APPEAL PART C-Decision under Appeal The decision under appeal is the reconsideration decision by the Ministry of Children and Family Development ("the ministry") dated February 26, 2014 which held that under Section 7 of the Child Care Subsidy Regulation; the appellant had received an overpayment of Child Care Subsidy from October 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012, in the amount of $3,037.76 that she was not entitled to receive and which must be repaid pursuant to the Child Care Subsidy Act, Section 7(1). PART D -Relevant Legislation Child Care Subsidy Act, (CCSA), Sections1, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11. Child Care Subsidy Regulation (CCSR), Sections 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 14. EAAT003(10/06/01)
P A R T E S u m m a ry o f F a c t s P r o c e d u r a l I s s u e A t t h e o u t s e t o f t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t e x p r e s s e d c o n r e l a t e d t o h e r i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h t h e m i n i s t r y t o w h i c h t h e m w a s a s e p a r a t e m a t t e r f r o m t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n h e a r i n g p r o c e e d e d . T h e e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t t h e t i m e o f r e c o n s i d e • a C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y A p p l i c a t i o n d a t e d J a n u a r y 7 i n d i c a t i n g t h a t h e r s p o u s e w a s s e e k i n g e m p l o y m e • a C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y A p p l i c a t i o n d a t e d D e c e m b e i n d i c a t i n g t h a t b o t h w e r e e m p l o y e d ; • a D a y C a r e C l a i m s f o r A u t h o r i z a t i o n l o g d a t e d A u C h i l d 1 ; • a D a y C a r e C l a i m s f o r A u t h o r i z a t i o n l o g d a t e d A u C h i l d 2 ; • t h e b i w e e k l y n e t p a y r e c o r d s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s s • t h e b i w e e k l y p a y r e c o r d s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t f o r J a n • a m i n i s t r y ' s H i s t o r y R e p o r t o n t h e a p p e l l a n t d a t e d a p p e l l a n t ' s s p o u s e h a s b e e n e m p l o y e d s i n c e S e p • a C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y E l i g i b i l i t y C a l c u l a t o r w h i c h r a n d i n d i c a t e s t h e t o t a l m o n t h l y i n c o m e o f t h e f a m l e v e l i s $ 1 4 1 8 ; • a C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y O v e r p a y m e n t C a l c u l a t i o n c t h e r e w a s u n d e c l a r e d i n c o m e f r o m t h e s p o u s e ' s e • a l e t t e r f r o m t h e V e r i f i c a t i o n a n d A u d i t O f f i c e r d a t o f t h e C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y o v e r p a y m e n t o f $ 3 0 3 7 . • a R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d a t e d F e b r u a r y 1 , d e c i s i o n i s w r o n g b e c a u s e o f t h e c l a r i t y o f t h e o r i g d o n e . T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e s t h a t t h e i n i t i a l l e t t e r i n d t i m e a n d a l t h o u g h a d i s c l a i m e r w a s a d d e d t o r e p o t e r m o f s u b s i d y i s m i s l e a d i n g . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o i n f o r m a t i o n i n a t i m e l y m a n n e r w h i l e t h e m i n i s t r y t t h a t t h e r e w a s a n o v e r p a y m e n t . O n a p p e a l , t h e a p p e l l a n t i n d i c a t e d t h a t s h e i s u n a b l e t o a c h i l d c a r e a n d p a y s t h e f u l l a m o u n t f o r c h i l d c a r e . A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t t e s t i f i e d t h a t s h e h a d c h e c k e c l i e n t i s r e q u i r e d t o p r o v i d e a c h a n g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n b e f o r o r a r e n o t e l i g i b l e f o r a s u b s i d y . S h e s t a t e d t h a t s h e d i d n C C S A b e c a u s e s h e d i d n o t k n o w i n g l y m i s l e a d t h e m i n i s t 1 1 ( 2 ) o f t h e C C S A , t h e r e i s a t i m e l i m i t o f 1 2 m o n t h s a f t e c a m e t o t h e m i n i s t e r ' s a t t e n t i o n . T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a s u b s i d y o n D e c e m b e r 2 9 ; 2 0 1 1 , a t w h i c h t i m e t h e y p r o v i d e m o l o v m e n t , t h a t s h e r e c e i v e d a c a l l e a r l v i n 2 0 1 3 t o a d v E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L c e r n s t o t h e m i n i s t r y r e g a r d i n g h e r p r i v a c y a s i t i n i s t r y r e s p o n d e d . T h e p a n e l c h a i r e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h i s a t i s s u e . B o t h p a r t i e s a c k n o w l e d g e d t h i s a n d t h e r a t i o n i n c l u d e d : , 2 0 1 1 f o r 2 c h i l d r e n s i g n e d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t n t ; r 2 9 , 2 0 1 1 f o r 2 c h i l d r e n s i g n e d b y b o t h p a r e n t s g u s t 2 0 1 1 • J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2 f o r $ 4 2 6 . 2 5 p e r m o n t h f o r g u s t 2 0 1 1 • J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2 f o r $ 3 9 0 . 