* For the text to voice option, on any page of the BCANDS website, simply highlight the text you wish to hear and click on the speaker icon!
“There is no greater disability in society, than the inability to see a person as more.”
Welcome to the BCANDS Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Program!
BCANDS is requesting your assistance! If you are a Band Social Development Worker (BSDW) working within a British Colombia First Nation community, and have not yet completed our survey, please click the BSDW link below and complete the “BSDW Contact” questionnaire. Thank you!
Band Social Development Worker Questionnaire
PWD OVERVIEW
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is committed to improving assistance programs for people with disabilities within British Columbia’s First Nation communities.
ISC Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Program recognizes that people with disabilities may require additional supports in order to meet the challenges of daily living and in order to move towards, and maintain, greater independence.
To assist, ISC has contracted with the British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society (BCANDS) to provide Persons with Disabilities (PWD) adjudication services relating to PWD applications received from individuals residing within British Columbia’s First Nation communities.
The PWD adjudication process determines if community members qualify for extended services based upon outlined PWD eligibility criteria.
The BCANDS PWD Adjudication program performs detailed reviews on all PWD applications received to determine eligibility. Reviews are conducted in a comprehensive, fair and accurate manner to ensure that all persons who are eligible receive the PWD designation and extended benefits.
BCANDS strives to adjudicate PWD applications received as timely as possible.
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE PWD FORMS PAGE.
PWD ADJUDICATION GUIDELINES
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) has developed Adjudication Guidelines to guide BCANDS adjudicators and associated PWD personnel as they determine eligibility for the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation, as outlined in the ISC Social Development Program Policy and Procedures Manual – BC Region.
The purpose of the Adjudication Guidelines is to ensure consistency in the interpretation of the evidenced-based information provided in the PWD Designation Application, as well as to ensure the decision-making process is reliable, transparent and effective.
*It should be noted that PWD is not a permanent designation and that ISC has the authority to rescind an individual’s designation in exceptional circumstances.
PRINCIPLES
The Adjudication Guidelines are based on the following principles:
• Decisions are based on the information provided in the application as it relates to the “test” of the criteria outlined within ISC Social Development Program Policy;
• Knowledge and acquired expertise is applied only to determine when more information is required of the referring professionals;
• Guidelines support objective assessment and provide an accumulative basis for assumptions; and,
• Summary of findings supporting the results of the adjudication process are clear and have integrity.
PWD ELIGIBILITY
All of the following requirements / criteria must be met in order for a person to be found eligible for the PWD designation:
• Be 18 years of age (individuals may apply for PWD designation 6 months prior to their 18th birthday, and if approved, benefits will commence once the individual turns 18);
• Severe physical or mental impairment (the application collects information to allow the adjudicator to make the determination whether the criterion of ‘severe’ impairment is met);
• Impairment duration of at least 2 years, commencing at the date of assessment indicated by physician / nurse practitioner completing PWD application (unless palliative);
• Impairment directly and significantly restricts applicant’s ability to perform Daily Living Activities either continuously or periodically for extended periods; and,
• Applicant requires help with Daily Living Activities. The prescribed professional must indicate that as a result of those restrictions, the person requires an assistive device; the significant help or supervision of another person; or, the services of an assistance animal to perform daily living activities (again application collects information and the adjudicator makes the determination of whether the help required meets the requirement in the ISC Social Development Program Policy and Procedures Manual – BC Region).
The BCANDS Person’s with Disabilities (PWD) and Monthly Nutritional Supplement (MNS) Program office is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 AM to noon and 1 PM to 4:30 PM.
The BCANDS PWD / MNS office is closed on statutory holidays.
If you are calling during a time the office is closed or if we are on another call, please leave a message including your name and contact number and we will return your call as soon as possible. Thank you.
To contact the BCANDS PWD / MNS Program, please call toll free at: 1-888-815-5511 ext 206 or if calling within the Victoria area: (250) 381-7303 ext 206. To email the program, please email pwd@bcands.bc.ca