Correct as of October 4, 2026 · We update this page as new information from the Ministry becomes available. Rules are changing, so please check this date before relying on it.
BC Autism & Disability Funding Changes 2026: A Plain-Language Guide for Families
If you've been trying to understand what the BC government's 2026 changes mean for your child, you're not alone. Information has been hard to find and hard to make sense of. This page is our attempt to give you clear, plain-language answers, all in one place.
Take this at your own pace. You don't need to read all of it at once. Use the sections below to find what applies to your family right now.
Almost everything on this page comes from the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) website and other official documents. We list the originals at the bottom of the page, with the date we checked each one, so you can read them yourself. A few details about when families have actually heard from the Ministry come from direct reports from families. We say clearly where that is the case.
B.C. is in a provincial election period. The government's website shows a notice saying it is not being updated during this time, except for public health and safety information or topics that are statutory in nature. That means the Ministry's pages may not show new information until after the election. If something on this page does not match what you hear from Ministry staff, please tell us.
What's new since our last update
Several things changed on the Ministry's pages in September 2026. Here is what matters most for families.
- Families on Autism Funding are being asked to send in documents. The Ministry began writing to these families in June 2026 and says it is contacting them in phases. It asks families to use an online form to submit the documents they already have about their child's support needs. You do not need a new assessment.
- The Ministry recommends submitting by the end of December 2026. The form stays open until March 31, 2027. But the Ministry says that if you submit after December 2026, it cannot guarantee a decision in time for Benefit funding to start on April 1, 2027. That could mean a gap in funding.
- Not every child on Autism Funding will qualify for the new Benefit. The Ministry says this directly in its own FAQ. We think every family should hear this plainly, so they can plan.
- The Ministry took the dates off its timeline for expanded community services. The version of its main page last updated September 11, 2026 listed target dates, including Spring 2028 for new programs for ages 6 to 18. The version last updated September 15 says instead that expansion will happen "gradually over the next three years." The same dates are still in a Ministry PDF linked from that page. We do not know whether the dates have changed.
- Two Ministry pages describe the automatic-qualification list differently. The Benefit page and the FAQ page word the list of qualifying diagnoses in different ways. If your child's diagnosis is close to one on either list, ask the Ministry which wording it is using.
The Disability Benefit eligibility criteria are explained on their own page: our plain-language guide to the new eligibility criteria →
What the BC Government Announced
On February 10, 2026, the BC government announced a significant overhaul of how disability support services for children and youth are funded and delivered. The existing Autism Funding program, and School Aged Extended Therapies (SAET) through the At Home Program, will be replaced by a new model built around three parts:
- The BC Children & Youth Disability Benefit (direct funding)
- The BC Children & Youth Disability Supplement (income-tested direct funding)
- Expanded community-based services
The government describes this new model as moving from a diagnosis-based system to one based on a child's individual needs, intended to make services fairer, easier to access, and better coordinated. In practice, diagnosis still matters a great deal. Some children qualify for the Benefit automatically because of their diagnosis, as our eligibility criteria page explains.
This change affects families across the full range of childhood disability, including Autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), medically complex and rare conditions, and physical disabilities. If your child has support needs, this page is for you.
What Is Actually Changing
Two new direct funding programs will replace Autism Funding and SAET. The Ministry has also said it will expand free community-based services.
The BC Children & Youth Disability Benefit
Direct funding for children and youth from birth up to age 19 who have a lifelong disability resulting in significant and/or complex support needs. The Ministry's FAQ describes it as being for children who are likely to need intensive, sustained support across their lifespan, including possible lifelong caregiving or supervised living.
There are two ways to qualify:
- Direct admission. Some children qualify automatically because they have a diagnosis the Ministry links to high, ongoing support needs. Examples on the Ministry's pages include moderate to profound intellectual disability, Down syndrome, and Autism with an intellectual disability. Children currently in the At Home Program are also eligible.
- Needs-based review. Every other child is reviewed individually, based on how their disability affects daily life. A specific diagnosis is not required for this path. The Ministry says eligibility can be confirmed through a functional assessment by a professional, or a health care provider confirming your child's long-term disability and significant limitations.
