PART C -Decisio n un der Appeal T h e decisi on under appeal is the Mi nistry of Socia l mi n i str y)' s Reconsideration De c ision date d April 15, 20 p artic ip at ion in the ann u a liz ed earnings exem ption ( The m i n i stry's de cision st ates that the app e llan t did not supply writt participate in the 2014 AEE prior to the Janua r y 14, 2014 dea 3 .1 (1 ) (a)(i) o f t he Employment a nd Assista nce for Persons with PA RT D -Releva nt L e g i s lation Empl o y me nt and A s sistance for P erso ns with Di sabilities Regulati se c tions 3(3)(a)(i) (ii) a nd 3 .1 (1 )( a )( i). A PP EA L # I Developme nt and Soci al Inn ov a t i on (the 14 in whic h the ministr y d enied the. appellant's AEE) fo r t he 2 0 1 4 calendar year. en notice of his interest to dline as set out in Schedule 8, se ction Disabilities R e gulatio n (EAPWDR) . on (E APW D R), Sc hedule 8,
P A R T E S u m m a r v o f F a c t s T h e a p p e l l a n t i s d e s i g n a t e d a s a p e r s o n w i t h d i s a b i a s s i s t a n c e w i t h n o d e p e n d a n t s . O n A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 4 t h h a d b e e n d e n i e d a c c e s s t o t h e A E E f o r t h e 2 0 1 4 c a c r i t e r i a , s p e c i f i c a l l y t h a t h e h a d n o t p r o v i d e d w r i t t e n A E E b y t h e J a n u a ry 1 4 , 2 0 1 4 d e a d l i n e . T h e a p p e l l a A p r i l 2 , 2 0 1 4 . 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 t h e r • T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s 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 S e c t i o n 3 o f t h e R F R t h e a p p e l l a c t i v a t e d D e c 3 1 , 2 0 1 3 , A E E l e t t e r ( f o r m ) n o t d i s a b i l i t y a s s i s t a n c e p r o g r a m . M e d i c a l r e c o r a s s i s t a n c e o f f i c e n o t a v a i l a b l e i n [ a p p e l l a n t ' s A s s e t o u t i n 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 , d a t e d A p 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t a d v i s e d t h e m i n i s t r y t h a t h e h a d t h e c o d e p r o v i d e d , b u t w a s u n a b l e t o r e g i s t e r . B e c a a t t e m p t e d t o r e g i s t e r w i t h t h e c o d e p r o v i d e d , t h e m i t h e m i n i s t r y ' s l e t t e r a d v i s i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t o f h i s r e q 1 4 , 2 0 1 4 . A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e m i n i s t r y s t a t e s t h a t d a t a t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d a t t e m p t e d t o l o g i n t o t h e s i t e T h e r e f o r e , t h e m i n i s t r y c o n c l u d e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t c a l e n d a r y e a r b e c a u s e h e d i d n o t s u p p l y w r i t t e n n o t a t t e m p t s t o d o s o , 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 . T h e a p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d a s i g n e d N o t i c e o f A p p e a l o d i s a g r e e d w i t h t h e m i n i s t ry d e c i s i o n b e c a u s e h e d i d " M o n t h l y r e p o r t r e c e i v e d J a n u a r y t o M a r c h 3 1 w i t h o p o i n t I w a s i n f o r m e d I m u s t p u t a n a p p e a l i n . D i d n o u p a n d s e n t i n . " T h e a p p e l l a n t w a s u n a b l e t o a t t e n d t h e t e l e c o n f e r e n e v i d e n c e w a s p r o v i d e d b y h i s a d v o c a t e , w h o i s a l s o t h e h e a r i n g i n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g i n f o r m a t i o n : • T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a d v o c a t e s t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e t h e A E E r e g i s t r a t i o n o r p e n d i n g d e a d l i n e . S h a b o u t k e e p i n g a l l o f h i s i m p o r t a n t p a p e r w o r k d o c u m e n t s a r e r e c e i v e d t h a t r e q u i r e r e s p o n s d i d n o t c o n t a c t h e r a b o u t r e c e i v i n g a n A E E n • T h e a d v o c a t e s t a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d t o m o n t h s o f J a n u a r v t o M a r c h , b u t n o t i c e d t h a t A P P E A L # I l i t i e s , a n d i s a s o l e r e c i p i e n t o f d i s a b i l i t y e a p p e l l a n t w a s a d v i s e d b y t h e m i n i s t r y t h a t h e l e n d a r y e a r b e c a u s e h e d i d n o t m e e t t h e e l i g i b i l i t y n o t i c e e x p r e s s i n g h i s i n t e r e s t i n p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n n t r e q u e s t e d r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h a t d e c i s i o n o n e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n c o n s i s t e d o f : ( R F R ) d a t e d A p r i l 2 , 2 0 1 4 a n d s i g n e d b y t h e a n t w r i t e s , " E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e n o t r e