7 3 p e r m o n t h f o r p o u s e d a t e d A u g u s t 2 4 , 2 0 1 1 · J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2 ; u a r y 2 0 1 1 ; M a y 2 7 , 2 0 1 0 • F e b r u a r y 1 4 , 2 0 1 2 n o t i n g t h a t t h e t e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 1 ; e f e r s t o t h e A s s e s s m e n t D a t e a s S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 2 i l y u n i t i s $ 5 0 4 5 . 4 2 a n d t h e f a m i l y i n c o m e e x e m p t i o n h a r t d a t e d D e c e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 3 w h i c h i n d i c a t e d t h a t m p l o y m e n t f r o m O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1 · J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2 ; e d D e c e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 3 w h i c h i n f o r m e d t h e a p p e l l a n t 7 6 ; a n d 2 0 1 4 w i t h a n o t e f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t i n d i c a t i n g t h a t t h e i n a l l e t t e r s s e n t a n d t h e t i m e f r a m e s i n w h i c h i t w a s i c a t e d t h a t t h e s u b s i d y w a s g r a n t e d f o r a p e r i o d o f r t a n y c h a n g e s , t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y w e r e g r a n t e d a s t a t e s t h a t d u r i n g t h e r e v i e w , s h e g a v e h e r o o k 1 O m o n t h s t o p r o v i d e h e r w i t h a l e t t e r i n d i c a t i n g f f o r d t h e p a y m e n t a n d s t i l l h a s 2 c h i l d r e n r e c e i v i n g d t h e m i n i s t r y w e b s i t e w h i c h d o e s n ' t i n d i c a t e t h a t a e t h e r e n e w a l d a t e , a n d d o e s n ' t s t a t e w h e n y o u a r e o t c o m m i t a n o f f e n s e u n d e r S e c t i o n 1 0 ( 2 ) o f t h e r y . T h e a p p e l l a n t f u r t h e r t e s t i f i e d t h a t u n d e r S e c t i o n r t h e f a c t s o n w h i c h t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i s b a s e d f i r s t t s h e h a d r e n e w e d t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n f o r c h i l d c a r e e d u p d a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n o f h e r h u s b a n d ' s i s e t h a t h e c h i l d c a r e s u b s i d v w o u l d b e r e d u c e d a n d
t h a t s h e r e c e i v e d t h e n o t i c e o f O v e r p a y m e n t o n D e c e m b f r o m t h e p a n e l a b o u t t h e d e c l a r a t i o n c o n f i r m e d b y t h e a p s u p p l y i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y P r o g r a m i f a p p e l l a n t r e s p o n d e d t h a t s h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e a c o p y o f t h w h i c h d i d n o t p r o v i d e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n s h e n e e d e d t o k n o a f f o r d a b l e , a c c e s s i b l e c h i l d c a r e a n d i t i s a h a r d s h i p f o r h A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e m i n i s t r y t e s t i f i e d t h a t S e c t i o n s 1 O a n d n o t p u r s u i n g a n o f f e n c e i n t h i s m a t t e r . T h e m i n i s t r y s t a t e w h i c h w a s n o t r e p o r t e d t o t h e m i n i s t r y a s r e q u i r e d b y t h e l e g i s l a t i o n f o r t h e m i n i s t r y ' s r e v i e w . T h e m i n i s t r y r e p r e s e w a v e t h e t o t a l o v e r p a y m e n t h o w e v e r , r e p a y m e n t o p t i o n s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n a n d s u b m i t t e d n o n e w i n f o r m a t F i n d i n g s o f F a c t T h e r e a r e 4 p e o p l e i n t h e f a m i l y u n i t . T h e f a m i l y ' s t o t a l m o n t h l y i n c o m e o n a p p l i c a t i o n d a t e d J T h e m o n t h l y r a t e f o r l i c e n s e d f a m i l y c a r e w a s $ 7 0 0 p e r c T h e p o t e n t i a l s u b s i d y f o r C h i l d 1 w a s $ 5 8 5 . T h e p o t e n t i a l s u b s i d y f o r C h i l d 2 w a s $ 5 3 6 . 2 5 . C h i l d 1 r e c e i v e d $ 4 2 6 . 2 5 s u b s i d y p e r m o n t h f r o m A u g u s C h i l d 2 r e c e i v e d $ 3 9 0 . 7 3 s u b s i d y p e r m o n t h f r o m A u g u s E a c h c h i l d ' s t h r e s h o l d w a s c a l c u l a t e d a s $ 2 9 1 8 . O n J a n u a r y 6 , 2 0 1 2 , t h e a p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d a n u p d a t e d s p o u s e ' s f u l l t i m e e m p l o y m e n t b e g i n n i n g S e p t e m b e r 6 , 2 B a s e d o n t h e p a y s t u b s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s s p o u s e , t h e f a m $ 5 0 4 5 . 4 2 o n S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 2 . A s t h e t o t a l f a m i l y m o n t h l y i n c o m e w a s $ 5 0 4 5 . 4 2 w i t h a e l i g i b i l i t y w a s r e d u c e d t o $ 3 0 . 0 2 f o r C h i l d 1 a n d $ 2 7 . 5 2 f A n o v e r p a y m e n t o f C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y f o r $ 3 0 3 7 . 7 6 w a s A r e g i s t e r e d l e t t e r d a t e d D e c e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 3 i n f o r m e d t h S u b s i d y O v e r p a y m e n t . E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 3 , 2 y e a r s l a t e r . I n r e s p o n s e t o a q u e s t i o n p l i c a n t o n h e r f i r s t C C S a p p l i c a t i o n t o " p r o m p t l y t h e r e i s a c h a n g e t o a n y o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n " , t h e e a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m a n d t h a t s h e d i d c h e c k t h e w e b s i t e w . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o a r g u e d t h a t s h e i s e n t i t l e d t o e r t o r e p a y t h e o v e r p a y m e n t . 1 1 o f t h e C C S A a r e n o t a p p l i c a b l e a s t h e m i n i s t r y i s d t h a t t h e i s s u e i s a b o u t t h e c h a n g e o f e m p l o y m e n t l e g i s l a t i o n a n d t h a t t h e r e i s n o t i m e r e s t r i c t i o n i n n t a t i v e a d d e d t h a t t h e y h a v e n o a b i l i t y t o r e d u c e o r a r e a v a i l a b l e . T h e m i n i s t r y r e l i e d o n i t s i o n . a n u a r y 7 , 2 0 1 1 w a s a s s e s s e d a t $ 3 5 2 6 . 5 4 . h i l d . t 1 , 2 0 1 1 J a n u a r y 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 f o r d a y c a r e s e r v i c e . t 1 , 2 0 1 1 J a n u a r y 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 f o r d a y c a r e s e r v i c e . C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y A p p l i c a t i o n w h i c h n o t e d h e r 0 1 1 . i l y ' s t o t a l m o n t h l y i n c o m e w a s r e a s s e s s e d a t t h r e s h o l d o f $ 2 9 1 8 p e r c h i l d , t h e m o n t h l y s u b s i d y o r C h i l d 2 . c a l c u l a t e d o n D e c e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 3 . e a p p e l l a n t t h a t s h e i s r e q u i r e d t o p a y t h e C h i l d C a r e
APPEAL PART F -Reasons for Panel Decision The issue under appeal is the reasonableness of the ministry's reconsideration decision which held that under Section 7 of the Child Care Subsidy Regulation; the appellant had received an overpayment of Child Care Subsidy from October 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012, in the amount of $3,037.76 that she was not entitled to receive and which must be repaid pursuant to the Child Care Subsidy Act, Section 7(1). Relevant Legislation Child Care Subsidy Act Definitions I In this Act: "child care" means the care and supervision of a child in a child care setting, other than (a) by the child's parent, or (b) while the child is attending an educational program provided under the School Act, the Independent School Act or a law of a treaty first nation in relation to kindergarten to grade 12 education; "child care setting" means any setting in which child care is provided, including (a) a facility licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act to provide child care, and (b) the child's own home; "child care subsidy" means a payment made under this Act to or for a parent to subsidize the costs of child care; "parent" includes a person with whom a child resides and who stands in place of a parent of the child. 5 (1) For the purpose of determining or auditing eligibility for child care subsidies, the minister may do one or more of the following: (a) direct a person who has applied for a child care subsidy, or to or for whom a child care subsidy is paid, to supply the minister with information within the time and in the manner specified by the minister; , (b) seek verification of any information supplied by a person referred to in paragraph (a); (c) direct a person referred to in paragraph (a) to supply verification of any information supplied by that person or another person; (d) collect from a person information about another person if (i) the information relates to the application for or payment of a child care subsidy, and ii) the minister has not solicited the information from the person who provides it. (2) A person to or for whom a child care subsidy is paid must notify the minister, within the time and in the manner specified by regulation, of any change in circumstances affecting their eligibility under this Act. (3) If a person fails to comply with a direction under subsection (1) (a) or (c) or with subsection (2), the minister may (a) declare the person ineligible for a child care subsidy until the person complies, or (b) reduce the person's child care subsidy. (4) For the purpose of auditing child care subsidies, the minister may direct child care providers to supply the minister with information about any child care they provide that is subsidized under this Act. Reconsideration and appeal rights 6 {l) Subject to section 6.1, a person may request the minister to reconsider a decision made under this Act about any of the following: (a) a decision that results in a refusal to pay a child care subsidy to or for the person; (b) a decision that results in a discontinuance or reduction of the person's child care subsidy. (2) A request under subsection (1) must be made, and the decision reconsidered, within the time limits and in accordance with any rules specified in the regulations. (3) Subject to section 6.1, a person who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a request for a reconsideration under subsection (I) may appeal the decision that is the outcome of the request to the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal appointed under section 19 of the Employment and Assistance Act. (4) A right of appeal given under