Social Services
Work Opportunity Project and Aboriginal Social Assistance Recipient Employee Training Initiative
Long names but what are they all about? These fun videos explore the topics...
Work Opportunity Project (WOP)
Aboriginal Social Assistance Recipient Employee Training (ASARET)
WOP and ASARET file
About Social Development Services
Social Development Services provide assistance and support to
The objectives of Stó:lō Social Development Services are:
- Assist personal living on reserves to maintain a basic standard of living.
- Prevent dependency by developing individual and family strengths.
- Provide and help clients utilize rehabilitative services to increase independence.
Eligibility Requirements
Any person 19 years of age or older may be eligible for social assistance. If you live on your reserve, you must apply at the office that provides this benefit to your Band. Any status person living on commercial property on reserve (i.e. trailer parks) must apply through the Social Development Office that provides these services for this reserve.
How to Apply for Social Assistance
To apply for Social Assistance every person must complete all the required forms and provide all supporting documentation.
The different types of benefits that can be applied for are:
- Application for Basic Social Assistance
- Application for Handicapped Person's Allowance
- Application for Guardian Financial Assistance
All of the above benefits are income tested. All income, whether earned or unearned, must be declared at time of application. Examples of unearned income are fishing, carving, self employed through small business, unemployment insurance, any pension, honorariums, workers compensation, and ICBC claims. Earned income is considered any wages or salary.
Other common types of documentation required include proof of age, status, citizenship, social insurance number, copy of all shelter bills, and housing information. Information on Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) forms should include rent calculation, declaration of income, and a letter for the project which your home was built. Other documentation may be required.
It is the applicant's responsibility to provide all documentation to prove eligibility for benefits.
Available Social Assistance
Basic Social Assistance
Basic Social Assistance is an allowance granted for the essential needs of food, clothing and personal living expenses. Support allowances are the amounts granted to eligible recipients to provide for these essential needs. The amount granted varies with family unit size and employability.
Basic Social Assistance is reviewed once a year and all documents must be updated for the file. If any changes occur within the year, a new application is needed. Examples for when a new application would be needed are: the addition or deletion of dependants, begin employment, or move to another address.
Guardian Financial Assistance
Guardian Financial Assistance allowance may be issued to assist with financial maintenance of a child in the home of another person on reserve when the parent(s) of the child is temporarily unable to care and provide for the child.
Guardian Financial Assistance is a benefit that needs to be reviewed once every three months and can be in place for a maximum of eighteen months. The parent and caregiver must apply for Guardian Financial Assistance and a home study may be requested. The parent must also provide all income information to determine eligibility and provide any other documentation that is required for the child's file.
Handicapped Person's Allowance
The Handicapped Person's Allowance is another type of Social Assistance that can be applied for that is not a Canada Pension Plan / Disability Benefit. The Handicapped Person's Allowance application requires documentation such as identification, shelter bills, and housing information if rent is required.
The allowance is at a higher rate than those who are unemployable since the benefit allows for other costs that the client may need to cover. This benefit is also based on financial eligibility. The application for Handicapped Person's Allowance is a form that needs to be completed first by the client and a social worker, and then by the client and a doctor.
Once the application is completed, it is mailed by the doctor's office to Victoria, BC. This process usually takes approximately six weeks after the doctor has mailed the application.
Special Needs
There is a very limited budget available for purchasing goods or services essential to ease conditions which are harmful to the physical or social-well being of an individual or family.
In extreme cases of need, and when funds are available, applicants may apply for Special Needs. To apply for Special Needs, applicants need to discuss what essential item(s) or service(s) are required with their social worker then provide a minimum of two estimates for the goods or services.
Appeals
Any person receiving Social Assistance may appeal the following items to the Administering Authority:
- The refusal to grant an allowance or service.
- The reduction of an allowance or service.
- The cancellation or suspension of an allowance or service.
- The level of adequacy of an allowance or service.
- The method of payment of an allowance or service.
Grounds for the appeal must be submitted in writing.
Family Care Aide Program
The Adult In-Home program is part of the Social Development Services. Any person may apply for the Adult In-Home Care Services by calling and making an appointment to see the Social Development worker along with a Health Representative to complete all the required documentation.
Referrals
Social Development workers receive referrals for the Family Care Aide Program from other Stó:lō Health and Social Services providers, other agencies, families and individuals. After collected all referrals, the Social Development worker will assign the work to trained Family Care aides. The Family Care Aide staff consists of approximately 12 trained individuals who provide in-home service for clients of the Stó:lō Nation.
Contact Family Care Aide Program
For information on the Adult In-Home program, please contact us at:
Toll Free: 1-800-847-3288
Phone: (604) 847-3299
Fax: (604) 858-4741
Contact Social Development Services
Toll Free: 1-800-565-6004
Phone: (604) 858-3366
Fax: (604) 824-5129
