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 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 J a n u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 4 w h i c h d a s s i s t a n c e b e c a u s e h e d i d n o t m e e t t h e t w o y e a r f i n a n c 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 A c t ( E M ) a n d s e c t i ( 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 E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e A c t ( E M ) s e c t i o n 8 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 ( E A R ) a n d s e c t A P P E A L # I 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 ' s ( t h e m i n i s t r y ' s ) e t e r m i n e d t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e c r i t e r i a a s r e q u i r e d u n d e r s e c t i o n 8 o n 1 8 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 i o n 1 8
P A R T E S u m m a r v o f F a c t s T h e m i n i s t r y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e d i d n o t a t t e n d t h e h e a r i n g . h e a r i n g p r o c e e d e d u n d e r S e c t i o n 8 6 ( b ) o f t h e E A R . E v i d e n c e T h e e v i d e n c e o u t l i n e d i n 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 o T h a t i n 2 0 0 7 t h e a p p e l l a n t e a r n e d $ 6 6 2 3 h o w e v i n d e p e n d e n c e r e q u i r e m e n t a s C P P c o u l d n o t d e m a d e o v e r $ 7 0 0 0 ; o T h a t t h e w o r k e r s p o k e w i t h t h e a p p e l l a n t o n t h e t w o y e a r i n d e p e n d e n c e c r i t e r i a , t h a t t h e w o r k e r a d v i s e d h i m t h a t h e d i d n o t m e e t t h e e x e m p t i o n a p p e l l a n t w a s u p s e t a n d a n g r y a n d d i s c o n n e c t e w a s n o t c o m p l e t e d , t h e r e a r e n o s i g n e d a p p l i c a o T h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e l o c a l o f f i c a p p l i c a t i o n p r o c e s s ; a n d o T h a t t h e R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e d e c i s i o n w a s c o p r o c e s s w a s n o t c o m p l e t e . T h e e v i d e n c e o u t l i n e d i n 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 โข T h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s b e e n u n a b l e t o m a i n t a i n u p b r i n g i n g , f a m i l y b a c k g r o u n d a n d l i f e c i r c u m s t a f o r w a s t h r e e m o n t h s a n d t h a t u s u a l l y i t i s l e s s t h โข 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 a v e l l i n g " s i n c e h e a t s c h o o l w h e n h e h a d n o t m e t t h e a c c e p t e d e d u t h a n g r a d e 7 o r 8 e d u c a t i o n ; โข T h a t h e b e c o m e s e a s i l y f r u s t r a t e d w i t h t h i n g s t h a n d m a k i n g m o n e y , a n d t h a t h e s e e m s t o b e l a c t h i s ; โข T h a t h e h a s l e a r n e d t o b e r e s o u r c e f u l , a c c e s s i n g a m e n t a l h e a l t h d i a g n o s i s a n d y e t h e r e c a l l s h i s w i t h h i s c h i l d h o o d b e h a v i o r ; โข T h a t h e b e l i e v e s t h a t i f h e c o u l d g e t o n i n c o m e a w o u l d h a v e t h e o p t i o n o f b e i n g c o n n e c t e d t o a n โข T h a t h e i s n o t a b l e t o p a y r e n t w i t h o u t i n c o m e a s โข T h a t h e h a s s e n t o u t r e s u m e s t o l o c a l c o m p a n i e โข T h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t s h o u l d n o t b e p e n a l i z e d f o r " c A d d i t i o n a l E v i d e n c e I n t h e N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d J a n u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e h a r d s h i p t h a t i s o c c u r r i n g a n d w i l l o c c u r a s a r e s u l t o f t h e v i d e n c e a b o u t h i s l i f e c i r c u m s t a n c e s a n d h e a s k e d h o w T h e m i n i s t r y d i d n o t p r o v i d e a n y a d d i t i o n a l e v i d e n c 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 p r o v i d e d o r a l e v i d e n c e a s f n o t b e e n a b l e t o m a i n t a i n e m n l o v rn e n t h e h a d t w o o r t h r I A P P E A L ๏ฟฝ A f t e r c o n f i r m i n g t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y w a s n o t i f i e d , t h e i o n s e c t i o n 2 f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y