subsection (3) is subject to the time limits and other requirements set out in the Employment and Assistance Act and the regulations under that Act. No appeal from decision based on same circumstances 6.1 If a person reapplies for a child care subsidy after (a) the person's eligibility for the child care subsidy has been determined under this Act, (b) a right of appeal under section 6 (3) has been exercised in respect of the determination ·referred to in paragraph (a), and (c) the decision of the tribunal in respect of the appeal referred to in paragraph (b) has been implemented, no right of reconsideration or appeal exists in respect of the second or a subsequent application unless there has been a change in circumstances relevant to the determination referred to in parm:1:raoh (a). EMT003(10/06/01)
APPEAL Overpayments, repayments and assignments 7 (1) If a child care subsidy is paid to or for a person who is not entitled to it, that person is liable to repay to the government the amount to which the person was not entitled. (2) Subject to the regulations, the minister may enter into an agreement, or may accept any right assigned, for the repayment of a child care subsidy (3) A repayment agreement may be entered into before or after a child care subsidy is paid. (4) An amount that a person is liable to repay under subsection (1) or under an agreement entered into under subsection (2) is a debt due to the government and may (a) be recovered by it in a court of competent jurisdiction, or (b) be deducted by it from any subsequent child care subsidy or from an amount payable to that person by the government under a prescribed enactment. (5) The minister's decision about the amount a person is liable to repay under subsection (1) or under an agreement entered into under subsection (2) is not open to appeal under section 6 (3). Offence of supplying false or misleading information 10 (1) A person commits an offence who supplies, in an application under this Act or when required or directed under section 5 (1), (2) or (4) or the regulations, information that is false or misleading with respect to a material fact. (2) A person does not commit an offence under subsection (l) if, at the time the information was supplied, the person did not know that it was false or misleading and, with the exercise of reaSonable diligence, could not have known that it was false or misleading. (3) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction to a fine of not more than $2 000 or to imprisonment for not more than 6 months or to both. (4) In addition, the court may order a person convicted of an offence under this section to pay the government all or part of any amount that person received under this Act as a result of committing the offence. Other provisions relating to offences 11 (!) Section 5 of the Offence Act does not apply to this Act or the regulations. (2) The time limit for laying an information for an offence under this Act is 12 months after the facts on which the information is based first came to the minister's attention. (3) A document purporting to have been issued by the minister, certifying the date o'n which the minister became aware of the facts on which the information is based, (a) is admissible without proof of the signature or official character of the person appearing to have signed the certificate, and (b) is proof of the certified facts unless there is evidence to the contrary. Child Care Subsidy Regulation \Vhat types of child care may be subsidized? 2 The minister may pay a child care subsidy if the child care is provided (a) in a licensed child care setting, (b) in a licence-not-required child care setting, (b.l) in a registered licence-not-required child care setting, or (c) in the child's own home, but only if the child care is provided by someone other than a person who (i) is a relative of the child or a dependant of the parent, and (ii) resides in the child's home. Circumstances in which subsidy may be provided 3 (1) The minister may pay a child care subsidy only if (a) the minister is satisfied that the child care is needed for one of the reasons set out in subsection (2), (b) the child care is arranged or recommended under the Child, Family and Community Service Act, or (c) the child care is recommended under the Community Living Authority Act in respect of a child who has a parent approved for or receiving community living support under the Community Living Authority Act and the minister is satisfied that the child care is needed. (2) For the purpose of subsection (1) (a), the child care must be needed for one of the following reasons: (a) in a single parent family, because the parent (i) is employed or self-employed, (ii) attends an educational institution, (iii) is seeking employment or participating in an employment-related program, or (iv) has a medical condition that interferes with the parent's ability to care for his or her child; EM T003(1 0/06/01)
