Employment and Income Assistance (Welfare) - Trail & Castlegar

Assists individuals and families in need and provides services that move people towards sustainable employment when possible.

Types of Income Assistance available depending on an individual's situation: 

  • Regular: Regular, temporary income assistance is available to persons who, for a variety of reasons, are unemployed and have few financial resources, but who are capable of eventual  financial independence through employment.
  • Immediate Needs Process: The 3 week waiting period before getting an appointment to apply for income assistance may be waived under certain circumstances that would cause the person, or the person's family, undue hardship.
  • Hardship:Time limited, generally repayable, assistance available to those who are not eligible for income assistance due to a variety of circumstances and who have proven that all other funding sources have been exhausted.
  • Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers to Employment: Available to individuals who have received income assistance for 12 of the last 15 months and have severe multiple barriers to employment and meet other criteria.
  • Persons with Disabilities: Longer term assistance to those who have serious, long-term mental or physical disabilities who are not expected to gain complete financial independence through employment
  • Supplementary Assistance: A variety of supplementary health and other benefits and supports are available depending on category of income assistance being received.
  • Employment programs and services

Go online or phone for more information and to apply. 

Infomation & computer access available at the Service BC Office in Trail.

Address / Contact Info

Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR) Service BC Office
1520 Bay Avenue Trail, BCV1R 4B3

Phone Numbers

Toll-free: 1-866-866-0800
Fax (toll-free): 1-855-771-8757

Hours of Operation

Service BC Office: Mon to Fri: 9am - 4:30pm

Web Links

Areas Served

Sub-Regions ServedLower Columbia (Trail Area)

Location Map

This program was last updated on: 17 Jul 2023.