w a s t h e f o l l o w i n g : e r , t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s n o t a b l e t o m e e t t h e t w o y e a r t e r m i n e t w o c o n s e c u t i v e y e a r s w h e r e t h e a p p e l l a n t s a m e d a y a n d a d v i s e d h i m t h a t h e d i d n o t m e e t t h e r e v i e w e d t h e e x e m p t i o n s w i t h t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d s , a n d t h a t t h e w o r k e r o u t l i n e d i n t h e f i l e s t h a t t h e d t h e p h o n e . A s a r e s u l t t h e i n t a k e f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t t i o n s a n d e l i g i b i l i t y w a s n o t d e t e r m i n e d ; e o n D e c e m b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 3 t o c o n t i n u e w i t h t h e m p l e t e d w i t h n o s i g n e d a p p l i c a t i o n a s t h e i n t a k e o n s e c t i o n 3 f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s t h e f o l l o w i n g : e m p l o y m e n t t h r o u g h o u t h i s l i f e u p t o n o w d u e t o h i s n c e s a n d t h a t t h e m o s t h e w a s a b l e t o m a i n t a i n w o r k a n t h a t ; l e f t h o m e a t 1 8 y e a r s , h e w a s p u s h e d t h r o u g h g r a d e s c a t i o n g o a l s i n e a c h g r a d e a n d t h a t h e h a s n o m o r e a t h a v e h a p p e n e d t o h i m , t h a t h e w i s h e s t o b e w o r k i n g k i n g t h e s k i l l s a n d e d u c a t i o n n e c e s s a r y t o a c c o m p l i s h f o o d b a n k s a n d s o u p k i t c h e n s , t h a t h e d o e s n o t h a v e m o t h e r b e i n g o f f e r e d t h e o p t i o n o f m e d i c i n e t o h e l p s s i s t a n c e t o m e e t h i s b a s i c n e c e s s i t i e s o f l i f e t h a t h e e m p l o y m e n t a g e n c y t h a t m a y b e a b l e t o h e l p h i m ; s i s t a n c e b e i n g p r o v i d e d ; s a n d h a s n o t y e t s e c u r e d e m p l o y m e n t ; a n d i r c u m s t a n c e s b e y o n d h i s c o n t r o l " . l l a n t s t a t e s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y f a i l e d t o c o n s i d e r u n d u e e i r d e c i s i o n ; t h a t t h e y c l a i m e d n o t t o h a v e s u f f i c i e n t c a n h e " p r o v e " l i f e c i r c u m s t a n c e s . o l l o w s : t h a t h e w a s b e h i n d i n h i s r e n t p a y m e n t s , h a s e e d a v s o f s e a s o n a l w o r k a n d s o m e c a s h u n d e r t h e
t a b l e w o r k , t h a t h e n o l o n g e r h a s f a m i l y s u p p o r t , t h a t h e l i v i n g o f f o f c o m m u n i t y r e s o u r c e s s u c h a s f o o d b a n k s a A l s o a t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a d v o c a t e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t p r o v i d a s f o l l o w s : t h a t i t w o u l d b e d i f f i c u l t t o p r o v e l i f e c i r c u m s t c o n s i d e r t h a t c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y i t i s o b l i g a t e d t o p r o v i d e t h n o t b a s e d o n h o w m u c h t h e y h a v e w o r k e d ; t h a t i f a n i n d u n a b l e t o m a i n t a i n e m p l o y m e n t t h i s c a n n o t a n d s h o u l d h a s p r o v e n t h a t h e h a s b e e n u n a b l e t o b e e m p l o y e d f o r n u m b e r o f y e a r s b e c a u s e t h a t i s t h e r e a s o n t h e m i n i s t r y p e r m a n e n t a d d r e s s a n d d o e s n o t h a v e a c c e s s t o m o n e t h i n g s w i l l c l e a r l y c a u s e u n d u e h a r d s h i p i f a s s i s t a n c e i s a p p e l l a n t ' s l i f e i s a r i s k i f h e d o e s n o t r e c e i v e i n c o m e a s T h e p a n e l d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e o r a l t e s t i m o n y f r o m t h e a 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 A A a s i t i s M i n i s t r y a t t h e t i m e o f i t s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n .I A P P E A L # h a s g r a d e 7 o r 8 e d u c a t i o n , a n d t h a t h e h a s b e e n n d s h e l t e r s . e d a d d i t i o n a l w r i t t e n e v i d e n c e d a t e d F e b r u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 4 a n c e s a n d b a c k g r o u n d ; t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y f a i l e d t o e b a s i c n e c e s s i t i e s