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 r e c o n s i d e r a t i o 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 " ) d a t e d J u n e 2 , 2 0 1 a m o v i n g s u p p l e m e n t b e c a u s e t h e m i n i s t r y d e t e r m r e q u i r e m e n t s s e t o u t i n s e c t i o n 5 5 ( 3 ) o f t h e E m p l o y R e g u l a t i o n s ( E A P W D R ) . S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e m i n i s t r y h n e c e s s a r y t o c o v e r t h e c o s t s o f m o v i n g a n d d i d n o 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 s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e E m p l o y m e n t A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L e c i s i o n o f 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 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 n o t e l i g i b l e f o r i n 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 e e l i g i b i l i t y m e n t A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s e l d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d t h e r e s o u r c e s t r e c e i v e p r i o r a p p r o v a l f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y . s A c t ( E A P W D A ) s e c t i o n 5 s R e g u l a t i o n s ( E A P W D R ) s e c t i o n 5 5 .
P A R T E S u m m a r v o f F a c t s T h e d o c u m e n t a r y 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 r • t h e l a s t p a g e o f a l e t t e r d a t e d M a r c h 2 7 , 2 0 1 4 s h e i s t o b e e v i c t e d d u e t o t h e l a n d l o r d e x p e r i e n c i n • a l e t t e r d a t e d M a r c h 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 f r o m t h e a p p e l l a a n o t h e r c o m m u n i t y f o r h e a l t h r e a s o n s . • a n u n d a t e d r e n t a l a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e a p p r e n t e d a t r u c k t o b e p i c k e d u p o n M a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 4 a 2 , 2 0 1 4 . T h e a g r e e m e n t c o n f i r m s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n r e n t a l v e h i c l e . • a h o t e l r e c e i p t s h o w i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t p a i d l o c a t i o n e n r o u t e t o t h e c o m m u n i t y t o w h i c h s h e w a • a r e s t a u r a n t r e c e i p t f o r $ 4 1 . 2 8 o n M a r c h 3 1 , 2 A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 4 . • a r e c e i p t f o r $ 2 5 f o r g a s d a t e d M a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 4 • a f e r r y r e c e i p t f o r $ 1 8 6 . 9 8 d a t e d A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 4 l o c a t i o n o n t h i s d a t e . • t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s r e q u e s t f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n d a t e a d d i t i o n a l t i m e t o g a t h e r e v i d e n c e i n s u p p o r t o f h e r • a l e t t e r d a t e d M a y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 f r o m t h e a p p e l l a n t h e r m o v e h a d r e s u l t e d i n s i g n i f i c a n t i m p r o v e m e n t s • A l e t t e r d a t e d J u n e 1 , 2 0 1 4 w r i t t e n b y t h e a p p e h e r m o v e . T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e s t h a t o n M a r c h 2 6 , 2 n e e d e d t o m o v e a s a l l o f h e r u t i l i t i e s w o u l d b e d i s c t h a t s h e c o u l d n ' t p r o v i d e m o v i n g e s t i m a t e s a s a l l t h u n a v a i l a b l e t o h i r e . S h e s t a t e s t h a t s h e h a d t o g o w a v a i l a b l e . T h e a p p e l l a n t e x p l a i n s t h a t s h e s u b m i t t e t h e y w e r e m i s p l a c e d . S h e h a s p r o v i d e d a d d i t i o n a l c e x p l a i n s t h a t h e r h e a l t h w a s s e r i o u s l y t h r e a t e n e d p i m p r o v e m e n t i n h e r h e a l t h s i n c e t h e m o v e . I n h e r N o t i c e o f A p p e a l 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 