Employment and Income Assistance (Welfare) Office - Nelson

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