o f l i f e t o s o m e o n e w h o r e q u i r e s i t , i v i d u a l h a s n o t b e e n a b l e t o p r o v e t h a t t h e y h a v e b e e n n o t b e a r e a s o n s t o d e n y a s s i s t a n c e ; t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t t h o s e r e q u i r e d n u m b e r o f h o u r s f o r t h o s e r e q u i r e d u s e d t o d e n y h i m ; t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t h a v e a y t o b u y t h e b a s i c n e c e s s i t i e s o f l i f e a n d t h a t t h e s e n o t p r o v i d e d ; t h a t a t t h i s p o i n t c h a r i t y i s s c a r c e a n d t h e s i s t a n c e . p p e l l a n t a n d t h e w r i t t e n i n f o r m a t i o n f o r t h e a d v o c a t e i n s u p p o r t o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t w a s b e f o r e t h e
PART F -Reasons for Panel Decisi o n Iss ue to be Decide d The i ssue under appeal is w hether the mi nist ry's reconsideratio a ss ista nc e because he failed to provide the requ ested section 18 of the EAR is r eas onably supported by the evidence or whethe a pplicable enactment i n the circ u mstanc es of t h e appellant Le gisl ation The a pplicable EAA l egislati on is as follows: Requir em e n t for 2 years e m ploy m e nt 8 (1) For a fa m ily unit to be el i gible for income assi stan (a) bee n employed for remuneration fo r at least t consecutive ye ars, (b) ear ned remuneration for employment in at least t ye ars, o r (c) been employed f or re m une ra ti on for a p ortio years eith er (i) ser ved a w aitin g per iod in r espec t he Em plo yment I n s u rance Ac t ( Canada), (ii ) rece ived income un d er a pu b lic or (2) The Lie utenant Go v er n o r in Counc il may s ection does n o t a ppl y. Require ment fo r 2 years e mpl oy ment 18 ( 1 ) Fo r the purposes of se ct i on 8 (1) (a) o f the Act, an l east 840 h ours i n e ach o f the 2 co n s ecutive year s. (2) F or the pu r poses o f s e ction 8 ( 1) (b ) of th e A c employment of a t least $7 000 in e ac h of th (3) Section 8 of t he Act do es not ap ply t o t he fa mily unit ( a) a pplica n ts wh o h av e n o t reached the age of 19; ( b) applicants who are pr e gn a n (c) applicants who have a medical condition that, in the opinion of the minister, (i) will prevent the applicant from working for at least the next 30 days, or (ii) has prevented the applicant from w 2 y e ars immedia tely preceding applica tion for inc ome assistance (part 2) form; (d) applicants with dependen t children; (e) Repealed. [B.C. Reg . 4812010, Sch. 1, s. 1 (b).] (f) applicants who have a foster child; (g) applicants who were supported by an employed spouse (h) applicants who were supported by an employed spouse for a portion of a year per iod and met a requir e men period; licants who were incarcerated I A P PE A L # - , I -----" _ L _ _ _ _ _ _ n decision, wh ic h den i e d the appellant inco m e in f orm at ion as required under section 8 of the E A A a n d r it is a reasonable a pplication of th e c e, at least o ne a pplica n t i n the family unit m u st ha ve h e presc ribed number o f ho u rs in e ach of two he p r esc r ibed a m ount in each of two consecutive n of t w o consecut i ve ye a rs an d for t he bal ance of t ho s e t o f , or rec ei ve d ben efits under, a clai m u n der o r pri vate in c o me repl acem ent program o r pla n . pr escrib e ca t e g ories o f applicant s t o whose f amil y u nits thi s applicant must ha ve be en em ploy e d f or r em un eratio n for at t, an appl i ca n t must h av e earned re mu ner a ti on for e 2 conse cu tive y ears. s of t he f oll owing c ateg ories of app licants: t; orking f o r a tota l of at least six months of th e the date of the appli cant' s submission of the for at least 2 years; two t of sect ion 8 (1) of t he Act for t h e b alan ce of the t wo ye ar in a lawful place of confineme_ ntJosat least 6 months of