c e i v e d f o r a c t i v a t i o n ? A c t i v a t i o n e l i g i b l e d u e t o d s h a v e b e e n s e n t i n f i l e . L o c a l e m p l o y m e n t a n d h o m e t o w n ] . " r i l 1 5 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e m i n i s t r y s t a t e s t h a t o n A p r i l 1 , a t t e m p t e d t o r e g i s t e r f o r A E E p r o g r a m o n l i n e w i t h u s e t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d s t a t e d t h a t h e h a d 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 h e h a d n o t r e c e i v e d u i r e m e n t t o p r o v i d e n o t i c e o n o r b e f o r e J a n u a r y f r o m t h e A E E r e g i s t r a t i o n w e b s i t e d o e s n o t s h o w o r m a d e a n y p a r t i a l r e g i s t r a t i o n s o n t h e s i t e . i s n o t e l i g i b l e t o p a rt i c i p a t e i n A E E f o r t h e 2 0 1 4 i c e b y t h e J a n u a r y 1 4 , 2 0 1 4 d e a d l i n e o r m a k e n A p r i l 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 , i n w h i c h h e s t a t e s t h a t h e n o t r e c e i v e A E E a c t i v a t i o n f o r m s . H e a d d s , u t r e c e i v i n g . A t t h i s t i m e , c o n t a c t e d P W D . A t t h i s t r e c e i v e F e b o r M a r c h , b o t h m o n t h s w e r e w r i t t e n c e h e a r i n g d u e t o m e d i c a l a p p o i n t m e n t , b u t h i s b r a i n i n j u r y w o r k e r . T h e e v i d e n c e p r o v i d e d a t l l a n t h a d n o t r e c e i v e d t h e l e t t e r a d v i s i n g h i m o f e n o t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s u s u a l l y v e r y g o o d o r g a n i z e d a n d c o n t a c t i n g h e r w h e n e v e r e s o r f u r t h e r a c t i o n . S h e a d d s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t o t i f i c a t i o n l e t t e r . l d h e r t h a t h e h a d s e n t h i s r e p o r t s i n f o r t h e h e h a d n o t b e e n r e c e i v i n a t h e ' t o p u p ' f u n d s a s
APPEAL# I usual. • The advocate stated that in March, after contacting PWD about the missing 'top up' funds, the appellant was told that he had not replied to the AEE letter and therefore his file would be closed. • The advocate confirmed that the appellant had participated in AEE in the 2013 calendar year and there had not been a change to his mailing address within the past year. • The advocate stated that the appellant does seasonal work, which is why participation in the AEE is important for him. The ministry relied primarily on its reconsideration decision and confirmed that the appellant had participated in AEE in 2013 and had received assistance in November, December, 2013 and January, February 2014 and therefore a letter to register participation for 2014 AEE would have automatically been sent out. The ministry stated that the letters are sent by regular mail and the appellant's letter had not been returned to the ministry as 'undeliverable'. The ministry confirmed that the AEE registration process has not changed over the past year and added that the appellant's file had not been closed; he is still designated as PWD and entitled to an $800/month earning exemption.
PART F -R ea sons for Panel Decision The issue on a p pea l is whether the min ist ry's decision the A E E for the 2014 calendar y e a r, on t he b asis that he failed to m specifically that t he he di d not supply wr it ten notic e of his i to t he January 14, 2014 d eadli n e as set out in Schedu reasonably supported by th e evid ence o r was a reasonable application the circumstances of the ap pellant. The relevant sections of the legislation are as follows: E m pl o yment and A ssistance for Pe rson s w ith D isa bilities Regulation 3(3) { a )( i )( ii ) and 3. 1 ( 1 )( a )( i ). Exemption -earne d income (3) The exem pt amount for a family unit th a t qu alifies und e (a) in t h e case of a fami l y u n it that Incl udes o nly one r the e x empt amo unt Is c alculated as t he less e r of (i) $80 0, and (ii) the family u n it' s to t al ea rned income In t (a.1) In t he c a se of a family un it th at in cludes two r eci di sabili t i es, the e xempt amount is cal cul a ted as the lesser (i) $1 0 00, a nd (Ii ) t he f a m ily unit ' s to tal ear ned income in t (B . C. Reg . 