r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n i s " . . p a t e n t l y u n r e a s o n a p r i o r t o t h e h e a r i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d t h e f o l l o • a s t a t e m e n t d a t e d J u l y 3 , 2 0 1 4 s i g n e d b y M s . a p p e l l a n t ' s c a r e g i v e r s f o r t h e p a s t t w o y e a r s a n d t h t w i c e w e e k l y o v e r t h a t p e r i o d o f t i m e . M s . P . s t a t e d a l m o s t a l w a y s f o u n d h e r i n h e r b e d r o o m . T h i s r o o m m a n y c o n c e r n s a b o u t h e r s a f e t y s i n c e h e r s i g n i f i c a t h e r e w e r e m a n y f i g h t s b e t w e e n t h e a p p e l l a n t a n d h c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s h e a l t h a n d s t a t e d t d e c l i n e i n t h e l a s t s i x m o n t h s . S h e r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e m o l d u n d e r t h e s i n k a n d b a t h t u b , t h e k i t c h e n w a s i n p l a c e s . M s . P . b e l i e v e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s h e a l t h w t h e r e c e n t m o v e h a s d r a m a t i c a l l y i m p r o v e d h e r h e a • a C r i s i s S u p p l e m e n t R e q u e s t F o r m d a t e d A p r i l t h a t b e c a u s e t h e a n n e l l a n t f l e d a n a b u s i v e r e l a t i o n s E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L I e c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n c l u d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g : t o t h e a p p e l l a n t f r o m h e r l a n d l o r d a d v i s i n g h e r t h a t g a n u n f o r e s e e n f i n a n c i a l c r i s i s . n t ' s p h y s i c i a n r e c o m m e n d i n g t h a t s h e m o v e t o e l l a n t a n d U H a u l s h o w i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t n d a g r e e d t o d r o p i t o f f a t a n o t h e r l o c a t i o n o n A p r i l t m a d e a c a s h p a y m e n t t o c o v e r t h e c o s t s o f t h e $ 1 4 8 . 3 5 f o r a h o t e l r o o m o n M a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 4 a t a s r e l o c a t i n g . 0 1 4 a n d a n o t h e r r e s t a u r a n t r e c e i p t f o r $ 2 . 7 0 o n c o n f i r m i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t t r a v e l l e d t o h e r n e w d M a y 5 , 2 0 1 4 r e q u e s t i n g a n e x t e n s i o n t o a l l o w r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . ' s p h y s i c i a n i n h e r f o r m e r c o m m u n i t y s t a t i n g t h a t i n h e r h e a l t h . l l a n t t h a t o u t l i n e s t h e d a t e s a n d e v e n t s r e l a t e d t o 0 1 4 s h e w a s a d v i s e d b y h e r l a n d l o r d t h a t s h e o n n e c t e d b e f o r e M a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 4 . S h e i n d i c a t e s e m o v i n g c o m p a n i e s s h e c o n t a c t e d w e r e i t h t h e U H a u l t r u c k b e c a u s e i t w a s t h e o n l y t h i n g d a l l o f h e r r e c e i p t s t o t h e l o c a l m i n i s t r y o f f i c e b u t o p i e s o f t h e r e c e i p t s w h i c h w e r e a v a i l a b l e . S h e r i o r t o h e r m o v e a n d t h e r e h a s b e e n s i g n i f i c a n t r e a s o n f o r h e r a p p e a l i s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y ' s b l e . " F o l l o w i n g r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n a n d i m m e d i a t e l y w i n g e v i d e n c e : P . w h o s t a t e d t h a t s h e h a d b e e n o n e o f t h e a t s h e h a s p r o v i d e d a s s i s t a n c e t o t h e a p p e l l a n t t h a t w h e n s h e a t t e n d e d t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s h o m e s h e w a s a s a n c t u a r y f o r t h e a p p e l l a n t w h o e x p r e s s e d n t o t h e r w a s v e r y a b u s i v e a n d M s . P . s t a t e d t h a t e r p a r t n e r d u r i n g t h i s t i m e . M s . P . w a s v e r y h a t s h e w i t n e s s e d t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s h e a l t h r a p i d l y a p p e l l a n t ' s h o m e w a s n e a r l y u n i n h a b i t a b l e w i t h f e s t e d w i t h m i c e a n d t h e f l o o r i n g w a s w e a k i n a s i n j e o p a r d y p r i o r t o h e r m o v e a n d s h e b e l i e v e s l t h . 4 , 2 0 1 4 s u b m i t t e d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t w h i c h s t a t e s h i o , a n d t h e d i s c o n n e c t i o n o f h e r v a r i o u s u t i l i t i e s