t h e 2 y e a r p e r i o d i m m e d i a t e l y p U ) a p p l i c a n t s w h o w e r e i n t h e c S e /V i c e A c t o r w h o h a d a n a g r e a n d C o m m u n i t y S e rv i c e s A c t u ( k ) a p p l i c a n t s w h o ( i ) h a v e s e p a r a t e d f r o m ( i i ) c h a n g e d p l a c e o f r e w i t h i n t h e p a s t 6 m o n t h s i f , i n t h c o n s e q u e n t l y i m p a i r e d ; ( I ) a p p l i c a n t s w h o h a v e b e e n a a p o s t g r a d u a t e d e g r e e f r o m a ( m ) a p p l i c a n t s w h o h a v e p e r s i s ( n ) a p p l i c a n t s w h o r e s i d e w i t h a t h a t , i n t h e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , p e m p l o y m e n t ; ( o ) a p p l i c a n t s w h o a r e p r o v i d i n g o f t h e C h i l d , F a m i l y a n d C o m m ( p ) a p p l i c a n t s w h o a r e p r o v i d i n g 9 3 ( 1 ) ( g ) ( i i ) o f t h e C h il d , F a m i l ( 4 ) S e c t i o n 8 o f t h e A c t d o e s n o t a p p l y t o t h e f a m ( a ) t h e a p p l i c a n t , d u e t o c i r c u m f r o m s e a r c h i n g f o r , a c c e p t i n g o ( b ) t h e f a m i l y u n i t w i l l o t h e r w i s e M i n i s t ry ' s P o s i t i o n T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e s t h a t i n o r d e r f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t t o b e t h e c r i t e r i a f o r t h e t w o y e a r f i n a n c i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e r e q u m e e t t h e c r i t e r i a o f t h e E A A s e c t i o n 8 ( 1 ) a n d t h e E A R s e m p l o y m e n t f o r a t l e a s t 8 4 0 h o u r s o r h a v e e a r n e d $ 7 0 0 n o t p r o v i d e t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n t o t h e m i n i s t r y . S e c t i o n 1 8 ( 3 ) o f t h e E A R o u t l i n e s t h a t a n a p p l i c a n t i s e x t h e y f a l l w i t h i n o n e o f t h e e x e m p t i o n c a t e g o r i e s . T h e m i n i n t e r v i e w i n d i c a t e d t h a t h e d i d n o t m e e t a n y o f t h e e x e m S e c t i o n 1 8 ( 4 ) o f t h e E A R a l s o p r o v i d e s t h a t S e c t i o n 8 o a p p l i c a n t d u e t o c i r c u m s t a n c e s b e y o n d t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s c a c c e p t i n g o r c o n t i n u i n g e m p l o y m e n t , a n d t h e f a m i l y u n i t t h o u g h t h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t h e h a d n o e d u c a t i o n o r w o u l d h e l p h i m t o c o n n e c t w i t h a n e m p l o y m e n t a g e n c y a t o m a i n t a i n e m p l o y m e n t u p t o n o w , t h e m i n i s t r y f i n d s t h a h a s b e e n p r e v e n t e d f r o m a c c e p t i n g , m a i n t a i n i n g o r s e a r c t h e r e i s n o i n d i c a t i o n t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t w i l l f a c e u n d u e h w a i v e t h e t w o y e a r f i n a n c i a l i n d e p e n d e n c e r e q u i r e m e n t . T h e m i n i s t r y c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d i d n o t m e e t t h a n y o f t h e e x e m p t i o n c a t e g o r i e s u n d e r S e c t i o n 1 8 o f t h e a s s i s t a n c e . . ยท .I A P P E A L # r e c e d i n g t h e d a t e o f a p p l i c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e ; a r e o f a d i r e c t o r u n d e r t h e C h i l d , F a m i l y a n d C o m m u n i t y e m e n t w i t h a d i r e c t o r u n d e r s e c t i o n 1 2 . 2 o f t h e C h i l d , F a m i l y n t i l t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s 1 9 t h b i r t h d a y ; a n a b u s i v e s p o u s e , o r s i d e n c e t o f l e e a n a b u s i v e r e l a t i v e , o t h e r t h a n a s p o u s e , e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o w o r k i s w a r d e d a 2 y e a r d i p l o m a o r c e r t i f i c a t e , a b a c h e l o r s d e g r e e o r p o s t s e c o n d a r y i n s t i t u t i o n ; t e n t m u l t i p l e b a r r i e r s t o e m p l o y m e n t ; n d c a r e f o r a s p o u s e w h o h a s a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n r e c l u d e s t h e a p p l i c a n t f r o m l e a v i n g h o m e fo r t h e p u r p o s e s o f c a r e f o r a c h i l d u n d e r a n a g r e e m e n t r e f e r r e d t o i n s e c t i o n 8 u n i t y S e rv i c e A c t , c a r e f o r a c h i l d u n d e r a n a g r e e m e n t r e f e r r e d t o i n s e c t i o n y a n d C o m m u n i t y S e rv i c e A c t . i l y u n i t s o f a p p l i c a n t s i f , i n t h e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , s t a n c e s b e y o n d t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s c o n t r o l , h a s b e e n p r e v e n t e d r c o n t i