Resources

How to Apply

You will need the following to apply:

A competed YEAF Application

  • Print out and complete the YEAF application form or pick one up from your school's financial aid office or contact the Ministry of Advanced Education to have one sent to you.

A Confirmation of Eligibility Letter from MCFD

  • Contact your local Ministry of Children and Family Development office or delegated agency and request a letter that confirms your eligibility for YEAF.
  • You may have received this letter as part of your leaving care package or you can request it when you do leave.
  • Once you receive this letter, you should keep a copy for the future and send the original with your application.
  • To find the nearest Ministry office call Enquiry BC:
    • In Victoria call: 250 387-6121
    • In Vancouver call: 604 660-2421
    • Elsewhere in BC call: 1 800 663-7867
    • Outside British Columbia: 604 660-2421
    • Email address EnquiryBC@gov.bc.ca
  • If you have received the grant in the past, you don't need to send in this letter again.

Obtain a Confirmation of Enrollment Form from the post-secondary institute

  • Have a Financial Aid Officer from the school you want to go to complete the Confirmation of Enrollment form.
  • If you have applied for Student Financial Assistance, then you have already received this form.

Application

To apply:

  • Send documents to:
    Student Services Branch
    Ministry of Advanced Education
    PO Box 9173 Stn Prov Govt
    Victoria BC V8W 9H7
  • Be sure you have all the documents that apply to you:
    • Application form (everyone must send this in every year)
    • Confirmation of Eligibility letter (if you have not sent it in before)
    • Confirmation of Enrollment form (if you do not receive Student Financial Assistance)
    • Letter from your social worker (if you are under 19 years of age)
    • Medical documents (if you are a student with a permanent disability)
  • It will take approximately 6 weeks to process your application. You will receive a letter approving, denying or requesting more information about your application.
  • If your application is approved, you should receive a cheque in the mail shortly before the school year begins.

Appeal Process

  • If you are denied funding, you can appeal.
  • To do this, print out and complete an appeal form, including the expenses sheet.
  • Next, write to the Student Services Branch explaining why you think you should be eligible for the grant and outline your education and career goals.
  • Send the appeal form and the letter to:
    Student Services Branch
    Ministry of Advanced Education
    PO Box 9173 Stn Prov Govt
    Victoria BC V8W 9H7

For assistance in applying for this and other funds, young people in or from care can contact the Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks toll free at 1 800 565-8055 or by email: info@fbcyicn.ca.

Overaward/Overpayment

When a student receives more assistance than he or she is eligible to receive, this is called an overaward. An overaward is created when: a youth receives an award and their status changes (for example, they reduce their course load) making them no longer eligible or a student gets funding for a study period and withdraws before 12 weeks of study is completed.

An overaward is NOT created if the students program has multiple semesters (like a degree) and the student finishes the first successfully and withdraws in another semester in that study period.

When an overaward is created the student is responsible for the repayment.

Students can arrange to make payments on an overaward by contacting the Special Programs Unit, Ministry of Advanced Education at 250 356-8703 or by email at: AVED.SpecialPrograms3@gov.bc.ca.