provincial · British Columbia
BC PWD benefit
BC disability assistance for a designated Person with Disabilities (PWD) pays up to $1,483.50/month for a single person. That is $983.50 in support plus $500 in shelter. You also get a $52/month transportation supplement and health benefits. You can work while you receive it. Up to $16,200 a year in earnings (single, 2026) does not reduce your assistance at all. Going over the limit never costs you the PWD designation.
- Verified Aug 22, 2026
- provincial program · British Columbia
At a glance
- Worth:
- $1,483.50/mo single + health coverage + $52 transport
- Who:
- You hold the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
- Apply:
- Official program page
What it could be worth
Amount
$1,483.50/mo single + health coverage + $52 transport
- Single person with the PWD designation: $983.50 in support plus up to $500 in shelter, which is $1,483.50/month (effective December 1, 2025).
- Other households: a couple with one PWD partner gets $1,543.50 in support, a couple where both partners are PWD gets $1,967.00, a one-parent family with a PWD parent gets $1,133.50, and a PWD recipient with a spouse 65 or older gets $1,843.50. Shelter is added on top, up to $695–$840 depending on family size.
- Shelter maximums by household size: $500 for 1 person, rising to $1,140 for 10 persons, plus $50 for each additional dependant. If your costs are lower, a single person still receives a minimum of $75.
- Annual earnings exemption (2026): $16,200 for a single PWD recipient, $23,400 for a family with one PWD member, and $32,400 for a family where both adults are PWD.
- Transportation Supplement: $52/month for every recipient with the PWD designation.
Example: A single PWD recipient pays $450 in rent. She receives $983.50 in support, $450 in shelter, and $52 in transportation, which is $1,485.50/month. A part-time job paying $800/month ($9,600/year) stays well within the $16,200 exemption, so the assistance does not change.
How it benefits you
- You get higher rates than general income assistance. Your shelter allowance is paid at your actual cost, up to the maximum for your household size.
- You can take the $52/month Transportation Supplement as cash or as a yearly bus pass. You can switch between the two at any time. Just tell the ministry by the 5th of the month.
- The annual earnings exemption means your work does not reduce your assistance until you pass the yearly limit. You always keep 100% of what you earn.
- If you go over the limit, your assistance drops only by the amount above it. You keep your medical and transportation benefits, plus your PWD designation.
- You report your earnings each month using form HR0081, due by the 5th, through My Self Serve. If you keep filing reports after you reach the limit, you can return to assistance without applying again.
What you need to qualify or apply
Eligibility
- You hold the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
- You meet the financial rules for income and assets (a $100,000 asset limit for a single person or family, or $200,000 when both adults have the PWD designation).
- You hand in the monthly HR0081 report by the 5th if you have income or changes to report.
How to apply
- Apply online through My Self Serve or by phone at 1-866-866-0800. The ministry checks financial eligibility at the same time as your designation application.
- Once you are designated, disability assistance is paid in the month after designation. If you were designated earlier, it can start in the month of your 18th birthday.
- Report your earnings and any changes each month (form HR0081) through My Self Serve, or at a ministry or Service BC office.
- You can track how much of your annual earnings exemption is left on My Self Serve. You get a letter when you reach 75% of the limit.
Documents you may need
- Persons with Disabilities Designation Application (see the PWD designation page).
- Proof of your shelter costs (a rent receipt or lease) for the shelter allowance.
- Your pay stubs each month, with the HR0081 report.
Read more from the official source
Checked www2.gov.bc.ca — Disability Assistance Rate Table (effective December 1, 2025) · Sep 13, 2026
Amounts and rules can change — always confirm on the official source before applying.
This page is general information, not a CRA or provincial determination — amounts and rules can change. Not sure where you stand? The free benefits check walks you through it, or a Registered Social Worker can review your full situation.