Because this detail matters and can be a lot to take in, we've put it on its own page: the new eligibility criteria, explained →
Funding has two tiers, based on your child's level of need:
- Base tier: $6,500 per year
- Higher tier: $17,000 per year, set through support planning with a Ministry worker
This benefit is not income-tested. It does not matter what your family earns.
If your child currently receives Autism Funding, how the numbers compare depends on your child's age and on whether they qualify for the Benefit.
Under 6: Autism Funding is up to $22,000 a year. The Benefit is $17,000 at the higher tier or $6,500 at the base tier, so either tier on its own is less. Some families will also get the Supplement (below). With the full $6,000 Supplement, a child in the higher tier would get $23,000 in total. The Supplement is smaller at higher incomes, though. For one child at $100,000 in adjusted family net income, the Ministry lists it at $4,000 a year.
Ages 6 to 18: Autism Funding is up to $6,000 a year. If your child qualifies for the Benefit, either tier is more than that.
If your child does not qualify for the Benefit: Autism Funding still ends on March 31, 2027. The Supplement may be available if your child has the federal Disability Tax Credit and your income is within the limits. Supplement payments do not start until July 2027.
Which tier your child is placed in isn't something we can predict in advance.
The BC Children & Youth Disability Supplement
A monthly payment for low- and middle-income families to help with the costs of raising a child with support needs. It is up to $6,000 per child per year, up to age 18. The amount goes down as family income goes up.
To get it, your child must be approved for the federal Disability Tax Credit (DTC), your family must meet the income limits, and you must file your tax return each year. If your child already has the DTC, you do not need to apply. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) checks your income and pays the Supplement each month with your Canada Child Benefit. First payments begin in July 2027, based on your 2026 tax return.
Want an estimate? The Ministry has an official Disability Supplement estimator. We have also put a copy of the Ministry's estimator on our site. Both give an approximate monthly and yearly amount based on your 2026 adjusted family net income and number of eligible children. Our version collects and stores no personal information.
Please note: our estimator is designed for simple custody arrangements only. If your child is in shared or split custody, or you have a mix of custody arrangements across multiple children, check the Ministry's website for specific instructions before using it.
Community-Based Services
Free or low-cost services delivered by community agencies across B.C. The Ministry says they are for children and youth ages 0 to 18, with no diagnosis required. Providers may include behavioural specialists, family support workers and navigators, mental health professionals, occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech-language pathologists.
Be aware that waitlists for many of these services have been long. The Representative for Children and Youth reported this in January 2025. What is available also varies by region.
What Is Staying the Same
This matters. The Ministry says the following are not changing:
- Diagnosis and assessment through current pathways.
- CYSN Family Support Services and pilot Disability Services. (CYSN stands for Children and Youth with Support Needs.)
- Direct Funded Respite and Agency Coordinated Respite.
- Health care and nursing supports.
- At Home Program medical equipment and supplies.
- Existing community-based programs, including Infant Development, Supported Child Development, FASD Key Worker, and therapy services.
- School supports. The Ministry says inclusive education funding and school processes stay the same.
- The Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP) continues through March 2027.
- Private providers. You can keep using your current Autism Funding with the providers you work with until March 31, 2027. Benefit and Supplement funding can also be used for private providers.
What This Means for Your Family
Every family's situation is different. Open the section below that applies to you. You only need to read that one.
Two things apply to every family, regardless of your situation:
- Gather the documents you already have about your child's support needs, such as assessments, therapy reports and specialist letters. These will matter for any Benefit review. Our criteria page explains what kinds of documents the Ministry says it considers.
- Apply for the federal Disability Tax Credit if your child doesn't already have it. The Supplement depends on it, and the timing matters. The Ministry says that if your child is approved for the DTC after July 2027, Supplement payments will not be backdated. The Ministry says DTC processing takes 10 to 15 weeks. The Canada Revenue Agency's own target is eight weeks, but it says complex applications take longer. At 15 weeks, an application would need to reach the CRA by about mid-March 2027 to be decided by July, and only if nothing else is needed from your child's doctor. We suggest applying before the end of 2026 to leave room for delays.
