The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is applauding the province's change to how employment earnings impact people receiving disability assistance.
People with physical or mental health issues receiving disability assistance can benefit from new relaxed rules on what they can earn each month before it affects their payments.
The Annualized Earning Exemption (AEE) allows individuals receiving disability assistance, who have also earned employment income, to use their exemption on an annual basis, rather than monthly.
CMHA-South Cariboo branch executive director Susann Collins says she personally thinks the AEE is a "great and wonderful" change for the many people it affects.
There is still a limit on how much these people can receive, but by calculating it on annual basis, there is no longer a monthly maximum.
In the past, Collins explains if someone was well for a period of time and worked, their disability was reduced or even cut off.
"What really helps is it allows some flexibility and some room for people who are well for parts of the year, and then not well. It gives them this good capacity to work while they are well – it's like a safety net for them to go back to when they are not well."
It seems the provincial government is stepping back and looking more at the bigger picture over 12 months, she adds.
"This takes in more people than just those with mental health issues, such as a seasonal affective disorder or chronic pain. Sometimes it is better at different times of the year."
Collins adds it also allows those who work, or are considering employment, the capacity and incentive to do so without worrying too much about having their disability cheques discontinued.
"It could be a little counterproductive before."
The change also provides some education for her clients to help foster a better understanding on how it all works, which Collins says she will blend into the local CMHA's-supporting documents.
She notes people on disability assistance with this new information will likely feel more comfortable in seeking and accepting employment.
"I think people don't necessary understand how it works, and they are worried if they make too much it will get taken off [their cheque] because there isn't a lot of information put out there.
"So this will take a little bit of the fear away around working, and gives a bit of wiggle space."