P A R T C D e c i s i o n u n d e r A p p e a l T h e d e c i s i o n u n d e r a p p e a l i s t h e M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a l D e v e l o p m e n t a n d S o c i a l I n n o v a t i o n ( t h e " M i n i s t r y " ) r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n d a t e d F e b r u a r y 4 , 2 0 1 4 w h i c h h e l d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t w a s d e n i e d h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e d u e t o n o t m e e t i n g w o r k s e a r c h r e q u i r e m e n t s p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) o f t h e o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e R e g u l a t i o n ( t h e " E A R " ) . P A R T D R e l e v a n t L e g i s l a t i o n S e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) a n d 4 7 . 2 o f t h e E A R .
PART E -Summary of Facts The Appellant was not in attendance at the hearing. After confirming that the Appellant was notified, the hearing proceeded under Section 86(b} of the EAR. The evidence before the Ministry at reconsideration was as follows: 1) Application for Income Assistance dated December 3, 2013 (the "Application Part 1 ") signed by the Appellant which stated the following: a) that it is a condition of eligibility for income or disability assistance that the applicant search for employment satisfactory to the Ministry by either completing a search for employment as directed by the Ministry during the period immediately following the date on the form or that the applicant must demonstrate to the Ministry that a satisfactory search for employment has been completed during the period immediately prior to the date of signing the form; b) that the applicant must use a work search form provided by the Ministry and return it at the time of the appointment to complete the application process; c) that the applicant is exempt from the condition to conduct a search for employment if the applicant: i) is in an abusive relationship; ii) suffers with a physical or mental condition; iii) or any person in the family unit is a person with disabilities designated by the Ministry; iv) is prohibited by law from working in Canada; v ) has reached 65 years of age; vi) is a sole applicant with a dependent child under three years of age; vii) is a sole applicant providing care to a child in the home of a relative, a foster child or a child under three years of age in the applicant's care under an agreement; and d) that the applicant is responsible, among other things, to conduct a search for employment as directed by the Ministry. 2) Application for Income Assistance dated December 3, 2013 (the "Application Part 2") signed by the Appellant. 3) Work Search Activities Record dated December 13, 2013 (the "Record") completed and signed by the Appellant. The Record listed the results of the Appellant's daily job search activities. The first entry on the Record is December 3, 2013 and the last entry is December 13, 2013. The Appellant listed eighteen entries under the category 'Types of Activity' listing various employment activities conducted during this period. 4) Employment and Assistance Request for Reconsideration dated January 15, 2014 (the "Request") completed and signed by the Ministry . ... 1) 1 -·, '""' ----..- --,--··-:-··. :.
U n d e r S e c t i o n 2 o f t h e R e q u e s t , t h e M i n i s t r y f o u a ) O n D e c e m b e r 3 , 2 0 1 3 t h e i n t a k e w o r k e r a d v f i v e i t e m s p e r d a y f i v e d a y s p e r w e e k ; w h a t a c t i v i t i e s ; o f r e a s o n a b l e w o r k s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s u b m i t w o r k s e a r c h o n a w e e k l y b a s i s a n d p t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a d a r e v i e w a p p o i n t m e n t b ) O n D e c e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 3 t h e A p p e l l a n t w a s i n t e l e p h o n e M i n i s t r y w o r k e r ; A p p e l l a n t d r o p p e c ) D e c e m b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 3 t h e A p p e l l a n t c o n t a c t e d c l o s e d a s h e h a d n o t s a t i s f i e d t h e h a r d s h i p r d ) J a n u a r y 2 0 , 2 0 1 4 t h e i n t a k e w o r k e r m a d e c o f u r t h e r w o r k s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s r e c o r d s t o s u b m f u r t h e r r e c o r d s t o s u b m i t . 