HELP’S AT Hand, 4 weekly feature by the North Shore Infor- mation and Volunteer Centre, an- swers questions about and discusses such topics as govern- ment policies and programs, benefits, consumer and_ legal rights, taxation and public ser- vices. Answers published in this col- umn are intended only as a general guide and should not be applied to specific individual cases without further consultation. nat Question: I have been living on income assistance for the past two years and I have just managed to pay my rent and buy food. My boyfriend, who is working part-time, would like to move in with me so we can share household expenses Lut I’m afraid that I will lose my benefits if he does and then we would be worse off than we would have been before. What would happen if J didn’t tell anyone we were living together? What would happen if they found out anyway? And if I did lose my benefits and then I broke up with my boyfriend, would I be able to get my benefits back? Auswer: You should apply for GAIN as a family, to avoid charges of fraud. From the mo- ment you start living with your boyfriend ‘the Ministry of Social Services and Housing will treat you and your partner as if you were married. If you apply for welfare, the in- come and assets of both of you will be examined. If you get welfare it will be at the rate for a couple, not as two single people. However, you will be treated as single again the moment you stop living with your boyfriend. There are provisions in the GAIN Act and regulations stating that a GAIN recipient has the re- sponsibility to notify the Ministry of Social Services and Housing of any change in circumstances which might affect his amount of benefits. There is also a section in the GAIN Act which states that if a person ‘‘by false representation’ receives income assistance to which he is not entitled, he is guilty of an offence. If you did not tell MSSH that your boyfriend had moved in with you, and you were in- vestigated and then charged with fraud, you run the risk of paying a penalty. This could be a fine and/or imprisonment. Even if an actual charge is not made, MSSH may still terminate or reduce your benefits. Question: I am a single parent of a two-year-old boy living on the North Shore. I am anxious to im- Prove my education in order to get a good job to support myself and my soa, but on my limited income I am having a struggle to survive, let alone find the extra money to pay for schocl fees and day care. Is there anywhere i can go for help? Answer: If you have a limited income, but you are not on income assistance, you should contact the Canada Employment Centre. They have various programs to help people with education and train- ing. For those who qualify, they provide assistance with school fees, and, in some programs with day- care fees. The orientation of the programs is towards getting a job, so to get a financial subsidy through the Canada Employment Centre you would have to want to take a course or training that was approved by them. They will not subsidize a course or program just because you want to do it. The emphasis is on getting you qualified to take a job as scon as possible, not further your uni- versity career, for instance, They provide counselling to help you make decisions about job training and education. If a person is on income assistance, a similar philosophy applies. The Ministry of Social Services and Housing is willing, in some cases, to pay for school fees, but only for courses and upgrading that they have approved. If you are on income assistance, talk to your rehabilitation counsellor. Day-care subsidies are available for low-income people, and you do not have to be a GAIN recipient to qualify for a day-care subsidy. Factors which are considered in assessing whether a person will get a day-care subsidy, and, if so, how much, include the type of job training or upgrading the person is Home is where the heart is. This year’s B.C. Fall Hume Show features a major housing affordabil ity