APP E A L (b) in a two parent fa mil y, because (i) each parent is employe d or self-employed, _attend s an educational institu tion or partic ipates in an emplo yment-rel ated pr ogram, ( ii) one parent is e ngaged in an acti vity li s t ed in subpar agr aph ( i) and the other is seek ing emp loy ment , (iii) one p a r e nt is engaged in an activi ty listed i n subpa ragraph (i) and the other p arent has a m edical c ond ition that i nterferes with t h at pa rent's a bility to care fo r his o r her chi ld, o r ( v) each p arent h as a med i c a l c o nd i t i on that inte r feres with their a bility to car e for t h e i r c hi ld. Incom e te st 7 (1 ) A n app l ic ant is n ot e li gible f or a chi l d car e sub si dy for a c h ild recei ving a typ e of ch il d c are i f ( a) the family 's mont hly net income ex ceeds t he child's threshold, an d (b ) the res ult of the cal cul at ion under sec tio n 8 (2) for t he c hi ld is n ot mor e than z ero. (2) S ubse ction (I) does not apply to an applica n t if t he child c ar eis fora child (a) in relatio n t o w ho m the ap plicant h as e n t ere d into an a greement with a dir ec tor under s ect i on 8 of the Child, Fami ly and C o mmun ity Service Act , (b ) in re l a tion to whom the a pp li c a nt, by a greement und er se ction 94 of the C hild, Fami ly and Comm unity Serv ice Act, exer cises a d irect o r 's righ t s o r carri es out a directo r' s re s po nsibi lities, ( c) of w ho m t he applic a nt has interim or t emp orary c ust ody under an o rder of the c o u rt und er s ection 35 ( 2) (d), 4 1 (I ) (b ) , 42 .2 (4 ) ( c), 49 (7) (b) or 54. 01 ( 9) (b) of t he C hild, Fam ily and Community S ervice A ct, ( c. 1 ) of whom the appl ica n t has b ee n perman e n tly transferre d custody un d e r an ord e r o f the c ourt un der sectio n 54.01 (5 ) or 54.1 (3) of t he Chi ld, Fa m ily and Co mmunity S erv i ce Act, ( d ) o f w hom the ap plican t has c ustody un der an ord e r of the court und er sectio n 42 .2 (4) (a) o f the Child, Family and Comm un ity Servic e A ct, if the app l ican t is the ot her person referr e d to in section 42 .2 (4) ( a) (i), (e) who is r ece iv ing as sistance und e r the auth ority o f the Ch ild in the Hom e of a Rela tive P ro gram Trans it ion Re g ul a tion , B.C . Reg . 48/2010 , an d th e app licant i s th e re lative w i t h wh om th a t child r esides, or (f ) wh o is r e ceiving a ss ist ance unde r a prog r a m , si m ilar in natu re to the program r efe r red t o in p a rag r a p h (e), provided (i) on a res erve, w i t hin the me a ning of t he Ind i an Act (Cana da), b y the g o v e rnment o f Canad a, o r (ii) by the Nis ga'a Na tio n or a trea ty first na tion. Amo un t of s u bsi d y 8 ( 1) If a family 's monthly n e t incom e does not e xceed a c hil d ' s th re shold, the amount of cl1 i l d care subsidy for the chi ld i n re s pe ct of a ty p e o f child care is t he a m ou n t se t out in S chedule A o r t he parent fee, w hiche ver is le ss, for the type of chi ld ca re . (1.1) If a par ent i s eligi ble for a su bsidy for m o r e t han one type of c h ild care s et out i n Sch edu l e A, the mi nister may dete rmine wh ic h s ubsi dy rate app li es. (2 ) I f a f ami l y ' s m on thly net i n c ome ex c eed s a chi l d's thre s hold, the a mount o f c hild c are su bsidy f o r the c hild i n respect of a type o f child ca r e is A B w he r e A :::: the amou nt se t out in Schedule A or th e paren t fee , whiche ver is le s s, f or the type of c hi ld car e ; B :::: th e amo unt o f A f or the chil d , divided-by th e s u m of the a m ou n t s of A for a l l children in the fa m i l y re ceiving child car e descr i bed in s e c t io n 2, mult i plied by 50% of the amo unt by which the fam il y's m o n t hl y net income excee ds the c hild' s t hre s h o l d. (2.1) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 38 8/2 004.) (2.2) The child care subsidy for a child described in section 7 (2) is the amount set out in Schedule A or the parent fee, whichever is less, for the ty p e of child care the child is receiving. (3) If child care is required for less than 20 days per mon t h, the ch ild car e subs i dy will be pro rated based on the daily rate set out i n Sch edu le A or the daily parent f ee, w h i chever is les s. ( 4 ) If the child care is (a) arranged or recommended by staff delegated under the Child, Family and Community Service Act, after staff have (i) offered support services or agreements to the child and family under section 16 (2) (a) of that Act, or (ii) commenced an investigation under section 16 (2 ) (c) of that Act, or (b) pro v id e d through a You ng Parent Program, and the child care provi d er operating the Young Par ent Pr ogram con fi r ms, in the form and manner specified by the minister, tha t the parent is pa r ti c i pating in the Young Parent Program, the minister may pay any focrease in the amount of the child care subsidy that the minister considers necess ary to ensure that the child care is provided. ( 5) In this section, "parent fee" mea n s the payment made by the parent for a child care space. How mo nthly net inco me is calculated 9 (1) The month Iv net income of a familv is calculated by addim! the income that each nerson in the family receives oer month, includi1H!, but not EMT 003(10/06/01)