5 ) E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i g n e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t . S e c t i o n 3 o f t h e 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 , t h i ) t h a t t h e r u l e s a r e v e r y s t r i c t a n d t h a t h i i ) t h a t h e i s w a i t i n g f o r e i g h t e e n e m p l o y i i i ) t h a t h e d i d n o t o p e n a p h o n e b o o k a n u s i n g W o r k B C a n d t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f i v ) t h a t C h r i s t m a s i s a h a r d t i m e o f y e a r t a r e a w a y f o r t h e h o l i d a y s e a s o n ; a n d v ) t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t w a s c u t o f f f r o m a s s w e l l n e s s c e n t r e . 6 ) L e t t e r f r o m t h e A p p e l l a n t w i t h n o n a m e d r e c i p i e n " A p p e l l a n t L e t t e r ' ' ) . I n t h e A p p e l l a n t L e t t e r t h e A a ) t h a t h e h a s t a l k e d t o o r p r o v i d e d r e s u m e s t o b ) t h a t h e i s n o t s u i t e d f o r f a s t f o o d i n d u s t r y ; c ) t h a t t h e r e i s n o w o r k l o c a l l y a n d h e i s l o o k i n g d ) t h a t h e w a s u n a w a r e h e w a s r e q u i r e d t o f i l l o e ) t h a t h e w i l l g o t o t h e p h o n e b o o k a n d p r o v i d e F o r t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t p r o v i d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g d o c u m e n t a r y e v i d e n c e : 7 ) N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d F e b r u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 c o m p w h i c h s t a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g : · a ) • ' !h a r t h e C 1 W i s t m a s s e a s o n i s a : ti i f f i c u l l t i rn e u n d t h e f o l l o w i n g : i s e d t h e A p p e l l a n t : o f w o r k s e a r c h r e q u i r e m e n t s e l i g i b l e i t e m s w e r e c o n s i d e r e d w o r k s e a r c h s o u t l i n e d o n t h e w o r k s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s r e c o r d ; t o r o v i d e d h i m w i t h t h r e e c o p i e s o f t h e R e c o r d ; a n d o n D e c e m b e r 3 0 , 2 0 1 3 . f o r m e d o f t h e w o r k s e a r c h r e q u i r e m e n t s b y a d o f f t h e R e c o r d ; t h e M i n i s t r y a n d h e w a s a d v i s e d h i s f i l e w a s e q u i r e m e n t ; a n d n t a c t w i t h t h e A p p e l l a n t a n d a s k e d i f h e h a d a n y i t a n d t h e A p p e l l a n t a d v i s e d t h a t h e h a d n o s i d e r a t i o n d a t e d J a n u a r y 2 1 , 2 0 1 4 c o m p l e t e d a n d e A p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g : e i s l o o k i n g f o r w o r k ; e r s t o r e s p o n d t o h i s r e s u m e s ; d p i c k 5 e m p l o y e r s p e r d a y b u t h e w a s a c t i v e l y h i s c o u n s e l o r o n a r e t r a i n i n g p l a n ; o f i n d e m p l o y m e n t a n d a m a j o r i t y o f e m p l o y e r s i s t a n c e a n d h a d n o w h e r e t o g o u n t i l h e w e n t t o a t o r d a t e w h i c h w a s s i g n e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t ( t h e p p e l l a n t s t a t e s t h e f o l l o w i n g : t h e i n d i v i d u a l s n a m e d i n h i s c o n t a c t s ; i n a n o t h e r p r o v i n c e f o r w o r k ; u t j o b s e a r c h f o r m s ; a n d l e g i t i m a t e c o n t a c t s . a d d i t i o n a l w r i t t e n s u b m i s s i o n ( s ) a n d l e t e d a n d s i g n e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t ( t h e " N o t i c e " ) f v e a r t o f i n d ' e r r w l o v r n e n t ;
b ) t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a s b e e n t r y i n g v e r y h a r d c ) . t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a s e m a i l e d r e s u m e s , c o l d ) w o r k e d o n l y o n e d a y o n D e c e m b e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 3 T h e P a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e a d d i t i o n a l e v i d e n c e p r o v i d a n d w a s a d m i s s i b l e u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 ) o f t h e E m p o f t h e r e c o r d s b e f o r e t h e M i n i s t r y a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . . , . , _ . , ,._ , . , . · , · .t o f i n d e m p l o y m e n t ; d c a l l e d e m p l o y e r s , h a d j o b i n t e r v i e w s ; . e d b y t h e A p p e l l a n t c l a r i f i e d h i s c u r r e n t s i t u a t i o n l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e A c t a s i t w a s i n s u p p o rt . '
