Child Grant Eligibility
We are here when families need us
Our support programs are designed to provide comprehensive assistance for BC children with disabilities and complex health needs.
Before applying for a grant from Variety, we recommend developing an understanding of:
- The details of what is covered within your area of need
- Our eligibility requirements
- The application and grant process
- The supporting documents you’ll need to complete the application process
- Related grants that your family might be eligible for
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for our grants, families must meet the following criteria:
- The grant must be for a child who is 0-19 years of age. (Note: for autism assessment, the benefitting child must be 4 years or under.)
- The child must be a resident of B.C. or Yukon and must have resided here for a minimum of three months.
- The child must have a valid Health Care Card.
- The grant must be for a child with a qualified medical or developmental need recognized by a designated professional. (This does not apply to private autism and psychoeducational assessments or mental wellness requests)
- The family must have total household income of $85,000 or less.
Please Note:
- Families can apply for up to two grants during Variety’s fiscal year October through September, with one application and one set of supporting documents.
- Type 1 Diabetes support has different eligibility requirements, click here for more information.
Maximum individual grant amounts per fiscal year (Oct-Sept)
- Adaptive & mobility equipment: $4000
- Van conversion: $7,500
- Mental wellness counselling: $2,500
- Specialized therapies: $2,500
- Autism and psychoeducational assessments: $4,000
- Tutoring bursary for learning disabilities: $1,500
- Tuition (school fees): $4,000
- Type 1 Diabetes Support is based on your PharmaCare Maximum Family Deductible
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can complete an application?
An application can be started by a parent/caregiver, healthcare professional, social worker, support worker, teacher etc. but must be signed and submitted by the primary parent/caregiver.
When to apply or re-apply?
Most requests for child grants are considered year round, but all grants expire on September 30.
Exceptions: Tuition is reviewed August 1 to October 31 only.
Applications for child grants may be made one time each year and will be given until September 30 (Variety fiscal year end) to complete from the time of approval.
Grants are valid for until September 30 (Variety fiscal year end) and anything unused will be returned to our general funds to support other families. Your “anniversary” date is the start date.
Variety requires a new application and supporting documents annually. All requests for new or renewals start at variety.bc.ca. While you may re-apply before your end date to avoid a lapse in your child’s therapy, new start dates will not be issued before your anniversary date.
What if the Government can fund the item I am applying to Variety for?
Where the Government can fund the item requested (partial or full), Variety requests that you apply to the Government for that particular item first. Variety will consider top ups, by providing funding for items that the Government or private healthcare plan will not cover fully. Variety may consider interim funding for services with an extended wait-time. Written confirmation is required confirming any of these situations.
What does Variety not provide support for?
The following are not funded by Variety grants:
- Services or equipment not directly related to a child’s complex needs and are not diagnosed as medically/developmentally necessary
- No medicines/prescriptions, eye glasses or dental, or medical service plan premiums or deductibles
- Alternative or naturopathic treatments or those not provided in person including neuroplasticity or computer stimulation
- Any program/service or equipment that can be or is paid wholly by government
- Behavioral Intervention/Consultation
- Funding for any services related to autism for children under six years old who receive over $22,000 per year in government funding, with the exception of music therapy
- Childcare, respite or related programs/services
- Warranties, insurance, maintenance, service agreements, batteries, repairs
- Administrative fees or operational costs
- Electronic devices, including apps or software
- Travel costs
- Sports equipment that is non-adaptive
- Support for residents outside of B.C. or Yukon
- Reports or consultations
- Autism assessments for children age 5 and over
- More than one autism/psychoeducational assessment per child
- Expenses that have already been initiated or have already occurred prior to submission or written approval
- Service providers without specific certification or professional credentials to deliver services to clients
- Equipment from non-Canadian distributors that cannot be invoiced directly by Variety or services outside Canada