Personal Comfort Allowance

6-5 Personal Comfort Allowance


PURPOSE



1. To provide for the additional personal needs of the applicant. Persons eligible for the Disability Support Program are not eligible for an allowance under this policy.



PRINCIPLE



2. Personal care or comfort items may include items for personal care and hygiene, or to meet leisure, social and recreational needs.



3. Persons with a disability generally have fewer opportunities to earn casual income.



4. Employable persons should be able to earn casual income or perform functions in the home in exchange for some items of personal need.



POLICY



5. A Personal Care allowance of $53 per month may be granted to applicants who are unable to provide for themselves, to pay for items of personal care or comfort.



6. An employable applicant capable of earning casual income is not eligible to receive this allowance. An applicant with a disability earning casual income greater than $100.00 per month, is not eligible to receive this allowance. These persons shall receive the personal allowance included in the FCHP rate only.



PROCEDURE



7. Allowance levels should be determined on the basis of real need. It may be that an individual has very few personal expense needs, depending on his/her circumstances.



8. The Personal Care Allowance is not to be confused with the Comfort Allowance payable to residents of nursing homes or manors. Social assistance benefits to persons living in nursing homes or manors, as defined in Regulation 1(1)(q), are administered by the Director of Long Term Care.