British Columbia’s government is creating a new benefit program that broadens support for families of children and youth with disabilities.
The province said Tuesday it is investing $475 million over three years in the new benefit and supplement program, as well as expanding support services in B.C.
The B.C. Children and Youth Disability Benefit program and the B.C. Children and Youth Disability Supplement will replace the existing autism funding program. The province said the new supports will give families more flexibility to access the services their child needs.
“From extensive engagement with families with lived experience and leaders in the sector, we heard clearly there are too many children with diverse needs who are not well served by the current system,” said Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development, in a statement.
“This investment is about significantly expanding both financial supports and services for children and youth with a range of disabilities, through a new approach that is fair and provides the greatest support to the most vulnerable,” Wickens said.
The benefit will provide families of children with significant disabilities with $6,500 or $17,000 per year, based on need. The benefit will be phased in over the course of 2026 and 2027.
Starting in July 2027, a supplement of up to $6,000 per year will be available to families with a child who is eligible for the federal Disability Tax Credit. The province said families with a net income of up to $50,000 will be entitled to the full payment amount. Smaller amounts will be available to families with incomes above that threshold.
The province said $80 million will help expand community programs, like behavioural therapy and mental health supports.
B.C.’s website for Children and Youth with Support Needs (CYSN) that over the next three years families will see a system that is easier to navigate and allows earlier access to services and funding.
The existing autism funding program was created in 2002. It offers up to $22,000 annually for children aged three to five, and up to $6,000 for children and youth aged six to 18.
The Ministry of Children and Family Development says in an email to Vista News some families of autistic children with low needs and high income may see their individualized funding reduced under the new program. It said those families would be prioritized for the new and expanded community-based services.
The ministry said respite funding and services will remain available, as well as health care, nursing supports, and At Home Program (AHP) benefits for medical equipment and supplies.
Jennifer Charlesworth, B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth (RCY), said she is hopeful the funding will lead to improvements in the daily lives of young people and their families.
“My office, along with many others, has been calling for strengthened services and supports for children and youth with disabilities for far too long,” Charlesworth said in a statement.
She said her office has issued a dozen reports with recommendations to the government since 2007 and has not seen enough change over that time.
A 2023 report from the RCY, called Still Left Out, said B.C.’s services for children with disabilities were fragmented, under-resources and difficult to navigate. It said most families reported worsening conditions over previous years, despite government commitments to reform.
It noted some children, like those with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or Down Syndrome, were ineligible for services that children with autism receive. The report said more than one-third of survey respondents said they had children with disabilities who were ineligible for any support.
Tamara Taggart, president of advocacy group Down Syndrome B.C., welcomed the expanded funding.
“We’re in shock in a good way,” said Taggart, whose 18-year-old son has Down syndrome. “My phone was exploding with texts and phone calls from different families that I know who are they just can’t believe it. There’s tears of joy, there’s disbelief, there’s just this relief.”
Provincial data show an estimated 107,000 children and youth in B.C. have support needs, not including those with milder needs such as learning disabilities.
