The Government of B.C. will make child-support payments fully exempt for families receiving income and disability assistance, which translates to an additional $32 million over the next three years for these families.

B.C. is the first province to fully exempt child-support payments for families receiving income and disability assistance, which is expected to benefit about 5,400 children throughout the province. The new family-maintenance exemption does not include spousal support.

The change follows consultations with families receiving income and disability assistance, as well as the disability and poverty community. To date, the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation has received close to 200 submissions, and a family maintenance exemption has been the number-one priority asked for by stakeholders.

Government committed to consult on family-maintenance payments as part of Accessibility 2024. The consultations began in December 2014 and will continue to Feb. 28, 2015. More information on how to participate in the consultation is available through the Accessibility 2024 site at:  http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=00A38B94734844319100670077421DEA

Government will continue to provide resources to help families who are receiving income and disability assistance pursue child support orders if they wish to do so.

The changes are effective Sept. 1, 2015, which will give the government time to put the necessary regulatory and administrative changes in place.

Media Contact:

Maryann Anderson
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation
250 387-6490