Financial & Medical Benefits
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Child Disability Benefit
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At Home Program
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Nursing Support Services
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Childcare Subsidy and Child Care Subsidy with Special Needs
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Compassionate Care Benefits
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Ministry of Health Services Travel Assistance Program
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Palliative Care Benefits
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Healthy Kids Program
- The Variety Club of BC
- BC Lions Society
- Children’s Medical Equipment Recycling Loan Service
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Child Disability Benefit
The Child Disability Benefit (CDB) is a tax-free benefit for families who care for a child under age 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment in mental or physical functions.
Contact Information: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/goc/cdb.shtml
At Home Program and Nursing Support Services
At Home Program
The At Home Program is a Government of BC program intended to assist parents with some of the extraordinary costs of caring for a child with severe disabilities at home. It provides assistance in two main areas:
- Respite Benefits allow parents to purchase respite services that best suit their needs.
- Medical Benefits provide a range of basic, essential medical items including: medical equipment, school-age therapies, orthotics, audiology equipment and dental services.
A child may be eligible for both Respite Benefits and Medical Benefits, or a choice of one benefit. Please refer to the At Home link* for eligibility criteria:
- Canuck Place families traveling to the hospice for distances exceeding 80 km roundtrip are eligible for Medical Transportation reimbursements.
- Medical documentation confirming the dates of admission is provided to families by Canuck Place and is required by the At Home Program for reimbursement.
- Families requiring advance medical documentation can request this from our Intake Coordinator. Otherwise, families can request medical documentation from Canuck Place nurses or counselling team members while they are in house.
Please click here* for the At Home Program’s explanation of eligibility and procedures for accessing this benefit [2 page PDF].
Contact Information: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/at_home/pdf/ahp_guide.pdf [27 page PDF]
Nursing Support Services
Nursing Support Services (NSS) supports children and youth with special health care needs and their parents by providing comprehensive nursing services in their home, school and child care settings.
Contact information: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/spec_needs/pdf/cfd_nursing_support_brochure_web.pdf [2 page PDF]
Child Care Subsidy & Child Care Subsidy with Special Needs
Child Care Subsidy is a monthly payment to assist eligible British Columbia families with the cost of child care based on financial need. Additional subsidies are available for children with a disability. Please click here for more information on eligibility and a list of frequently asked questions [4 pages PDF].
Contact information: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare/subsidy_promo.htm
Compassionate Care Benefits
Compassionate Care Benefits are Employment Insurance (EI) are a six-week benefit paid to people who have to be away from work temporarily to provide care or support to a family member who is gravely ill.
Contact Information: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/publications/compassionate.pdf [24 pages PDF]
Ministry of Health Services Travel Assistance Program (TAP)
The Travel Assistance Program (TAP) helps alleviate some of the transportation costs for eligible B.C. residents who must travel within the province for non-emergency medical specialist services not available in their own community.
Contact Information: www.health.gov.bc.ca/tapbc/index.html
Palliative Care Benefits
The BC Palliative Care Benefits Program supports individuals of any age who have reached the end stage of a life-threatening disease or illness and who wish to receive palliative care at home.
Contact Information: www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare/outgoing/palliative-patientinfo.pdf [2 page PDF]
Healthy Kids Program
The Healthy Kids Program assists low income families with the costs associated with basic dental care and prescription eyewear for their children. Dependent children under 19years of age, in families receiving any level of Medical Services Plan (MSP) premium assistance through the Ministry of Health, are eligible for the Healthy Kids Program.
Contact Information: www.eia.gov.bc.ca/publicat/bcea/HealthyKids.htm
The Variety Club of BC
The Variety Club of BC Provides funding to improve the quality of life for children with mental, physical or financial challenges throughout BC.
Contact Information: www.variety.bc.ca
BC Lions Society
Supports Easter Seal Houses and provides financial assistance to families for medical costs not covered by their medical plan, summer camps and transportation to treatment, education and recreational facilities.
Contact Information: www.lionsbc.ca/default.aspx?PageID=1001
Children’s Medical Equipment Recycling Loan Service
The Children's Medical Equipment Recycling Loan Service is a partnership between the Ministry of Children and Family Development and the Canadian Red Cross.
Contact Information: www.redcrossequipment.com
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers financial assistance via the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities (RRAP - Disabilities) to allow homeowners and landlords to pay for modifications to make their property more accessible to persons with disabilities. These modifications are intended to eliminate physical barriers, imminent safety risks and improve the ability to meet the demands of daily living within the home.