from Vancouver
€ give the person at the office your Social Insurance number so they can check for eligibility
€ once your eligibility, date of birth and spelling of name have been verified, an application will be mailed to you
€ the processing of your application will take approximately six weeks, after which time, the bus pass will be mailed to you

Taxi Savers. You can apply to your Financial Aid Work for vouchers to help you with transportation costs, particularly if you don't have access to public transportation.

Volunteer Incentive funds. "CVP" program provides $100 extra per month for volunteering in the community. Usually long waiting lists. TIB program provides $50 per month (time limited).

Earning Exemption. $200 per month flat rate + 25% of total earnings

Trust Exemptions. Large sums of money - e.g. inheritances, ICBC settlements, can be set up in special trust, which allows assets and income to be exempted. It is necessary to have a lawyer or notary do the trust settlement.
Crisis Benefits. When unexpected items of need arise or for when a person runs out of basic necessities such as food.

Motor vehicle fuel tax rebate. If you fit criteria #7, that you would receive benefits under the GAIN Act (i.e. you are receiving Disability Benefits), you can receive a rebate on your gas purchases. Keep all your gas receipts, fill in forms and you receive a rebate and official gas tax number. Apply to the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations, Consumer Taxation Branch (Parliament Buildings, Victoria, V8V 2L9)

Car Insurance Discount. Once you receive a gas tax number (above) you can fill in a form at your local ICBC agent to receive a 25% discount on the basic portion of your car insurance. If you've been on DB II for over a year, you can ask for your discount to be back-dated by one year.

You may also be able to access further benefits through other sources. Always ask.

Homeowners Grant.
A further Homeowner's Grant is available to disabled homeowners. This does not usually include people with mental health diagnoses. However, if you own your own home and now live on Disability Benefits II, you do qualify for this property tax deduction. You must be receiving financial assistance from the Disability Benefits II program. You will however, have to reapply for it, with evidence that you are on Disability Benefits II, every year. You forward the proof that you are on Disability Benefits II to your municipal or provincial tax collector by December 31st each year.

Compiled by Freda MacLellan, Senior Advocate at the Mental Health Empowerment Advocates Program of the Mental Patients Association of BC, and Jill Stainsby, consultant to CMHA, BC Division.

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