BC income assistance and disability assistance are monthly payments from the B.C. government for people who can’t cover their basic needs. Disability assistance is for people with the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation. Both are paid on the same day, usually a Wednesday, and each payment covers the next month.
How the payment dates work
Each deposit pays for the following month. For example, the payment on September 23, 2026 is your assistance for October 2026, and the December 16, 2026 payment is for January 2027. The calendar at the top of this page lists every date.
This matters when you budget: the money that arrives in one month is meant for the next month’s rent and bills.
How much you’ll get
Your payment has two parts: a support allowance for daily needs and a shelter allowance for rent and utilities. The shelter part is what you actually pay, up to a maximum for your family size. If you pay less than the minimum, you get the minimum.
Income assistance
| Your family | Support | Maximum shelter | Maximum total a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person | $560 | $500 | $1,060 |
| Couple, no children | $955 | $695 | $1,650 |
| Single parent, 1 child | $710 | $695 | $1,405 |
| Couple, 1 child | $1,055 | $790 | $1,845 |
Support is higher if you are 65 or older, or if you have the Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) status. For example, a single person with PPMB gets $610 in support, and a single person 65 or older gets $860.
Disability assistance
| Your family | Support | Maximum shelter | Maximum total a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person with PWD | $983.50 | $500 | $1,483.50 |
| Couple, both with PWD, no children | $1,967.00 | $695 | $2,662.00 |
| Single parent with PWD, 1 child | $1,133.50 | $695 | $1,828.50 |
| Couple, one with PWD, 1 child | $1,643.50 | $790 | $2,433.50 |
These are the rates in effect since December 1, 2025. A person with PWD also gets a $52 transportation supplement each month, as cash or as a bus pass.
Example: Maria is single, has PWD and pays $650 a month in rent. She gets $983.50 in support plus the $500 shelter maximum, for $1,483.50, plus the $52 transportation supplement.
Families can also get a monthly amount for each child under 19, called the child benefits top-up supplement. People on income assistance get Medical Services Plan coverage and PharmaCare with no deductible. You can ask for supplements for health and other costs, but you need approval before you buy anything.
Who qualifies
For income assistance:
- You live in B.C. and are in financial need.
- You have used your other income and assets first.
- You are out of work, not earning enough, waiting for other money to arrive, unable to work, or urgently need food, shelter or medical care.
For disability assistance, you also need the PWD designation. That means:
- You are 18 or older. You can start the application at 17 and a half.
- You have a severe physical or mental impairment expected to last more than two years.
- It seriously limits your daily living activities, and you need help from another person, a device or an assistance animal.
People with PWD can have up to $100,000 in assets, or $200,000 for a couple where both have PWD. Your home, one vehicle and a Registered Disability Savings Plan don’t count toward that limit.
How to apply
- Apply online through My Self Serve, or call 1-866-866-0800, or visit a local office.
- Have your details ready: ID for everyone in your family, your social insurance number, your rent and utility costs, your bank balance and anything you owe on a vehicle.
- Do a work search, if asked. Most new applicants look for work for three weeks first. You don’t have to if you are fleeing abuse, are a single parent with a child under three, have a condition that stops you from working, have PWD in your family, can’t legally work in Canada, or are 65 or older.
- Attend an eligibility assessment in person or by phone, and bring proof of your rent.
- For disability assistance, ask for the PWD application. You fill in one part, your doctor or nurse practitioner fills in the medical report, and a professional such as a nurse or social worker fills in the assessor report. If you already get CPP disability or Community Living BC services, you may be able to use a shorter form.
Once you’re on assistance, send your monthly report by the 5th of each month, online or on paper.
Working while on assistance
You can work and keep some of what you earn.
- Income assistance: you keep up to $600 a month if you are single or a couple without children, $900 a month for families with children, and $1,080 a month if you have a child with a disability or have PPMB status.
- Disability assistance uses a yearly limit instead, for January to December 2026: $16,200 for a single person with PWD, $23,400 for a couple where one person has PWD, and $32,400 where both have PWD. You can earn it in any month. You get a letter when you reach 75% of your limit.
What changed in 2026
- Since December 1, 2025, couples where both people have PWD get the same support as two single people. Before, being a couple meant a lower payment.
- On January 1, 2026, the yearly earnings limit for couples where only one person has PWD rose from $19,440 to $23,400.
- Income assistance rates did not change. The current income assistance rate table took effect August 1, 2023.
Payment late, missing or different?
Check My Self Serve first. It shows what you are eligible to get on the next payment date and any messages about your file. If your payment still hasn’t arrived, call 1-866-866-0800 or visit your local office.
Common reasons a payment is late, smaller or missing:
- Your monthly report wasn’t in by the 5th.
- You reported earnings over your exemption, so your payment went down.
- You moved, changed banks or changed your rent and the ministry doesn’t have the new details.
- Your family changed, for example a new partner or a child leaving home.
If you disagree with a decision, you have 20 business days to ask for a reconsideration. You should get the answer within 10 business days. If you still disagree, you have 7 business days to appeal to the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal.
Watch for scams. The government never asks for fees, gift cards, cryptocurrency or passwords by text or email. If something seems off, call 1-866-866-0800 yourself.
Other help you might be missing
Tax benefits don’t reduce your assistance, so file your taxes every year.
- Canada Disability Benefit: up to $204.20 a month for July 2026 to June 2027 if you are 18 to 64 and approved for the disability tax credit. B.C. lets you keep all of it.
- BC Family Benefit: a monthly payment for families who get the Canada Child Benefit, paid with it.
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: a tax-free quarterly payment you get by filing your taxes.
- CPP disability: if you worked and paid into CPP before your disability.
- BC Senior’s Supplement: a provincial top-up once you are 65 and get OAS and the GIS.
Common questions
When is income assistance paid in BC?
Once a month, usually on a Wednesday in the second half of the month. Each payment covers the next month. The calendar at the top of this page lists every date.
How much is disability assistance in BC for a single person?
Up to $1,483.50 a month: $983.50 for support and up to $500 for shelter, plus a $52 transportation supplement. These rates have been in effect since December 1, 2025.
Does the Canada Disability Benefit affect BC disability assistance?
No. B.C. fully exempts it, so you keep every dollar of the federal benefit on income, disability or hardship assistance.
Can I work while on disability assistance?
Yes. In 2026 a single person with PWD can earn up to $16,200 for the year without any change to their assistance.
How long does it take to get approved?
It depends on your situation. New applicants usually do a three-week work search, then an eligibility assessment, unless they are exempt from the work search.
What if I’m not eligible but still in need?
Ask about hardship assistance. Call 1-866-866-0800 or visit a local office to find out if you qualify.