n u i n g e m p l o y m e n t , a n d e x p e r i e n c e u n d u e h a r d s h i p . c o n s i d e r e d f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e t h a t h e m u s t m e e t i r e m e n t o r o n e o f t h e l e g i s l a t e d e x e m p t i o n s . I n o r d e r t o e c t i o n s 1 8 ( 1 ) t o ( 4 ) , t h e a p p e l l a n t m u s t h a v e h a d p a i d 0 i n e a c h o f t w o c o n s e c u t i v e y e a r s . T h e a p p e l l a n t d i d e m p t f r o m t h e t w o y e a r i n d e p e n d e n c e r e q u i r e m e n t i f i s t r y o u t l i n e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d u r i n g t h e e l i g i b i l i t y p t i o n s l i s t e d . f t h e E A A d o e s n o t a p p l y i f i n t h e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n t h e o n t r o l h a s b e e n p r e v e n t e d f r o m s e a r c h i n g f o r , w i l l o t h e r w i s e e x p e r i e n c e u n d u e h a r d s h i p . E v e n s k i l l s f o r e m p l o y m e n t , t h a t b e i n g e l i g i b l e f o r a s s i s t a n c e n d t h a t d u e t o l i f e c i r c u m s t a n c e s h e h a s b e e n u n a b l e t t h e r e i s i n s u f f i c i e n t i n f o r m a t i o n t o e s t a b l i s h t h a t h e h i n g f o r e m p l o y m e n t . T h e m i n i s t r y a l s o f i n d s t h a t a r d s h i p i f a s s i s t a n c e i s n o t p r o v i d e d a n d d o e s n o t e c r i t e r i a u n d e r s e c t i o n 8 o f t h e E A A n o r d i d h e m e e t E A R a n d t h e r e fo r e h e i s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e
APPEAL#' I Appellant's Position The appellant argues that he has been unable to maintain employment throughout his life up to now due to his upbringing, family background and life circumstances and that the most he was able to maintain work for was three months and that usually it is less than that. He also argues that if he could get on income assistance to meet his basic necessities of life, he would have the option of being connected to an employment agency that may be able to help him as he is not able to pay rent without income assistance being provided. Further, the appellant's advocate argues that the ministry failed to consider that constitutionally it is obligated to provide the basic necessities of life to someone who requires it, not based on how much they have worked. She outlines that if an individual is not able to prove they have been unable to maintain employment that this should not be a reason to deny assistance. She points out that the appellant has not submitted the information because he is unable to prove that he has been unable to be employed for those required number of hours for those required number of years. Panel Decision While the appellant's advocate raises concerns that the ministry failed to consider the constitutional obligations, the panel does not have the jurisdiction over constitutional questions as outlined in section 19.1 of the EM and section 44 (1) of the Administrative Tribunal Act. The panel finds that appellant did not provide the requested information of two-year financial independence as required under section 8 of the EAA. Given that the record stated that the appellant indicated to the ministry in the eligibility interview that he did not meet any of the exemptions listed, the panel determines that he was not exempt from the two-year independence requirement because he did not fall within one of the exemption categories outlined in Section 18 (3) of the EAR. The panel also finds that the ministry was reasonable in its view of insufficient information to establish that the appellant was prevented from searching for, accepting or continuing employment as outlined in Section 18 (4) (a) of the EAR. The panel finds that the ministry was reasonable to determine that there is insufficient information to establish that the appellant will face undue hardship if assistance is not provided as outlined in Section 18 ( 4) (b) of the EAR. ยท The panel finds that the decision of the ministry declaring the appellant ineligible for income assistance was a reasonable application of the enactment in the circumstances of the appellant. Accordingly, the panel confirms the ministry's decision.
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