APPEAL l imited to, the followi n g: (a) empl oy ment income; (b) self-employ ment income; ( c) spo usa l or child sup port paid to a spous e or child i n the family; (d) emplo yment insuran ce b e nefits; (e) workers ' compensation be nefits; (f) training allowan ces; (g) investment incom e, includ ing in terest; ( h) tips and gratuit ies; (i) money earne d by providing room and board, less esse nti al operati ng costs; (j ) ren t al income of any kind, less essen t ial operati ng costs; (k) gran ts , bursa ri e s or scholarshi p s, except (i) the am ount for tuiti o n or books, and (i i) with respect t o grants provid e d under the British Col umb i a Studen t Assist an ce Program , $50 for e ach week covered by the grant (2) When c alculating net income u nder sub s e c tio n (1), th e follow ing a re considered no t t o be inc ome: ( a) income earne d by a dependent child; (b) the ba si c fami ly care rate for fo st er homes; (c) assistance paid under the Employment and A ssistance Act or a ssistan ce paid under the Emplo yme n t and Assista nce for Person s with Dis abil itie s Act; ( c . l ) ass ista nce that is s imila r in n ature to an y of th e types of assist ance pro vid ed under an Act ref err ed to in pa r a gr a ph ( c) an d that is paid under a program prov i d ed (i ) o n a rese r v e, w i t hin t he m ean ing of th e I ndi an Act (Cana da), by t he government o f Ca nada, or (i i) by th e Nisg a'a Na tion o r a treaty firs t nation; ( d) a fa mily bon us; ( e ) the ba sic chi ld tax ben efi t ; (f) a go ods a n d ser vices ta x cre dit un de r th e I n co m e Tax Act (Canada); (g) a sales ta x credit under the Income Tax A ct (Bri t i sh Co l umbia ); (h ) t he BC earned i n c o m e ben efi t; (i ) c hi ld su pp ort p aid fo r, a nd pa s sed o n to, (i ) a person with disa bilities, or (i i) a per son w ho rec eiv ed chil d sup port before r each ing 1 9 years ofa g e a nd wh o c ontinues to receive it aft er reac hin g that age. (j ) a ren t s ubs idy provide d b y the pr ovincia l governme nt, o r by a c ou nci l, boar d, soc iet y or gciv ern men tal a genc y that administer s rent sub s i dies fro m t he prov inci al governmen t; (k) a n i ncome tax re fund, o r part of a n income tax refund, t hat aris es by r eason of a pay men t ma d e by th e g overnmen t of Bri tis h Columbia to th e governme nt of Canada on behalf o f a perso n w ho incurred a tax liability due t o inc ome rece ived unde r the Forest \Yorker Tr ansi tion Prog ram; (l ) mo ney pai d or payable t o a pe r so n in se ttl emen t of a cla im of ab use a t an Ind ian resi d e n ti al school, exce pt money pa id or p a y a ble as inc ome replacement i n the set tlemen t; (m ) post ado ption as sis tance pay m e nts pro vi d ed under sec tio n 28 (I) or 30 ( I) o f the Ado pt i on Re gula ti o n, B . C . Re g. 29 1/96; (n ) a re ba te of energy or fuel t ax prov i d ed by th e gove rnment o f C anada, t he go ve rnmen t of Brit is h Co lum bia , or an ag ency of eithe r go ve rn men t; ( o) p ayme nts gr ante d b y t he go vern ment o f Br itish Co l u mbi a for t he Ministry of Chil d r e n a nd Family Deve lopm ent ' s A utis m Fund i n g: Und er Ag e 6 P ro gra m; ( p) p a y me n t s grante d by the government o f Brit is h Co l umbia f o r the Ministry of Children and Family Development's Autism Funding: Ages 6-18 Pro gram; ( q) payme nts grante d b y t he g overnment o f B r i tish Columbia under s ect ion 8 [agreement with c hil d's k i n a n d ot hers} of the Child, Family and Co m mu nity Serv ice A c t; (r) p a y ments granted by the gove rnment o f British Columbia under a n agreement re ferred to in section 93 (1) (g) (ii ) of the Child, Family and Co m mu nity Service Act; (s) payments granted by the government of British Columbia under the Ministry of Child r e n and Family Development's At Home Program; (t) loans provided under the British Columbia Student Assistance Program or under a student loan program of the federal government, the gove rnment of a province or the government of a j u r i s dic tion outside C anada; (u) a benefit paid under section 4 (I) of the Universal Child Care Benefit Act (Canada); (v) the low income cl imate action tax credit under section 8.1 o f th e I ncome Tax Act; (w) the cli m a te action dividend under secti on 13.02 of the I ncome Tax Act (3) If the monthly net income of the family varie s during a calendar year, the minister may calculate their monthly net income by (a) estimating the annual net income that everyo ne in the family, other than a dependent child, will receive in the calendar year, and (b) dividing the estim ated annual n e t i ncome b H ow c hild's threshold is ca lculated EAAT 003(10/06/01)