My child is currently in the At Home Program (AHP)
What's happening
Children in the At Home Program are automatically eligible for the Disability Benefit. You do not need to send in assessments or other documents.
The Ministry is sending families a "welcome package." It includes your child's Benefit funding amount, a funding agreement to sign, and information on how to use the funding. The Ministry said these packages would go out beginning in July 2026. Families tell us the first ones arrived in September 2026.
If your child is on both the At Home Program and Autism Funding, the Ministry said on September 15, 2026 that it would contact you "in the coming weeks." Based on direct reports from families, a small number of families in this group received eligibility emails in late September 2026, and then the emails stopped. Most families in this group have not heard yet. You do not need to contact the Ministry first.
What is staying the same
Your child's access to medical equipment and supplies through the At Home Program is not changing. SAET stays available until March 31, 2027, or until your child moves to the Benefit, whichever comes first.
What is genuinely uncertain
Being eligible for the Benefit is not the same as receiving the same level of support as SAET. Your welcome package tells you which tier your child is in: $6,500 or $17,000 a year. For families on both programs, the Ministry says you can send more information after you receive your package if you want your funding level reconsidered. If you are on the At Home Program only, ask Ministry staff whether the same option applies to you.
The Benefit runs to age 19. The Supplement, which is separate, runs to age 18. If your youth is close to either age, ask how this affects their timeline.
What you can do now
- Read your welcome package carefully before you sign the agreement. For families on both programs, the Ministry says your At Home Program and Autism Funding files close once you return the signed agreement, and your Benefit file opens. Ask staff to confirm what this means for your medical equipment and supplies, which the Ministry says are not changing.
- Families on both programs can wait. The Ministry says you can return your signed agreement in early 2027 and start the Benefit on April 1, 2027, keeping your current funding until it ends in March 2027.
- Ask Ministry staff about therapy hours, funding amounts, timelines and age cutoffs before you sign.
- To estimate the Supplement, use the copy of the Ministry's estimator on our site.
My child is currently receiving Autism Funding
What's happening
The Ministry is asking families on Autism Funding to submit the documents they already have about their child's support needs. It uses these to decide whether your child is eligible for the Disability Benefit, and at which tier. The Ministry began writing to families in June 2026 and says it is contacting families in phases. If you have not heard yet, the form is linked from the Ministry's main CYSN page and its FAQ page. The online form needs a Basic BCeID. A paper version is also available.
The Ministry says eligibility decisions will start going out in late 2026 and early 2027. Eligible children will begin receiving the Benefit on April 1, 2027.
What is staying the same
Your Autism Funding continues until March 31, 2027. You do not need a new assessment. Older assessments are accepted, and an assessment without a level is accepted too. The Ministry says it is not reassessing your child's diagnosis.
What is genuinely uncertain
The Ministry says plainly that not everyone currently receiving Autism Funding will qualify for the Benefit. We do not know how many children on Autism Funding will be found eligible, or at which tier. Please don't plan around a "yes" that may not come.
If your child does not qualify for the Benefit, the Supplement may still be available. It requires the federal Disability Tax Credit and is based on family income. Supplement payments do not start until July 2027. That leaves April to June 2027 with no direct funding from either program for families in this situation.
What you can do now
- Gather all your documents first. The Ministry asks for one form per child, and says it cannot guarantee that information added later will be reviewed.
- Aim to submit by the end of December 2026 if you can. If that isn't realistic, you can still submit until March 31, 2027. It may just mean a gap before funding starts.
- If you need a copy of an old assessment, the Ministry says you can use up to $300 of your Autism Funding for it, or toward a new document if you need one.
- Apply for the Disability Tax Credit now if your child doesn't have it.
- For help with the form, call the CYSN Resource Line at 1-833-882-0024.
- To estimate the Supplement, use the copy of the Ministry's estimator on our site.