P A R T F R e a s o n s f o r P a n e l D e c i s i o n T h e i s s u e i s w h e t h e r t h e M i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n t o d e n t h e A p p e l l a n t n o t m e e t i n g w o r k s e a r c h r e q u i r e m e n a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l a w o r r e a s o n a b l y s u p p o r t e d b y t h S e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) o f t h e E A R a d d r e s s e s t h e f i r s t s t a a s s i s t a n c e p r i o r t o t h e M i n i s t r y d e t e r m i n i n g e l i g i b i l i t 4 . 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) s t a t e s t h e f o l l o w i n g : T h e f i r s t s t a g e o f t h e p r o c e s s f o r a s s e s s i n g t h e e l i g i b i l i t y o f s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) ( 2 ) T h e a p p l i c a n t s f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e i n a f a m i ( b ) s u b j e c t t o s u b s e c t i o n s ( 4 ) a n d ( 6 ) m u ( i ) c o m p l e t e s e a r c h e s f o r e m p l o s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 . 1 ) i m m e d i a t e l y f o l ( i i ) d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t e a c h o f t h e t h e m i n i s t e r w i t h i n t h e 3 0 d a y p e a n d i n e i t h e r c a s e p r o v i d e i n f o r m f o r m s p e c i f i e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r . T h e l e g i s l a t i o n r e q u i r e s a p p l i c a n t s f o r i n c o m e a s s i s d i r e c t e d b y t h e M i n i s t ry f o r t h e a p p l i c a b l e p e r i o d i m d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t e a c h o f t h e a p p l i c a n t s h a s c o m p l e M i n i s t ry 3 0 d a y s p r i o r t o t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n v e r i f i c a t i o n o f t h e s e a r c h e s f o r e m p l o y m e n t i n t h e f o I n d e t e r m i n i n g t h e A p p e l l a n t d i d n o t q u a l i f y f o r h a r d r e q u i r e m e n t s p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) o f t h e E A O n D e c e m b e r 3 , 2 0 1 3 y o u w e r e a d v i s e d o f t h e w o r k s w o r k s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s f o r m t o r e c o r d y o u a c t i v i t i e s . O a d v i s e d y o u a g a i n o f y o u r o b l i g a t i o n t o c o m p l e t e 5 w o p r o v i d e d . Y o u p r o v i d e d t h e w o r k s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s f o r m 3 t o 1 3 , 2 0 1 3 a n d p r o v i d e d n o f u r t h e r w o r k s e a r c h a c t T h e M i n i s t r y r e l i e d o n t h e R e c o r d c o m p l e t e d b y t h e l e g i s l a t i v e r e q u i r e m e n t s . T h e R e c o r d l i s t e d a t o t a l o t h e A p p e l l a n t b e g i n n i n g o n D e c e m b e r 3 , 2 0 1 3 t o D e T h e M i n i s t r y w a s n o t s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t h a d t e n d a y p e r i o d n o t f i v e w o r k s e a r c h e s p e r d a y f i v e d p r o v i d e d w o r k s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s w i t h l e s s t h a n f i v e s e o f a n y a d d i t i o n a l s e a r c h e s a t t h e t i m e o f r e c o n s i d e r a · T i m M i n i s t r v a l s o r e l i e d o n t h e i n t a k e w o r k e r s n o t e s y t h e A p p e l l a n t h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e a s a r e s u l t o f t s a s p r o v i d e d b y t h e E A R i s a r e a s o n a b l e e e v i d e n c e i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e A p p e l l a n t . g e o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n p r o c e s s f o r i n c o m e y f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e f o r a p p l i c a n t s . S e c t i o n a f a m i l y u n i t f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e i s f u l f i l l i n g t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f l y u n i t s t y m e n t a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r f o r t h e a p p l i c a b l e p e r i o d u n d e r l o w i n g t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n u n d e r p a r a g r a p h ( a ) , o r a p p l i c a n t s h a s c o m p l e t e d a s e a r c h f o r e m p l o y m e n t s a t i s f a c t o r y t o r i o d p r i o r t o t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n u n d e r p a r a g r a p h ( a ) , a t i o n a b o u t a n d v e r i f i c a t i o n o f t h e s e a r c h e s f o r e m p l o y m e n t , i n t h e t a n c e t