A P P E A L 1 0 ( 1 ) T h e t h r e s h o l d i n c o m e l e v e l f o i:- a c h i l d r e c e i v i n g a t y p e o f c h i l d c a r e i s c a l c u l a t e d b y a d d i n g ( a ) t h e b a s e t h r e s h o l d i n c o m e l e v e l a p p l i c a b l e u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) f o r t h e c h i l d ' s fa m i l y , a n d ( b ) t h e a m o u n t s a p p l i c a b l e t o t h e c h i l d u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 3 ) . ( 2 ) Th e b a s e t h r e s h o l d i n c o m e l e v e l fo r a c h i l d ' s f .i m i l y i s t h e a m o u n t s e t o u t i n C o l u m n 2 o p p o s i t e t h e fa m i l y ' s s i z e i n C o l u m n 1 : C o l u m n 1 F a m i l y S i z e C o l u m n 2 B a s e T h r e s h o l d I n c o m e L e v e l 2 p e r s o n s $ 1 0 8 2 3 p e r s o n s $ 1 2 7 5 4 p e r s o n s $ 1 4 1 8 5 p e r s o n s $ 1 5 7 1 6 p e r s o n s $ 1 7 0 4 7 p e r s o n s $ 1 8 3 7 8 p e r s o n s $ 1 9 6 0 9 p e r s o n s $ 2 0 8 3 1 0 p e r s o n s $ 2 2 0 6 m o r e t h a n 1 0 p e r s o n s $ 2 2 0 6 f o r t h e f i r s t 1 0 p l u s $ 1 2 3 fo r e a c h a d d i t i o n a l p e r s o n ( 3 ) T h e b a s e t h r e s h o l d i n c o m e l e v e l f o r a c h i l d i s i n c r e a s e d a s f o l l o w s : ( a ) b y $ 1 2 5 p e r m o n t h f o r e a c h p e r s o n i n t h e c h i l d ' s f a m i l y w h o ( i ) i s a c h i l d w i t h s p e c i a l n e e d s , ( i i ) i s a p e r s o n w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s , o r ( i i i ) h a s r e a c h e d 6 5 y e a r s o f a g e ; ( b ) b y $ 5 1 5 p e r m o n t h f o r a c h i l d w h o ( i ) h a s n o t r e a c h e d s c h o o l a g e a n d i s r e c e i v i n g c h i l d c a r e ( A ) i n a l i c e n c e • n o t r e q u i r e d c h i l d c a r e s e t t i n g , o r ( B ) i n t h e c h i l d ' s o w n h o m e a s d e s c r i b e d i n s e c t i o n 2 ( c ) , o r ( i i ) i s o f s c h o o l a g e a n d i s r e c e i v i n g c h i l d c a r e i n a n y c h i l d c a r e s e t t i n g ; ( c ) b y $ 1 5 0 0 p e r m o n t h i f t h e c h i l d h a s n o t r e a c h e d s c h o o l a g e a n d i s r e c e i v i n g c h i l d c a r e ( i ) i n a l i c e n s e d c h i l d c a r e s e t t i n g , o r ( i i ) i n a r e g i s t e r e d l i c e n c e n o t r e q u i r e d c h i l d c a r e s e t t i n g ; ( d ) b y $ 1 0 0 p e r m o n t h i f t h e c h i l d ( i ) i s a c h i l d w i t h s p e c i a l n e e d s , a n d ( i i ) r e c e i v e s a t y p e o f c h i l d c a r e d e s c r i b e d i n s e c t i o n 2 . N o t i f y i n g t h e m i n i s t e r o f c h a n g e i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s 1 4 T h e n o t i f i c a t i o n r e q u i r e d b y s e c t i o n 5 ( 2 ) o f t h e A c t m u s t b e g i v e n i n w r i t i n g o r b y t e l e p h o n e , ( a ) a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e a ft e r a n y c h a n g e i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s a f f e c t i n g t h e e 1 i g i b i l i t y o f t h e p a r e n t , a n d ( b ) t o a n e m p l o y e e i n t h e C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y S e r v i c e C e n t r e . M i n i s t r y ' s P o s i t i o n T h e m i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s i n e l i g i b l e f o r t h e t o t a l a m o u n t o f C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y p r o v i d e d f r o m O c t o b e r 1 , 2 0 1 1 t o J a n u a r y 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 , w h i c h r e s u l t e d i n a n o v e r p a y m e n t o f $ 3 0 3 7 . 7 6 . T h e m i n i s t r y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t a n i n c r e a s e i n t h e f a m i l y ' s n e t m o n t h l y i n c o m e t o $ 5 0 4 5 . 4 2 f r o m $ 3 5 2 6 . 5 4 a s a r e s u l t o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s s p o u s e ' s e a r n i n g s m a d e t h e a p p e l l a n t i n e l i g i b l e f o r t h e s u b s i d y w h i c h h a d b e e n c a l c u l a t e d a t t h e l o w e r f a m i l y n e t i n c o m e r a t e . A s t h e m i n i s t r y w a s n o t n o t i f i e d o f t h i s c h a n g e i n c i r c u m s t a n c e a s r e q u i r e d b y t h e l e g i s l a t i o n u n t i l J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2 , 4 m o n t h s a f t e r t h e s p o u s e ' s c h a n g e i n e m p l o y m e n t , a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n d o e s n o t e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y m a d e a n a d m i n i s t r a t i v e e r r o r , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s l i a b l e t o r e p a y t h e a m o u n t t h a t w a s o v e r p a i d . A p p e l l a n t ' s P o s i t i o n A l t h o u g h t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t d i s p u t e t h e m i n i s t r y ' s r e c a l c u l a t i o n o f t h e C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y h e r p o s i t i o n i s t h a t t h e d e c i s i o n i s w r o n a b e c a u s e o f t h e l a c k o f c l a r i t v o f t h e o r i a i n a l l e t t e r s s e n t a n d t h e t i m e f r a m e s i n w h i c h E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )
