My Self Serve provides you with a secure and convenient way to access government services 24/7. This online portal allows you to manage various aspects of your income or disability assistance from the comfort of your own home, at any time.
Through My Self Serve, you can:
- Apply for income or disability assistance
- View your income or disability assistance details
Understanding Your My Self Serve Account
The information you see on My Self Serve is a real-time reflection of your file with the ministry. When you log in, you’re seeing the most current information available. However, it’s important to note that your assistance information might not be completely up-to-date if:
- You have not yet submitted your monthly report (often called a “stub”).
- Your submitted monthly report is still being processed.
My Self Serve is designed for accessibility. You can access it from a variety of devices, including:
- Personal computers
- Laptops
- Mobile devices
For the best user experience, it is recommended to use the latest versions of these web browsers:
- Google Chrome
- Safari
- Firefox
- Internet Explorer
To ensure optimal performance and prevent technical issues like document upload problems or screen freezes, it’s advisable to clear your browser’s cache (history) and cookies before accessing My Self Serve. Consult your browser’s help resources for instructions on how to do this.
Step-by-Step Guide to Registering for My Self Serve
Registering for My Self Serve is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to create your account and gain access to online government services:
- Visit the My Self Serve Website: Go to My Self Serve in your web browser.
- Initiate Account Creation: Click on the “Create an Account” button.
- Select Application Type: Choose the option that best describes your application situation – whether you are applying on your own or with assistance from someone else.
- Proceed to Personal Information: Click “Continue” to move to the next step.
- Enter Personal Details: Fill out the Personal Information section. You will need to provide your Social Insurance Number (SIN) and a valid email address.
- Specify Application Status: Indicate if you are applying for the first time or reapplying for assistance.
- Identify Existing Case (If Applicable): If you have an existing case, select “Open Case” and answer the required verification questions.
- Include Spouse Information (If Applicable): If you are applying with a spouse, enter their information at this stage as well.
- Submit Registration: Click “Continue” to submit your registration details.
- Verify Email Address: Check your email inbox for a confirmation email from My Self Serve.
- Confirm via Email Link: Click on the confirmation link within the email. This link will redirect you back to the My Self Serve page.
- Complete Account Setup: Follow the on-screen instructions to finalize your account setup. These steps are the same for both you and your spouse, if applicable:
- Create a unique 4-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) to serve as your electronic signature for online transactions.
- Carefully review the provided Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
- Check the box to signify your agreement to the terms and policies.
- Click “Continue” to proceed.
- BCeID Account Check: Determine if you already possess a Basic BCeID or if you need to create a new one.
- A Basic BCeID is a secure digital identity that allows you to access various online government services using a single username and password.
- You might already have a BCeID if you’ve previously registered for other online services such as WorkBC Online Employment Services or other government portals.
- If you have forgotten your BCeID username or password, do not create a new account. Instead, reset your BCeID online to recover your existing credentials.
- Select “Login”.
- Click “Forgot your user ID or password?” and follow the prompts to recover your account details.
- Login with Existing BCeID (If Applicable): If you already have a BCeID (these steps are also applicable for your spouse):
- Select “Use your BCeID”.
- Enter your existing BCeID username and password to complete your My Self Serve registration.
- Create a New BCeID (If Necessary): If you do not have a BCeID (these steps are also for your spouse if they need to create one):
- Select “Get a BCeID”.
- Choose “Register for a Basic BCeID”.
- Follow the provided instructions to create your BCeID username and password.
- For more detailed information or if you encounter issues, visit BCeID’s Frequently Asked Questions page.
Once you have successfully created your BCeID and completed the registration process, click “Continue to My Self Serve”.
If you are currently receiving assistance, please allow approximately two to three business days for your registration to be fully processed. You will be notified once your registration is complete.
If you are applying for income assistance, proceed to the next section for instructions on how to submit your application online through My Self Serve.
The Government of British Columbia is dedicated to protecting your privacy. My Self Serve is designed with robust security measures to ensure your information remains private and protected. It is crucial to safeguard your personal information by never sharing your BCeID password or My Self Serve PIN with anyone.
Applying for Assistance Through My Self Serve
After successfully registering for My Self Serve, you can conveniently apply for assistance online. Here’s how:
- Sign in to My Self Serve: Go to My Self Serve and log in using your BCeID and password. Please allow up to five minutes for the system to update after registration.
