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Updated February 19, 2007

SANCTIONS FOR FRAUD

Background

• Sanctions are aimed at deterring and preventing fraud to ensure income assistance is provided to those most in need.

• The ministry investigates all allegations of fraud.

Policy

• Sanctions for income assistance fraud vary depending upon the type of conviction.

• Lifetime sanctions apply to criminal convictions and where there are three or more offences under the BC Employment and Assistance (BCEA) legislation.

Sanction periods:

• If convicted under the Criminal Code of Canada:
  • lifetime sanction.
• If convicted under the BCEA legislation:
  • 1^st offence - 1 year sanction
  • 2^nd offence - 2 year sanction
  • 3^rd offence - lifetime sanction
• Clients with civil judgements in relation to overpayments of assistance:
  • 1^st offence - 3 month sanction
  • 2^nd offence - 6 month sanction
  • 3^rd offence - 1 year sanction

Sanction amounts:

• Sanction amounts for the periods listed above depend on family type.

• Clients without children are disqualified from receiving assistance for the specific period associated with the type of conviction.

• Families with children remain eligible for assistance, but have their assistance reduced for the specific period associated with the type of conviction:
  • $100 reduction per month for single parents
  • $100 reduction per month if only one adult is convicted
  • $200 reduction per month if both adults are convicted

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