presentation, sponsored by The Greater Vancouver Home Builders Association. RSUIT A vigantic, walk-through, learning experience. It's a 7000 sq. foot, board game designed to give you housing affordability guidance: financial qualifications, land use issues, construction information, housing options, cost-lowenng advice and more. (A must in today’s home market) WIN THE CAR OF YOUR CHOICE Your ine chance to win one of nine cars, from The Richmond Auto Mail, on disglay at B.C. Place Stadium during the Show. You can win your choice. It’s a draw, not a raffle. And it's five! Plus many more features ard hundreds of ealubits. Don’ Liss the B.C. Fall Home Show. Partived by > Busgies = frre ADMISSION: Adults $5.50 Seniors $4.30 + Children b- 12 years $1.00 © Children under 6 years ERLE B.C, PLACE STADIUM - GATE A * HOURS: Thurs. Oct, 12, 4pm - 10pm * bri, Oct, 13, 1Oam-10pm Sat. Oct, 14, 30am-10pm ¢ Sun. Oct. 15, Wam-"pm a4 Fail HOME SHOW ip’s at hand taking, the amount of his income, and what type of day care the child will be in. You should contact your nearest Ministry of Social Services and Housing office for further infor- mation on day-care subsidies. wee Tke North Shore Informatiom and Volunteer Centre, a United Way member agency, is located at 1069 Roosevelt Cres., North Van- couver, B.C. V7P 1M3, telephone 985-7138. This column is prepared with financial assistance from the Notary Foundation. NO Ry iNCHECKS; NO‘ ome oe ce es we ee ee ee es ee ee Oe Vor nf SAVE | Wolo i CATCH-ALL ] GARBAGE BAGS 24's — 30°48" wimour you | vou 4oe COUPON ' | Vahd Monday Oct 9, 1989. Lunt one item vst teson ‘Coupon must de peesanied at tine of purchase rar CME I Who mm WHITE ENAMEL Bt Dennis Quinlan 21 - Sunday, October 8, 1989 - North Shore News Our years of experience handling ir injury and accident claims will help you obtain the award your case deserves. * Free Consultation Fees Available Saree eos, ® imit our fees where Ii is not disputed Derek Cave | persue Gittort - Baristrs & Sofcites Martha Konig Sule 500 Park Pave Gb Place, 666 Burrard Steet ST. TIONS: WHILE STOCK L wast Wolo om f WALTHAM WATCHES | A Sesame St. & Muppet Babies | Wooto NINTEN DO WHHOUT CONTROL 1 ot: 95 courcn f DECK Te ore evaca ne Succhese SAVE a raw om ' 1 Woo WOOLCREST WOOL 40 g. bail, tarnbow af colours you Sf 2999 ses! $149.99 Valia Monday Oct 9. 1989 | SHOPPING CART ' Limit ane item per coupon ' Coupon must be presented at ume of purchase Fro 97 Le md ¢ SUR f Vald Monday Oct 9 1089 Lert one nee pe conan SAVE q PAY sonay Oct. 9. 1989 Lien one tem pet esupon Coupon mus! be presented at ime of purchase 47 ‘Coupon must be presented at time of purchase N SAE Yr ort Wale ' OU wassssc TRIO omen MD REMOTE VCR BUXTON Figrai puny POWEL ENSEMBLE witiou" f 6 WITHOUT i we 999 “ais | LEATHER io «8 cnn i 989 Lum: c a maeanges mmumetensce” » CLUTCH ween 2 a ne j war SAVE i’ MEF Nconene ‘SAVES volo ‘ OO wos Wolo FRONT WHEEL “8 § INFANT'S 2.PCE. JOGGINGSUIT you $ UPON IGNMENT q Polyicotton 12-24 mo. witnour 00 B Cars with AC ext 95 WITHOUT i YOU > you COUPO 799 SE OY aleve ae DSS Vabd Monday Oct 9, 1989 Limit one item per coupon Coupon Mus! be presented at time of purchase r man ame ow eo | Wie SWAMPCOAT | Raincoat - poly-vinyt witHout you 95 COUPON JE {pay 9 voce) Vahd Monday Oct 9. 1989 Lemit one dem per coupon Coupon must be presented at time ot ourcnase = a ee eee oe ee ee ee ' Coupon must be presented at ime of purchase. 4 CHILDREN'S sAvENy = Valid Monday Oct 9, 1989 Lint ane stem per Coupon | Coupen must be presented at me of purchase si amy STEAKUM SAVE His Weooso sANowice Served with ines, tettuce & tomato WITHOUT You 99 COUPON I PAY 399 Valig Menday Qet 9, 1999 Limit one dem pet Coupon cel Must be presented at ime of purchase Price is just the beginning. 'NORTH VANCOUVER | CAPILANO MALL 925 Marine Drive, North Vancouver 988-6311 Mon. 11 a.m. - 5 pm. Tues., Wed. 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Thurs. & Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 pm. Sunday 11 a.m. - & p.ni.