PART C -Decision under Appeal The decision under appeal is the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (Minister) reconsideration decision dated January 15, 2014 which held that the Appellant is not eligible for the . Child Care Subsidy as set out in Child Care Subsidy Regulation (CCSR) 7, 8 and 10 because the family's net income exceeded the child's threshold amount and the calculation under Section 8(2) is less than zero. PART D -Relevant Legislation Child Care Subsidy Regulation, Section 7, 8 and 10 EAAT 003( 10/06/01)
PAR T E -Summarv of Facts The e v i den ce b efore the Min istry at the time of th e reconsideration decision co 1. App ellant has 4 peopl e i n the family unit , a daughter, t here i s a s pouse who is cur rently awa iting Can 2 . The Appel lan t i s em ployed, working Monda y 3. The Appe llant's son turn e d 5 years of age in Dece Kindergarten on a part time basis. 4 . The App ellant has completed a Child C ar e Sub year old son. 5 . Under CSS Regula tion Section 10, the income threshold is calculated to 6 . The Appella nt's tot a l monthly income is $3,174 7 . The A ppe ll a nt a d vises that the 5 y e a r old son has spe ce ntre for hi s behavi o urs where spe cia l nee ds ge t s destruc tive and violent and unman ageabl 8. Th e Appel la nt states th at h e r income is nee ded o l d s on 's spec i al n e eds, s u ch as th erapy and At Rec onsi de r ation the Mi nis t r y did re calcul a te the A h i g her r at e of care (G4: $41 5/m o nth, m o re than 4 ho d iagnose s pr ovided by the Pedia t ri c ia n. H owev er, based o App ell a nt's in c ome is st i ll in ex ces s of the le gislated In the Notice of Appeal , the A ppellant states th a t her c hildren u n de r 6 at hom e with s peci a l n ee ds (with n o waiting t o be assessed. A lso, the Appe llant takes care of the spouse who can't work yet due to immigration status and the Appellan t is financially responsible for the step-son. find the $650 per mon t h to pay for full time day care the pediatrician, doctor, development centre and the social worker. EAAT003(10/06/01) n sisted o f: t wo sons and t he A ppellant. In addition, adian citiz en ship and a steps on. to Friday, 8 hours per day. mb e r 2013 and i s currently att ending sidy Speci al Needs form (CF29 51) for her 5 be $2,158.00 . .5 4. cial needs and n e eds to b e in a r o utine are met with s up port , and i f he is at h ome h e e. to c o v er the c osts asso c iat ed with her 5 y ear a ssessments. ppe llant's e li g i bility for the CCS based on t he ur s per d a y ), tak i ng into co nsider a ti o n the n the n e w e lig ibility cal c ul ations, t he limi ts. income i s n ot eno u gh to t ake car e of thr ee s peci a l n e eds i nc ome yet) because the y are The Appellant can't for the 5 year old s on that was recommended by
PART F -Reasons for Panel Decision The issue to be decided is "did the Ministry reasonably conclude that the Appellant is not eligible for the Child Care Subsidy as set out in CCS Regulations 7, 8 and 10" because the family's net income was too high. Legislation -Child Care Subsidy Regulation Income test 7 (1) An applicant is not eligible for a child care subsidy for a child receiving a type of child care if (a) the family's monthly net income exceeds the child's threshold, and (b) the result of the calculation under section 8 (2) for the child is not more than zero. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an applicant if the child care is for a child (a) in relation to whom the applicant has entered into an agreement with a director under section 8 of the Child, Family and Community Service Act, (b) in relation to whom the applicant, by agreement under section 94 of the Child, Family and Community Service Act, exercises a director's rights or carries out a director's responsibilities, (c) of whom the applicant has interim or temporary custody under an order of the court under section 35 (2) (d), 4 1 (1) (b), 42.2 (4) (c), 49 (7) (b) or 54.01 (9) (b) of the Child, Family and Community Service Act, ( c .1) of whom the applicant has been permanently transferred custody under an order of the court under section 54.01 (5) or 54.1 (3) of the Child, Family and Community Service Act, (d) of whom the applicant has custody under an order of the court under section 42.2 (4) (a) of the Child, Family and Community Service Act, if the applicant is the other person referred to in section 42.2 (4) (a) (i), (e) who is receiving assistance under the authority of the Child in the Home of a Relative Program Transition Regulation, B.C. Reg. 4812010, and the applicant is the relative with whom that child resides, or (f) who is receiving assistance under a program, similar in nature to the program referred to in paragraph (e), provided (i) on a reserve, within the meaning of the Indian Act (Canada), by the government of Canada, or (ii) by the Nisga'a Nation or a treaty first nation. Amount of subsidy 8 (1) If a family's monthly net income does not exceed a child's threshold, the amount of child care subsidy for the child in respect of a type of child care is the amount set out in Schedule A or the parent fee, whichever is less, for the type of child care. (1.1) If a parent is eligible for a subsidy for more than one type of child care set out in Schedule A, the minister may determine which subsidy rate applies. (2) If a family's monthly net income exceeds a child's threshold, the amount of child care subsidy for the child in respect of a type of child care is A-B where A = the amount set out in Schedule A or the parent fee, whichever is less, for the type of child care; B = the amount of A for the child, divided by the sum of the amounts of A for all EAAT 003(10/06/01)
