Legal Aid Services

Disability insurance provides payments to people who are unable to work due to their disability. Not everyone has access to disability insurance. This help sheet from the Disability Alliance of BC will help you understand what it is, why you may want it, and how to apply.  

Read the Long-term Disability Insurance help sheet here.

The Disability Law Clinic provides free legal advice and assistance to people with disabilities. 

This service helps people who have questions about disability laws or rules that affect them. They listen carefully and give advice to make sure everyone gets treated fairly and understands their rights better.

Learn about the Disability Law Clinic here.

The Disability Law Clinic has created a resource guide with information about other resources that may be useful to you.  These include legal resources arranged by topic, and some non-legal resources. 

Read the Disability Law Clinic Referral Guide here.

Nidus provides information to people about personal planning and is an expert in Representation Agreements. They have a BC Registry for personal planning documents so you can access your documents if you lose them. NIDUS also hosts webinars to support people around these important planning tools. 

Visit the Nidus website here.  

Learn about Representation Agreements here. 

Learn about Wills and Estate Planning here.

This is a helpful factsheet about Representation Agreements. 

A Representation Agreement (RA) is a special legal document in British Columbia that helps adults who might need someone to help them make decisions. It gives a person, called a representative, the ability to help with important choices about health, personal matters and sometimes money. 

Read the Representation Agreement Overview Factsheet here.

The Representation Agreement Section 7 (R7) is for adults who have cognitive disabilities and may need assistance with important decisions. The RA7 grants powers to a representative to support financial matters, legal affairs like hiring a lawyer, minor and major health care decisions including medical treatments, and personal care choices such as living arrangements and daily activities. 

Read the Representation Agreement Section 7 (R7) Factsheet here.

The Representation Agreement Section 9 (R9) is for adults who most likely do not live with cognitive abilities and may need assistance with important decisions.  

It gives someone, like a trusted family member or friend, the power to make big decisions about your health and personal care. This means they can decide things like what kind of medical treatments you get, where you live if you can’t decide for yourself, and even what happens if you’re very sick and might not get better. You can also write down exactly how you want things to be done in the agreement, but you have to understand what it all means before you can make this kind of agreement. It’s important because it makes sure your wishes are followed even if you can’t make these choices later on. 

Read the Representation Agreement Section 9 (R9) Factsheet here.

When you’re working or making income, you might pay a portion of what you’re making in taxes. The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is an income tax credit that can help reduce the income tax that you or someone who supports you owes. The DTC gives you access to other supports, such as the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). 

Read the Disability Tax Credit help sheet here.

If you are someone who receives the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) or Persons with Persistent Multiple Barriers (PPMB) benefits, filing your taxes can be easier than you think. This help sheet will provide specific tips to help you prepare your taxes. 

Find the Guide to Filing Income Taxes for People Receiving PWD/PPMB help sheet here.

Individuals who have a physical or mental disability and have paid for specific medical expenses may sometimes get some money back when they do their taxes. This website tells you more about this.

Read about the Federal Disability Supports Deduction here.

This website shows all the ways people with disabilities can get money back from the government when doing taxes.  

Doing your taxes is something the government has you do every year to show them how much money you made and see if they owe you money, or you owe them money. 

Learn about Federal Tax Credits and Deductions for Persons with Disabilities here.

This is a website that shows you all the places that can help you do your taxes for free in Canada.  

Doing your taxes is something the government has you do every year to show them how much money you made. It’s making sure everything about your money is organized and correct, so you can pay what you owe or get back what’s yours. 

Find free Tax Clinics here.

Tax AID DABC provides free support to file taxes to people with disabilities living in B.C. Filing your taxes is something the government has you do every year to show them how much money you made and see if they owe you money, or you owe them money.  

Learn about Tax Assistance and Information for Persons with Disabilities here.

This factsheet gives an overview of what happens if someone dies without making a will. This means they didn’t write down their wishes about what should happen to their things after they pass away. There’s a law in B.C. that tells us how the person’s belongings, like their house or money, will be divided among their family and friends if there’s no will. It also helps decide who will take care of important tasks, like arranging the funeral and managing any money left behind.

Read the Dying Without a Will factsheet here.

A will is a legal document that outlines what happens to your things after you pass away. In your will, you name someone who is responsible for carrying out your wishes. This could include distributing your money, property and other belongings to family members, friends or charities as you specify.  

To make a will, you must be at least 16 years old in British Columbia and mentally capable, meaning you understand what a will is and what you’re deciding. It’s important because it ensures your wishes are followed after you’re no longer around to explain them yourself.

Read the Making a Will factsheet here.

Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) holds webinars to teach you and your loved ones about wills and estate planning.   

Making a will and planning your estate means deciding what happens to your things when you’re not around anymore. It’s like making a plan to share your stuff with people you care about, so they know what you want, and everything is fair. 

Learn about Will and Estate Planning here.