A report revealing gaps in the Welfare system in British Columbia has been filed with the provincial Ombudsperson.
Nine social service agencies from across B.C. filed a joint complaint Tuesday morning, asking the Ombudsperson to launch an investigation into service reductions at the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation.
The Office of the Ombudsperson receives inquiries and complaints about the practices and services of public agencies.
The 40-page complaint suggests reduced office hours, a complicated website and under-resourced call centres create barriers for people requiring income assistance.
The complaint also states there is a complicated, 90-screen online application process that some people will have difficulty navigating.
It says most income assistance recipients do not have phones or Internet access, and many are not computer literate, so the shift to fewer face-to-face interactions does not make sense.
The group is asking for an independent investigation, claiming the government is not taking its concerns seriously.
Read the full report below.
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