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Financial assistance in your region

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People living with hepatitis C may have difficulty working if their illness becomes severe or the side effects of treatment become difficult. Different programs are available to help cover costs of living for people in these situations. Income assistance (also referred to as financial or social assistance) is for people who need help paying for basic necessities, such as food, shelter, clothing and health care. Applicants may want to discuss their health status with their case worker so they can get the most financial and social support possible.

 
Programs in Newfoundland and Labrador

Income Support Benefits (ISB)

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Income Support Benefits (ISB) program is available to eligible residents through the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. ISB includes basic and non-basic financial supports for people in need. Basic financial supports provide assistance for necessities such as food, rent, clothing and personal care items. Non-basic supports help people pay for municipal taxes, eye exams and glasses, and other medical expenses including medical transportation.

The amount of money that people can receive each month depends on their individual and family needs, income, family size and where they live in the province. People receiving ISB will also be issued a Newfoundland and Labrador Prescription Drug Program (NLPDP) card to cover the costs of eligible prescription drugs for themselves and their families.  To apply for ISB, people can call their regional Human Resources, Labour and Employment Office.  Once an application is approved, the first payment should be processed within five to seven business days.

People with disabilities or severe health conditions may be able to access additional financial and non-financial benefits from disability services or other government departments, such as the Department of Health and Community Services. The sometimes-disabling symptoms of chronic hepatitis C may or may not be considered a disability that is eligible for these services. People can speak with their case worker or a staff member at a regional Human Resources, Labour and Employment office to see if they qualify for disability supports.

If a person disagrees with a decision related to their ISB application, they can file an appeal to have the decision reviewed. Having the assistance of a community advocate can usually help with this process.

 
Programs in Canada

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

CPP is normally for people who have retired from working, but if a person has a medical disability, he or she may be able to receive monthly pensions before turning 65 from CPP Disability. A person must have worked in the past and paid CPP contributions (this is a standard deduction on most paychecks). The application must be accompanied by a detailed medical assessment confirming the medical condition. Often a person must appeal a negative decision for CPP disability before the application is approved.

Employment Insurance (EI)

EI is a program for people who have stopped working because they were laid off, had a baby or are too sick to work. Eligibility is based on the number of hours a person has worked, whether they have been on EI before, and what the unemployment rate is. It is usually a shorter-term program but can help while people are waiting for other programs, such as disability pensions. EI Regular Benefits can last almost a year while EI Sick Benefits generally last about 15 weeks. The amount of money a person can receive is based on a percentage of their income from their most recent job.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Many employers have employee benefits that can provide short-term disability benefits or a disability pension. Some may even have EAPs that provide counselling and financial planning. The person should enquire through the personnel or HR department. All such enquiries are kept confidential but the employee will have to disclose some personal medical information.

Published 2010.