o c o m p l e t e s e a r c h e s f o r e m p l o y m e n t a s m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o r t e d a s e a r c h f o r e m p l o y m e n t s a t i s f a c t o ry t o t h e a n d i n e i t h e r c a s e p r o v i d e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e r m p r o v i d e d b y t h e M i n i s t r y . s h i p a s s i s t a n c e d u e t o n o t m e e t i n g w o r k s e a r c h R , t h e M i n i s t r y c o n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g : e a r c h r e q u i r e m e n t s e x p e c t e d o f y o u a n d p r o v i d e d w i t h a n D e c e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 3 y o u s p o k e w i t h a m i n i s t r y w o r k e r w h o r k s e a r c h e s p e r d a y a n d r e c o r d t h e a c t i v i t i e s o n t h e f o r m w i t h l e s s t h a n 5 a c t i v i t i e s p e r d a y r e c o r d e d f o r D e c e m b e r i v i t i e s w i t h y o u r 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 . A p p e l l a n t i n f i n d i n g t h e A p p e l l a n t d i d n o t m e e t t h e f e i g h t e e n w o r k s e a r c h a c t i v i t i e s c o n d u c t e d b y c e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 1 3 . c o m p l e t e d o n l y e i g h t e e n w o r k s e a r c h e s o v e r a a y s a w e e k . T h e M i n i s t r y s t a t e d t h e A p p e l l a n t a r c h e s p e r d a y a n d d i d n o t p r o v i d e c o n f i r m a t i o n t i o n . t o v e r i f v t h a t t h o A o o e l l a n t w a s a w a r e o f t h o
le g is lative require m en ts and di r ectives of t he M inistr l ist s the legisl ative requirements to be eligible f o r income assistance. Th e A p pellan t ar gued t hat he w a s not aware h e was required to fill out job neverthele ss acti vely using W ork BC and the a ssistance o resumes, cold ca lled employers and h ad job int erviews ... " The Appellant further claimed tha t he had talked t o his contact s and tha t he was cur rent ly wai ting f or eig previou sly sent o ut . Section 4.1(2)(b)of th e EAR Sectio n 4.1 (2)(b) states that an applicant must complete inc ome ass i s tance and include comp l ete searc hes There is evi dence to sup port that the Appel lant was aw di rectives gi ven by the M inistr y. Sec ti o n 2 of t he De A ppel lant w as ad vised on t w o occasion s by the i nta w ork search ac tiv ities -five time s a we ek until the rev In the A p plica ti o n Part 1 ther e is also a s ection that for appl i can ts t o search for emp loymen t sa t is fac t o ry emplo yment as di rec ted by t h e M ini stry. The Application Part 1 also s respon sibi lity to conduct se arches for emp l o yment as dire w as signed by th e Appell ant o n December 3 , 201 3. T h e Ap pe llant also submitted the R ecord to th e Mi nistry sear ch ac t iviti es. The Ap pel la n t did n o t sub mit fur ther shows the A ppellant was provided wi th t h ree forms on a weekly basis. Although the Appell ant cl aimed he d id no t know abou evidence to confirm that t h e Appellant w a s adv i s ed provided forms to complete and submit week l y to the Doe s section 4.1(1)(4) Apply to the Appellant? Secti on 4.1 (2)(b) of the EAR does not apply to an applicant if the appli in Canada; is 65 years of age; has a physical o r me completing a search for employment as directed by the Ministry; or is fleeing an abusive spouse or r e l ative purs u a nt to sect ion 4 .1 ( 4) whi ch states the following: (4) Subse ction (2) (b} does not apply to a p erson who (a) is prohibited by law from working in Canada, (b) has reached 65 years of age, . _ . _ · _ . _ • ( c . ) R eer , a le d ...:. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ...:....:. ...:....:._ _ _:___.c.:.__ "------'-----'---'-----"-'...:....:.-'-'--...:....:.'--'-'--· L _y , as well n o tes in the Application Part 1 which search fo rms but he wa s f his co u nselor a n d that he had "emailed or pro v i d ed resumes to the individuals named in h teen employe rs to respond to resumes he had an d submit to the Mini stry an app l ication fo r for employment as dire cted by the Mini stry . ar e of t h e wo r k sea rch r e quireme nts and c i s ion to be Re conside r e d indica tes th at th e k e wo rk e r t hat h e was req u i red to c ond uct five i ew mee ting on Decembe r 30, 2 013 . read s t ha t it is a c ond it io n o f inco me assista nce t o the M ini s tr y by completing a search f o r tate s t h a t it is the A ppell an t's cted t h e M inistry. T he App lic ation P a rt 1· on De ce m ber 13 , 20 1 3 listing e i ghteen work work search activiti es form s alt houg h e v ide nce a nd as ke d t o sub mit hi s searches to th e Mini stry t the work searc h requirements, there is ample on tw o occ asions by his i nta k e worker an d Ministry. can t i s prohibited from wo r king n tal condition t h a t pr e c lu d e s the per son from '-'· · �. ·-· . :c..· '-"-'�--'-'---""�'-'-'-�-'--"