i t w a s d o n e . T h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t t h e i n i t i a l l e t t e r i n t i m e a n d a l t h o u g h a d i s c l a i m e r w a s a d d e d t o r e p o r t a n y s u b s i d y i s m i s l e a d i n g . T h e a p p e l l a n t e x p l a i n e d t h a t s h e c l i e n t i s r e q u i r e d t o p r o v i d e a c h a n g e o f i n f o r m a t i o n b e f o s h e n e e d e d t o k n o w a n d d o e s n ' t i n d i c a t e w h e n y o u a r e o t h a t s h e h a d r e n e w e d t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n f o r C h i l d C a r e S u p r o v i d e d u p d a t e d i n f o r m a t i o n o f h e r h u s b a n d ' s e m p l o y m t h a t t h e C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y w o u l d b e r e d u c e d a n d t h a t s 1 1 , 2 0 1 3 , 2 y e a r s l a t e r . T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o a r g u e d t h a t s i s a h a r d s h i p f o r h e r t o r e p a y t h e o v e r p a y m e n t . P a n e l ' s F i n d i n g s B o t h t h e m i n i s t r y a n d t h e p a n e l a r e b o u n d b y t h e p r o v i s i o d i s c r e t i o n t o d e v i a t e f r o m t h e p r e s c r i b e d p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e a n a p p l i c a n t i s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r c h i l d c a r e s u b s i d y i f ( a ) t h e t h r e s h o l d a n d ( b ) t h e r e s u l t a m o u n t u n d e r S e c t i o n 8 ( 2 ) o a ) F a m i l y ' s m o n t h l y n e t i n c o m e = $ 5 0 4 5 . 4 2 b ) C h i l d ' s t h r e s h o l d i n c o m e e x e m p t i o n = $ 2 9 1 8 c ) T h e p o t e n t i a l s u b s i d y a m o u n t f o r C h i l d 1 = $ 5 8 5 d } T h e p a r e n t s p o r t i o n = $ 1 0 6 3 . 7 1 . T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t w h i l e t h e a m o u n t s u s e d f o r t h e c a l c S e c t i o n 7 o f t h e C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y R e g u l a t i o n , t h e a p p e h e r c h i l d r e n h a s b e e n a p p r o p r i a t e l y r e d u c e d a c c o r d i n g t o T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t a s t h e a p p e l l a n t d i d n o t n o t i f y t h e m p o s s i b l e a f t e r t h e c h a n g e i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s a f f e c t i n g t h e S u b s i d y R e g u l a t i o n , S e c t i o n 1 4 , t h a t t h e o v e r p a y m e n t a m O c t o b e r 2 0 1 1 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 2 . T h e p a n e l d o e s f i n d i t t r o u b l i n g t h a t t h e r e w a s a d e l a y o f m o n t h l y n e t i n c o m e w a s r e p o r t e d i n t h e r e n e w e d C h i l d C a n d t h e r e g i s t e r e d l e t t e r f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y t o t h e a p p e l l a n t h a t s h e m u s t r e p a y t h e C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y O v e r p a y m e n T h e p a n e l a l s o f i n d s t h a t b a s e d o n t h e e v i d e n c e , t h e m i n r e c e i v e d a n o v e r p a y m e n t o f C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y f r o m O c $ 3 , 0 3 7 . 7 6 t h a t s h e w a s n o t e n t i t l e d t o r e c e i v e a n d w h i c h A c t , S e c t i o n 7 . T h e p a n e l t h e r e f o r e c o n f i r m s t h e m i n i s t r y E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L d i c a t e d t h a t t h e s u b s i d y w a s g r a n t e d f o r a p e r i o d o f c h a n g e s , t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y w e r e g r a n t e d a t e r m o f h a d c h e c k e d t h e w e b s i t e w h i c h d o e s n ' t i n d i c a t e t h a t a r e t h e r e n e w a l d a t e , d i d n o t p r o v i d e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n r a r e n o t e l i g i b l e f o r a s u b s i d y . T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d b s i d y o n D e c e m b e r 2 9 ; 2 0 1 1 a t w h i c h t i m e t h e y e n t ; t h a t s h e r e c e i v e d a c a l l e a r l y i n 2 0 1 3 t o a d v i s e h e r e c e i v e d t h e n o t i c e o f O v e r p a y m e n t o n D e c e m b e r h e i s e n t i t l e d t o a f f o r d a b l e , a c c e s s i b l e c h i l d c a r e a n d i t n s o f t h e C C S A a n d t h e C C S R a n d h a v e n o l e g i s l a t i o n . A s s e t o u t i n S e c t i o n 7 ( 1 ) o f t h e C C S R , f a m i l y ' s n e t i n c o m e e x c e e d s t h e c h i l d ' s b a s e f t h e C C S R f o r t h e c h i l d i s n o t m o r e t h a n z e r o . a n d f o r C h i l d 2 = $ 5 3 6 . 2 5 w h i c h t o t a l s $ 1 1 2 1 . 2 5 . u l a t i o n a b o v e a r e n o t i n d i s p u t e ; t h a t a s s e t o u t i n l l a n t ' s e l i g i b i l i t y f o r p a r t i a l d a y c a r e s u b s i d y f o r b o t h t h e r e a s s e s s e d f a m i l y m o n t h l y n e t i n c o m e . i n i s t r y e i t h e r i n w r i t i n g o r b y t e l e p h o n e a s s o o n a s e l i g i b i l i t y o f t h e p a r e n t s a s r e q u i r e d i n t h e C h i l d C a r e o u n t w a s c a l c u l a t e d a c c u r a t e l y f o r t h e p e r i o d o f 2 y e a r s f r o m w h e n t h e c h a n g e o f t h e f a m i l y u n i t ' s a r e S u b s i d y a p p l i c a t i o n d a t e d D e c e m b e r 2 9 , 2 0 1 1 t d a t e d D e c e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 3 i n f o r m i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t t . i s t r y r e a s o n a b l y d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d t o b e r 1 , 2 0 1 1 t o J a n u a r y 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 , i n t h e a m o u n t o f m u s t b e r e p a i d p u r s u a n t t o t h e C h i l d C a r e S u b s i d y ' s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n .
You are being directed to the most recent version of the statute which may not be the version considered at the time of the judgment.