Petition to Reform BC Disability Assistance and Self-Employment Policy: End Poverty Traps for People with Disabilities

We, the undersigned residents of British Columbia and supporters across Canada, urge the Government of British Columbia to enact urgent reforms to the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (EAPWD) Act and Self-Employment Program (SEP).

Current policies create unnecessary barriers that keep people with disabilities in poverty, prevent thriving PWD-owned businesses, and punish those seeking financial freedom through self-employment. These rules keep families in poverty and block opportunities for new job creation, economic inclusion, and community health.

We call for the following reforms:

1. Raise the business asset exemption under SEP from $50,000 to match the $100,000 personal asset limit, allowing disabled entrepreneurs to invest and grow stable businesses.
2. Align permitted business expenses under SEP with those recognized by the Canada Revenue Agency—including marketing, cloud/AI tools, home office costs, professional services, and family wages—ensuring there is no double standard.
3. Reduce benefit clawbacks from 100% to no more than 50-70% for earnings above the annual exemption, so that work and entrepreneurship always pay.
4. Eliminate all asset tests for disability assistance, as recommended by BC’s own Basic Income Expert Panel, to finally remove these poverty traps.
5. Recognize incorporated and cooperative businesses as separate from personal assets for income and asset eligibility calculations.
6. Streamline the SEP approval and reporting process, providing accessible supports for PWD who cannot navigate complex paperwork due to their disabilities.
7. Fund dedicated entrepreneurship supports for people with disabilities—including trained caseworkers and business development grants of $10,000 or more.
8. Raise the Annualized Earnings Exemption to at least $20,000 (indexed to inflation), so disabled British Columbians can support themselves, their families, and their employees.
9. Establish independent review tribunals and mediation for SEP disputes, outside the ministry itself, to ensure fairness and transparency.
10. Launch a pilot guaranteed basic income for PWD at $2,400/month so that those who want to build businesses or work can do so with dignity, not fear of losing support.

These changes reflect the core recommendations of BC’s Basic Income Panel, the Disability Alliance BC, and the needs of families and business owners throughout our province. Investing in accessibility and empowerment for disabled residents lifts up everyone in our community, grows the economy, and creates a stronger, fairer BC for all.

We ask the BC Legislature and the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction to act now.

Support real poverty reduction. End discriminatory disability assistance rules in BC.

(Sign and share this petition. Together we can create an inclusive and prosperous British Columbia.)