(d) has a physical or menial condition tha!, in the minister's opinion, precludes the person from completing a search for employment as directed by the minister, (e) is fleeing an abusive spouse or relative, or (f) R epealed. Although section 4.1 (4) was not discussed in the Reconsideration Decision, the Ministry confirmed that there were no factors that would otherwise entitle the Appellant to be exempt from the work search requirements. The Ministry submitted that had the Appellant had a physical or mental condition or fleeing an abusive spouse, for example, there would be information and/or evidence in his file to support the claim(s). As there is no evidence to support that section 4.1 ( 2)(b) does not apply to the Appellant and the Appellant does not raise any arguments based on items listed in 4.1 (4), the Panel finds the Ministry's determination that the Appellant did not meet the legislative requirements of section 4.1( 2)(b) to be eligible for income assistance was reasonably supported by the evidence establishing that despite reminders, the Appellant did not conduct the required work search activities. Is the Appellant Eligible for Hardship Assistance Pursuant to Section 47.2 of the EAR? If an applicant fails to meet the legislative requirements of 4.1( 2)(b), the Ministry may provide hardship assistance to an applicant pursuant to section 47.2 providing that: 1) that the applicant is ineligible for income assistance because they have not satisfied the requirement under 4.1( 2)(b); or 2) the completion of searches for employment if the applicant also submits to the Ministry an application for income assistance (part 2 form that complies with section 4.2 3) and the Ministry co. nsiders there is an immediate need for food or shelter or needs urgent medical attention and undue hardship will occur if the hardship assistance is not provided. Section 47.2 of the EAR is the section that addresses situations where applicants do not meet the work search requirements. Section 47.2 of the EAR states the following: (1) The minister may provide hardship assistance to a family unit that is ineligible for income assis!ance because a member of the family unit has not satisfied the requirement under section 4.1 {2) {b) respecting !he completion of searches for employment, if (a) the applicants who submitted the application for income assistance (part 1) form also submi! to the minister an application for income assistance (part 2) form that, subject to this section, complies with section 4.2, and (b) The minister considers that (i) any person in the family unit has an immediate need for food or shelter or needs urgent
(ii) undue hardship will occur if the hardship assistance is not provided. (2) An applicant may submit an application for income assistance (part 2) form under subsection (1) (a) for the purpose of applying for hardship assistance even though the requirements under section 4.1 (2) (b) respecting the completion of searches for employment have not been satisfied. The Ministry at the appeal hearing submitted the Appellant had qualified and received hardship assistance for the month of December 2013 while he was satisfying his eligibility requirements for income assistance pursuant to section 4.1 (2). The Ministry concluded that because the applicant did not complete his work search requirements pursuant to section 4.1 (2)(b) he was not eligible for hardship assistance. The Panel finds that the Ministry's determination that the Appellant was denied hardship assistance due to not meeting work search requirements pursuant to section 4.1( 2)(b) EAR was not a reasonable application of the legislation in the circumstances of the appellant as section 47.2 of the EAR states that a person may be eligible for hardship assistance if they have failed to complete their work search requirements under section 4.1 (2)(b) of the EAR. The Panel therefore rescinds the decision. ·1•:,--,,,_:,-.,·.-,-_-,_-_,,c,•-,,:,-,.-1 -, ; · � : . . . , . H1.,j
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.