- Navigate to Service Request Page:
- On a desktop or laptop: Locate the menu on the left-hand side of the screen and select “Service Request”.
- On a mobile device: Access the drop-down menu and select “Service Request”.
- Initiate a New Service Request: Click on “Create Service Request”.
- Select Application Type: Choose “Application for Assistance” and select yourself as the primary applicant.
- Complete the Application Form: Fill out all sections of the online application form with accurate and complete information.
- Sign and Submit: Once you have finished the application, electronically sign it using your 4-digit PIN.
- If you are applying with a spouse, they will need to have their own Basic BCeID and My Self Serve account. They will also need to log in and follow the prompts to sign the application with their personal PIN.
Managing Your Monthly Reports Online
My Self Serve simplifies the process of viewing and submitting your monthly reports. To access this feature:
- Go to the Monthly Report Section: After logging in, select the “Monthly Report” tab from the main menu.
Within the “Monthly Report” section, you can perform the following actions:
- Submit Monthly Reports: Complete and submit your monthly report electronically by the fifth day of each month.
- Upload Supporting Documents: Add any necessary supporting documentation to your monthly report directly through the portal.
- Review Past Submissions: View your submitted monthly reports for the previous 12 months, all accessible online.
- Check Report Status: Track the processing status of your submitted monthly reports.
- Sign Monthly Reports: Electronically sign your monthly report. This action is completed within the “key player’s” profile on your file. Both you and your spouse (if applicable) will need to sign using your individual 4-digit PINs.
Important Note: After submitting your monthly report online, you cannot make changes to it through My Self Serve. If you need to update any information after submission, please contact us directly.
If you currently submit your monthly reports in paper format, you will not be able to view them online. However, your financial assistance information will be updated in My Self Serve after your paper report has been processed by the ministry.
For those with a spouse included in their assistance, the monthly report must be completed and submitted as a single, joint report. Each spouse will require their own Basic BCeID and My Self Serve account to access and sign the report using their personal PIN.
Updating Your Account Information
Keeping your account information current is essential for effective communication and service delivery. You can easily review and update your details within My Self Serve:
- Access Account Information: Select the “Account Information” tab in the main menu.
In the “Account Information” section, you can:
- View Contact Details: Review your current contact information and the details of family members included in your file.
- Change PIN: You have the option to change your 4-digit personal identification number (PIN) for My Self Serve.
If any of the displayed information is incorrect, you have a few options for updating it:
- Include Changes in Monthly Report: Note any necessary changes in your next monthly report submission.
- Contact Support Directly: You can also contact us to request updates to your information.
- Update Phone and Email Online: You can directly update your phone number and email address yourself through the My Self Serve profile settings.
Regularly reviewing and updating your profile information ensures that the ministry has the most accurate contact details for you.
Viewing Your Cheque Information
My Self Serve provides convenient access to your cheque details, allowing you to stay informed about your payments:
- Navigate to Cheque Information: Select the “Cheque Information” tab from the main menu.
The “Cheque Information” screen displays a range of details related to your payments, including:
- Next Cheque Issue Date: The scheduled date for your next cheque to be issued.
- Estimated Cheque Amount: The estimated amount of your upcoming payment.
- Cheque Hold Status: Information on whether your cheque will be held for pickup at a local office. If your cheque is on hold, contact us for assistance.
- Supports and Supplements: Details of any additional supports or supplements you are receiving, along with their expiry dates, if applicable.
- Deductions: Information on any deductions from your payment, such as direct payments made to service providers.
- Pension and Child Care Tax Benefits: Amounts you should expect to receive from pensions or Child Care Tax benefits, if applicable to your situation.
- Previous Assistance Amount: Records of your previous assistance payment amounts.
- Direct Deposit Information: Confirmation of your direct deposit enrollment and bank account details, if you have signed up for direct deposit.
- Annual Earnings Exemption (AEE) Limit: Your current annual earnings exemption limit, specifically relevant if you are receiving disability assistance.
- Confirmation of Assistance: A button labeled “Confirmation of Assistance” that allows you to view and print official confirmation of your current assistance status.
- T5007 Tax Documents: A “T5007” button to easily display and print your T5007 tax information documents.
Secure Messaging Within My Self Serve
My Self Serve includes a secure messaging system for communication between you and the ministry.
- Access Messages: Upon logging into My Self Serve, you will automatically be directed to the “Messages” page.
