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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 Northwest Territories

Income Assistance

In Northwest Territories, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) provides Income Assistance (IA) to residents who need help paying for their basic or enhanced needs. Basic needs include food, shelter and utilities. Enhanced needs include clothing, education and costs associated with having a disability. Additional supports and services, such as health-care coverage, child care, senior citizen benefits, housing and heating subsidies, are also available to eligible applicants. The amount of money a person can receive from IA depends on factors such as their income level, family size and place of residence.

People receiving IA must demonstrate that they are making efforts to improve their financial situation, by participating in activities such as job training, rehabilitation and counselling programs or by upgrading their educational qualifications. People who cannot work or participate in such activities because of a disability or chronic illness, such as hepatitis C, may be exempt. Medical documentation from a hepatitis specialist may be required for exemption.

To apply for IA, people can either call the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Office at 1-866-973-7252 or they can complete the online application form and submit it to their local ECE Service Centre office. If people need assistance completing the forms, they can get help at their local office.

People living with a disability and people who cannot work because of their hepatitis C may want to discuss their situation with their case worker so they can apply to receive a disability allowance to help with their medical needs. The sometimes-disabling symptoms of chronic hepatitis C may or may not be considered a disability.  

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment offers job training and employment programs for people who can work but are having difficulty finding a job. People can speak with their case worker to see if they are eligible for these programs.

If a person disagrees with a decision about their IA application or benefits, they can file an appeal to have their case 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.