Income and Benefits
The Office of the Ombudsperson receives complaints about the public’s access to public funding and benefits, typically income and disability assistance.
Related resources – including those concerning access to housing and healthcare - are cross-referenced and may be accessible under Income and Benefits.
If you have been treated unfairly by the provincial government, a local government, or any other public body, the B.C. Ombudsperson is here to help. Information on our convenient and confidential contact options here.
Erika called us the week before Christmas. She wasn’t sure where to turn for help. Erika was living on her own with a five-month-old baby, no money, little food and only...
Category: Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2014/2015
Location: Vancouver Island / Sunshine Coast
Sometimes ministries ask people to provide certain documents in order to qualify for benefits or services when in fact there are alternate methods of establishing the...
Category: Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2013/2014
Location: The Interior
Louisa had recently returned home after spending some time in a psychiatric facility run by Island Health (IH). While she was in the facility, IH staff had concerns about...
Category: Health, Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2013/2014
Location: Vancouver Island / Sunshine Coast
Laura was receiving child support, which was administered through the Family Maintenance Enforcement Program. She complained about collection and accounting errors that FMEP...
Category: Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2013/2014
Location: Vancouver Island / Sunshine Coast
Monica had been working for over 30 years but couldn’t do the same kind of work any longer because of a disability. When her employment insurance payments ended, she went to...
Category: Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2013/2014
Location: Vancouver Island / Sunshine Coast
Basil receives income assistance. In 2003, the ministry decided that Basil’s income assistance file would be administered by a third party because it had experienced some...
Category: Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2013/2014
Location: The Interior
Janet’s hydro had been disconnected. She complained to us because she was worried that the ministry had denied her request for a crisis supplement because the hydro bill was...
Category: Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2013/2014
Location: The Interior
Peter contacted us because the ministry was withholding his monthly income assistance cheque. He told us he had a family of four and didn’t have money for food. He said that...
Category: Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2013/2014
Location: The North
Alana fled her home in a hurry. She had been threatened with violence and police told her to stay away. Fearing for her safety, Alana left without taking anything with her...
Category: Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2013/2014
Location: The Lower Mainland
Javier called us because he was concerned about having to wait to get an assessment to determine his eligibility for income assistance. Javier had a confirmed job in Alberta...
Category: Income and Benefits
Type: Case Summary
Fiscal Year: 2013/2014
Location: The Interior