The “Messages” page functions similarly to an email inbox, providing a secure space for important communications related to your assistance. Key features of the messaging system include:
- Private and Secure: Only you can access and view your messages within My Self Serve, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.
- Email Notifications: You will receive email notifications to your registered email address whenever a new message arrives in your My Self Serve inbox, prompting you to log in and check your messages.
- Importance of Reading Messages: It is crucial to regularly read and act upon messages received through My Self Serve. These messages often contain important information about your assistance, which could impact your eligibility or payment amounts.
- Message List: The central column of the “Messages” page displays a list of your received messages. Unread messages are indicated by bold text in the subject line.
- View Message Content: To read a message, simply click on the subject line. The full message content will then appear in the right-hand side panel of the screen.
- Delete Messages: Once you have read a message, you have the option to delete it using the “Delete” button located in the top right corner of the message window. Please note that deleted messages cannot be recovered.
- Reply Functionality: For messages requiring a response, a “Reply” button will be available. Click this button to compose and send a reply directly through My Self Serve. Note that you can only reply to each message once. System-generated notices or reminders may not have the reply option enabled.
- Compose Reply: Type your response in the provided text window.
- Attach Documents: You can attach up to 10 supporting documents to your reply by clicking the “Choose file” button. The system supports files up to 2MB each, with a total attachment limit of 10MB per reply.
- Send or Cancel Reply: Once you have composed your reply and attached any necessary documents, click “Send Message” to submit your response. Alternatively, you can choose to cancel your reply and return to it later.
Employment Plan Management Through My Self Serve
My Self Serve facilitates the management of your employment plan, allowing you to review, sign, and submit your plan electronically. You can also access relevant employment-related resources and links.
Electronically Signing Your Employment Plan
- Access Messages: Navigate to the “Messages” tab in the main menu.
- Locate Employment Plan Message: Find and select the message containing your employment plan.
- Open Employment Plan Form: Scroll to the bottom of the message and click on the “Complete Form” button. This will open your employment plan for review.
- Electronically Sign: Sign your employment plan by checking both the “I agree” and “I have read and understood this document” boxes. Checking these boxes generates your electronic signature.
- Submit Plan: Click “Submit and Continue”.
- Confirm Submission: Click “Yes” to confirm the submission of your employment plan. You will then see a confirmation message indicating that your plan has been successfully submitted.
Viewing Your Employment Plan Online
- Go to Employment Plans Section: Select the “Employment Plans” tab in the main menu.
- View and Print Plan: Access, view, and print your employment plan from this section.
- Access Employment Resources: Click the “Employment Resources” button to access a curated list of helpful links and resources related to employment and job seeking.
Creating and Submitting Service Requests Online
My Self Serve allows you to initiate various service requests online, streamlining the process of accessing different types of assistance and support.
- Navigate to Service Requests: Select the “Service Requests” tab in the main menu.
- Initiate Service Request Creation: Click the “Create Service Request” button.
- Choose Service Request Type: You will see a list of up to 12 different service request types. The specific topics available to you may vary depending on the type of assistance you are currently receiving. Available service request types may include:
- Application for Assistance (Returning within 6 months)
- Consent to Disclosure
- Crisis Supplement Clothing
- Crisis Supplement Food
- Crisis Supplement Shelter
- Crisis Supplement Utilities
- Diet Supplement
- Direct Deposit
- Medical Transportation (Local)
- Medical Transportation (Non-Local)
- Prenatal Supplement
- Shelter Update
- Select Service Request Category: Choose the specific type of service request you wish to create from the list.
- Specify Family Member (If Applicable): If the service request pertains to a family member included in your file, select their name from the drop-down list next to the “Service Request Type” field.
- Proceed with Request: Click “Continue”.
- Complete Questionnaire/Form: Depending on the type of service request you selected, you may be required to answer a questionnaire or fill out an online form with relevant details. You may also have the option to upload supporting documents as needed.
- Sign and Submit Request: Click the “Sign & Complete” button to finalize and submit your service request. You may be prompted to enter your 4-digit PIN to authorize the submission, depending on the nature of the request. Upon successful submission, a “Submission Confirmation” box will appear on your screen.
Please note that if you have already initiated a service request through phone or in-person channels, you cannot recreate the same request online. Additionally, the system only allows for one active service request to be created at a time.