My child is not currently receiving any funding
What's happening
The new model may open access that wasn't available before. Because eligibility can be based on functional need and not only on diagnosis, some children who did not qualify under the old system may qualify now. This is a real change.
Until March 2027, the Ministry asks new families to apply through the current pathways. That means Autism Funding or the At Home Program, which are both open for new applications until March 2027. One Ministry document gives March 1, 2027 as the last date new families will be added to Autism Funding, so we suggest applying well before then. The Ministry says families who come in this way will move to the Benefit in April 2027.
From April 1, 2027, families can apply directly for the Benefit. The Ministry says it will publish that application process once it is finalized. It has not been published yet.
What may be available to your family
Community-based services are for children and youth ages 0 to 18, with no diagnosis required. For the Benefit, which runs to age 19, the needs-based review does not require a specific diagnosis. The Supplement runs to age 18. See how the needs-based review works.
What is genuinely uncertain
Broader eligibility is meaningful, but eligibility is not the same as a confirmed funding amount. Which Benefit tier your child receives depends on their assessed needs and won't be known until a review is complete.
What you can do now
- Talk to your child's health care provider about documenting functional needs.
- Apply for the Disability Tax Credit if your child may qualify.
- To estimate the Supplement, use the copy of the Ministry's estimator on our site.
- If your youth is approaching age 18 or 19, ask Ministry staff how the age cutoffs affect eligibility.
My child is a youth aged 6 to 19 (School-Aged Children & Youth)
The gap families need to know about
The Ministry's own target for expanded programming for school-aged children and teens was Spring 2028. That is a year after Autism Funding and SAET end. The Ministry removed that date from its main page in September 2026, but it is still in the Ministry's community services PDF. No new date has been published.
What is staying the same
Existing community programs and therapy services continue. School supports are not affected by these changes, according to the Ministry.
What is genuinely uncertain, and concerning
Think of a youth who doesn't qualify for the Benefit, or whose Supplement isn't enough to keep their current providers. For them, the time between March 2027 and new programs being in place matters. That is especially true for a youth in a critical developmental window, or managing mental health or behavioural needs right now. We think this is worth planning around now rather than waiting to see what happens.
The Benefit is $6,500 or $17,000 a year. Which tier applies depends on your child's assessed needs and won't be known until their review is complete.
The Supplement ends at age 18. The Benefit runs to age 19. The Ministry describes community-based services as being for ages 0 to 18. If your youth is approaching those cutoffs during the rollout, the window to use what is being built is short.
What you can do now
- Ask Ministry staff what interim supports will be available until the new programs are in place.
- Ask what transition planning looks like for youth nearing the age cutoffs.
- To estimate the Supplement, use the copy of the Ministry's estimator on our site.
We are tracking this gap closely and will update this page as soon as the Ministry publishes interim plans or a new date. You are not alone in this. We are not letting it go.
My child is under 6 (Early Intervention & Young Children)
What's happening
Early intervention services are continuing. These include Infant Development Programs, Supported Child Development, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech therapy and behaviour support. The Ministry's timeline lists continued expansion of existing early intervention therapies from Spring 2026.
Availability, and how much support each child gets, varies across the province. The Representative for Children and Youth reported in January 2025 that long waits for assessment mean many children are not diagnosed before they start school, and miss early intervention as a result.
What is staying the same
These early intervention programs remain in place. The Ministry says the new model allows children to get support before a diagnosis.
If your child currently receives Autism Funding, that funding continues until March 31, 2027.
What is genuinely uncertain
The Benefit covers children from birth to age 19, and the Supplement runs to age 18. But eligibility is not the same as equivalent funding. Children under 6 on Autism Funding can currently receive up to $22,000 a year. The Benefit's higher tier is $17,000 and the base tier is $6,500. For many families with a child under 6, the Benefit on its own will be a decrease. Whether the Supplement makes up some of the difference depends on your family income.
Children under 3 in the At Home Program will have a slightly different process. The Ministry describes this as a very small group and says it will work with families on next steps.