332/2 0 1 2) (b) i n th e case of a f a mi ly unit that includes two reci ex empt a m ou n t Is c alc ulate d as the le sser of (i) $1 6 00, and (ii) the famil y unit 's t otal ear ned i nc o m e In the c (B.C. R eg. 265 /200 2) ( B .C . Reg 117/200 3 ) (B.C R e g. 4 3 / 2 006) (B C a lendar year exemption -ear ned incom e 3.1 ( 1) D es p ite section 3 bu t s ubj ect t o th i s sectio n, the amount s ubsec t ion (2) o f t his secti on is ex em pt fo r a f ami l y u nit ( a ) If (i) t h e family uni t pr o vid e s writt e n notic e to t that the e xemp ti on und e r this se cti on applies (B .C . Reg. 123 /20 1 3) (Ii) a r ecipient i n the family unit (A) i s d e s ignated as a per s on with disabilities for the cons l o nger, i mm e d i a te l y pre ceding the ca accordance with paragraph (a) (1), and (B) Is a recipi ent of disability a s sistance for p r e c e d i n g the calendar m onth In which the family unit provides notice In accorda paragraph (a) (i), and (Iii) for at least one calendar month in the 1 2 c a l en dar mo nth in wh i c h the family unit provides notice in accordance with paragraph (a) (i), the family uni t reported, un de r section 29, ear ned (A) $500, In the case of a family unit that Includes only one recipient who Is designated as a person with disabilitie s, or (B) $750, in the case of a family unit that Includes two recipients who are designated as persons wi th d is a bilities, or (b) If (I) the family unit provides written notice to the minister on or before January 14 of the calendar year that the exemption under this section applies to the family unit's earned income in the calendar year, and <B.C. Rea. 123/2013) APPEAL# I to deny th e appellant's r e quest to p art icip ate i n e et all th e componen t cr i t e ria , nterest to p a r ticipate in th e 2014 AEE prior l e B, section 3 .1 ( 1 ) ( a )( i ) of the EAPWDR, wa s o f t he a ppli ca b le legislation in , Sch edu le B , s ections r this section is to be calculated as follows: ecipi e nt wh o is des i g n a t ed as a per so n wit h di s abi lities, he c alen dar mon t h o f c a l cul ation; pients, o nly o ne of whom I s designa t ed a s a pe r s on w ith of he cale n da r month of cal culation; p i en ts w ho a re des i gn at e d as pe r s o n s w ith di s abilities, th e a lendar month of calc ula t ion. .C. Reg 1 97/ 2 012 ) of earne d inco me in a cal endar ye ar ca l cu lated u n der h e minis t e r on or before January 14 o f th e cal e nda r ye ar t o the family uni t's e arn e d In come In t h e calend a r year, e cu t i ve 12 cale n dar mo n th perio d, or lendar mo n th in which the family unit provides notice in the 2 calendar m onths, or lo nger, Immediately n c e with ca l en dar m onth p eriod immediately p r ec ed ing the inc om e In an amount t hat exceeded
(ii) an exemp t ion under this section appl ied precedi n g calendar year .. Whether th e appellant supplied written notic e t o the ministry to p calend a r year on or before, January 14, 201 4 in ord 3.1(1)/a)/i) . The a ppellant's advocate argues that t he appellant was not adequate the lett er notifying him of the n eed to regi ster for par would have contacted her for assistance wi th the appropri b e c ause he had not bee n notif i ed, he was not g ive n re quir ed. T he ministry's po s iti o n, a s set out i n the re cons i d e rati in AE E wa s n ot recei ved by th e ministr y o n or before Januar e sta bl i sh that the ap pell ant h ad not re ce i ve d the n otification letter. The appellant partici pated in AEE the p rev io us year a nd p rev io us two consecut ive ca l e n dar months, ei th er of noti f i cati on letter for p a rt i cipation in AEE for the 2 014 The p an el fi nds t hat al tho ugh t here is lim ited evidence to estab appella nt of t he n e ed to reg ister for p a rt icipa tion in AEE was a b rai n inj ury i nt e r f ered wi th his a bili t y t o rem embe r that he participating in AE E an nu a lly, the curr ent iss ue un der p rovided the wri tte n no tice b y the deadline a s r equi red whi ch he h ad not. Conclusion In conclusion, the panel finds that the ministry's decision to deny the appellant's participation in AEE for the 2014 calendar year, because he did not meet the criteria under Schedule B, secti (1)(a)(i) of the EAPWDR was reasonably supported by the evidence a th e legislation in the circ umst a n c es of the appellant. APPE AL# I to the family unit's e arned in c ome in the immediately articipate i n AE E for the 2014 er to mee t the re quireme nt of Schedule B, section l y notifie d as he did not receive ticipation in AEE, adding that if he had, he likely at e and timely reply. She adds tha t the o pport u n i t y t o supply th e wri tten notice on deci s i o n, is that wri tten noti ce to particip ate y 14, 2014 and t h e i nf or m at ion does n ot ministry argue s that th e r e c e iv ed disa bility a ssi stance for mor e tha n the wh ich would au tom at ica lly generat e a calend ar y ear.. lish wh ethe r t he le tter noti f y ing t he ct uall y re ce i ved by t he appellant, or h is must not i fy the mini str y o f h is interest in app e al rema in s as to whet her t he appell ant by EA P WDR Sc hedu le B , se ction 3.1 (1 )(a)(i), on 3.1 nd a reason a b le ap plication of The pa nel thus confirms the m i n i s try' s d ecision.
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