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( 3 ) The b a se threshold i nc ome l eve l for a c hild is inc rea sed a s foll ows: (a) by $ 1 25 pe r month for e ach perso n in the ch ild ' s f a mily w ho (i) is a c hi l d with special ne eds, (ii) i s a person w ith d is abilities, or (iii) h as reac h ed 65 y ea rs of age; (b) by $5 1 5 pe r m on t h for a ch ild who (i) ha s not r e ached scho ol age and is rece iv in g child car e ( A) in a lic e n ce-not-requir e d c hild car e se tti ng, or (B) in th e c h i ld's o wn ho me as described in secti on 2 ( c) , or (ii) i s o f school age and is rec eiving chi ld care in any chi ld care setti ng; (c) by $1 500 pe r mon t h if the chi l d has not reac h ed sc h ool age a nd i s receiving chi l d care (i) i n a li cen sed child care setting , or (ii) i n a registered licenc e-not r eq u ir ed c hild c a r e set ting ; (c.1 ) R epea led. [ B.C. Reg . 14 5/2011, s. 3 (d).] (d) by $100 per month if the chi ld (i ) is a ch ild w i t h special n ee d s, an d (ii) r ec eives a typ e of child ca re desc ribed i n secti on 2. T h e M in istr y's po s i tio n i s tha t t he A ppel lant doe s not q ualif y for Ch ild Care Subsidy bec ause : a) The CCS Regulat ion Sect io n 8 s et s o ut ho w the a mount o f Child Car e Subsidy i s cal c ul ated . The Mi n i stry calculates th at the Child Income Thresh old amo un t is $2, 1 58.00 i n acco rda n c e t o s .10. b) Th e Mini s t ry further cal cu l ated that the family 's m onthly ne t income was $ 3 , 1 74.54. c) Th e Mini s t ry concludes that t he App ell ant's month l y net income was g r eat er tha n the Child I ncom e Exem ption as s et o ut in the le g i slat io n. At t he he ar i ng , t h e App e llant prese nted arguments as fo llow s a) While t h e famil y' s month ly net inco me exceeds the Child In co me T hr eashold, there i s s till not enough m on e y avai lable to provide the requi red day care for the 5 year old son. b) The Appellant expects to receiv e a diagnosis for the 5 year old son that will give rise to financial assistance from othe r government agencies, but is unable to financially afford this required day care now. c ) The Appellant is also financially responsible for the spouse who is not able to work due to the i m m i g r a t i o n s t a t u s . d) The App ellant states that the school system allows children born in December to defer starting school until the f o llowin g year, r em a i ning at ' pre-schoo l' s tatus, if i t h a s b e en determined that they are not developmentally ready to begin sc h ool. The Appellant adds that she is frustrated th at t he M inistry's legislation i s n ot aligned with the school system, which means that children like her son are considered 'school age,' strictly based on their birthdate. EAAT003(10/06/01)
The panel finds that Sections 7, 8 and 10 of the CCSR clearly sets out the criteria to be met to be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy, specifically: a) The Ministry calculates that the Child Income Threshold amount is $2,158.00. Calculation /CCSR s.8/2): There is 1 child in the family receiving child care described in the CCSR s2 As described by the employer: The family's monthly net income was $3,174.54 As described on the Child Care Subsidy Eligibility Calculator sheet: The Potential Subsidy (as per Schedule A) fo r the type of child care is $415.00 (the G4 rate/more than 4 hours per day). The Child Income Threshold amount is $2,158.00 (as per the CCSR s.10). Eligible for a partial subsidy as follows: A= $415.00 (Lesser of Potential Subsidy amount in Schedule A, or actual cost of daycare) B= $508.27 (A + total A for family) X (50% of (Actual family income -Child Income Exemption)) -($415.00 + $415.00) = (a) $1. -($3,174.54-$2,158.00) = $1,016.54 X 50% = $508.27 B = (a) $1 X (b) $508.27 = $508.27 A -B = -$93.27 December 2013 -$415.00 (A)- $508.27 (B) = -$93.27 (amount is not more than zero). As the amount is not more than zero, you are not eligible for the Child Care Subsidy. b) The Ministry calculates the Appellant's total monthly income to be $3,174.54. The Panel acknowledges that income thresholds are set in legislation and the Ministry does not have any discretion to grant subsidy if an applicant's income is higher than regulations permit. Therefore, based on the legislation and the facts presented in this decision, the Panel finds that the Ministry's reconsideration decision is reasonably supported by the evidence and confirms the decision. EMT 003(1 0/06/01)
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