If your child is on Autism Funding, the Ministry is asking you to submit your child's documents for the Benefit review (see the Autism Funding section above).
What you can do now
- Use the copy of the Ministry's estimator on our site to get a sense of the Supplement.
- If you are on Autism Funding, submit your child's documents, ideally by the end of December 2026.
- When Ministry staff contact you, ask what your child's Benefit amount will be before your transition is finalized. The sooner you know, the more time you have to plan.
If something goes wrong, or you disagree
- You disagree with a Benefit decision. The Ministry says a review and appeals process is being designed. It has not been published yet. For families on both the At Home Program and Autism Funding, the Ministry says you can send more information after your welcome package if you want your funding level reconsidered.
- You found more documents after submitting. The Ministry says you can resubmit the whole form with everything attached. Only your most recent form is considered, and the Ministry cannot guarantee late additions will be reviewed if your file has already been looked at.
- You did not submit the form at all. The Ministry says no child will be excluded from review for not completing the form. But that review will happen after Autism Funding ends on March 31, 2027.
- Your Disability Tax Credit application is denied. The Ministry says to contact the Canada Revenue Agency directly to discuss it, ask for a review, or file an objection.
- You feel you were treated unfairly by a provincial ministry. You can contact the Office of the Ombudsperson of B.C.
Where to get help
- CYSN Resource Line: 1-833-882-0024, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (not statutory holidays). Email CFD.CYSNResourceInformation@gov.bc.ca. Interpreters are available in over 50 languages. In-person help is also available at local CYSN offices.
- Disability Benefit questions: 1-866-740-0047, or cfd.disabilitybenefit@gov.bc.ca
- Questions about your current Autism Funding: 1-877-777-3530
- Questions about current SAET benefits: 1-888-613-3232
Timeline of Key Dates
Dates come from Ministry pages unless we say they come from family reports.
* These three dates were removed from the Ministry's main page in September 2026. They still appear in the Ministry's "Expansion of Community Based Services" PDF. We do not know whether they still stand.
Want to see how the new model affects different family situations side by side? See Who Gains, Who Loses →
What the Ministry Says About the Money
The Ministry's FAQ says direct funding will not decrease. It projects about $316 million a year in Benefit and Supplement funding by 2028/29, compared with about $187 million in current direct funding. Another answer on the same page describes direct funding rising from $190 million to $326 million. The page does not explain the difference.
The Ministry also estimates that about 80% of families currently receiving Ministry services will qualify for the Benefit, the Supplement, or both. By the Ministry's own estimate, that leaves roughly 1 in 5 of those families not expected to qualify for either.
We are watching this closely, and we will keep reporting what the Ministry's own numbers show. Our reports set out our analysis and the evidence behind it.
Where This Information Comes From
We checked every source below between September 23 and October 4, 2026. Government pages can change at the same web address, so the "last updated" date is the one shown on the page when we checked.
- MCFD, Children and Youth with Support Needs (main page), last updated September 15, 2026. Earlier version last updated September 11, 2026 also on file.
- MCFD, Commonly Asked Questions, last updated September 22, 2026.
- MCFD, BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit, last updated September 16, 2026.
- MCFD, Disability Benefit: Determining Eligibility, last updated August 14, 2026.
- MCFD, BC Children and Youth Disability Supplement, last updated August 17, 2026.
- MCFD, Expansion of Community Based Services (PDF).
- MCFD, Guide for Current Service Recipients (PDF). The Ministry notes this guide is being updated.
- Canada Revenue Agency, Service Standards 2026-2027 (Disability Tax Credit Certificate, Form T2201).
- BC Gov News, news release, February 10, 2026.
- Representative for Children and Youth, Too Many Left Behind: Ensuring Children and Youth with Disabilities Thrive, January 2025.
- Direct reports from families to Fair Autism & Disability Funding BC, September 2026. These are labelled on the page wherever we use them.
This page is information, not legal or medical advice.
If reading this has brought up a lot of feelings, that makes complete sense. This is a lot to carry, and it matters deeply because your child matters deeply. You are not navigating this alone. We are right here with you.