o n M a r c h 3 1 , s h e h a d m o v e d t o a n o t h e r c o m m u n i t c o s t s o f t h e m o v e s h e d o e s n o t h a v e e n o u g h m o n e d e p o s i t a n d r e n t i n h e r n e w a c c o m m o d a t i o n . A t t a c h T e n a n c y f o r U n p a i d R e n t o r U t i l i t i e s f o r m c o n f i r m i n d u e o n A p r i l 1 , 2 0 1 4 . T h e m i n i s t r y c o n f i r m e d t h a t t h a d d i t i o n a l p i e c e s o f e v i d e n c e . T h i s i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v a d d r e s s e d 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 . A c c o r d a s b e i n g i n s u p p o r t o f i n f o r m a t i o n a n d r e c o r d s t h a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 ) o A t 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 l a i n e d t h a t s h e h a d r e l o c a t e b e c a u s e h e r h e a l t h h a d d e t e r i o r a t e d t o a d t h e m i n i s t r y t o i n q u i r e a b o u t o b t a i n i n g a m o v i n g s u p t h a t s h e p l a n n e d t o m o v e t o a n o t h e r c o m m u n i t y t o u n h e a l t h y e n v i r o n m e n t a n d w a s b e i n g f o r e c l o s e d . O w i t h a n e v i c t i o n n o t i c e f r o m h e r c u r r e n t r e s i d e n c e . O n M a r c h 2 8 t h e a p p e l l a n t a t t e n d e d t h e m i n i s t r y o f s a m e d a y w h i c h r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t r e s t r e s s a n d w e i g h t l o s s . O n t h a t s a m e d a t e t h e a p p e c o u l d n o t f i n d t h e U H a u l q u o t e w h i c h t h e a p p e l l a n t w e n t t o U H a u l a n d g o t a n o t h e r w r i t t e n q u o t e w h i c h h a d b e e n d i r e c t e d t o d o b y t h e m i n i s t r y w o r k e r . O n 1 -8 6 6 p h o n e n u m b e r t o a s k w h e t h e r t h e U H a u l q u t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g i n t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d r o p b o x . T h a t s a f r o m U H a u l a n d c a l l e d t h e m i n i s t r y ' s 1 -8 6 6 n u m b e r w o r k e r o n t h e l i n e w i t h h e r q u o t e . T h e a p p e l l a n t w a a s w e l l a s q u o t e s f r o m t w o o t h e r m o v i n g c o m p a n i e s m o v i n g c o m p a n i e s w e r e a v a i l a b l e b u t t h e w o r k e r r e 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t p a c k e d h e r b e l o n g i n g s a n d d r o v c o m m u n i t y . O n A p r i l 4 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t a t t e n d e d h e r e x p e n s e s . T h e s e i n c l u d e d $ 1 3 8 . 3 5 ( s i c ) f o r a o n f o r B C F e r r y , $ 5 6 6 . 1 3 f o r U H a u l a n d $ 4 6 . 8 9 f o r m e I n r e s p o n s e t o a q u e s t i o n f r o m t h e p a n e l , t h e a p p e l l t h a t p r i o r a p p r o v a l f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y w a s a r e q u i r e m a p p e l l a n t w a s a s k e d w h e t h e r s h e h a d r e p o r t e d h e r c o n f i r m e d t h a t s h e h a d n o t d o n e s o . T h e a p p e l l a n t p o s s i b i l i t y o f s t a y i n g w i t h a t r a n s i t i o n h o u s e a f t e r h e e x p l o r e d t h i s o p t i o n . T h e m i n i s t r y e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y a t t e m p t s t o t h e s e r e q u e s t s c a n s o m e t i m e s b e h a n d l e d q u i t e q u i w a s s t i l l w a i t i n g f o r m i s s i n g i n f o r m a t i o n a n d n o t e d t h b e e n a d v a n c e d b y t h e a p p e l l a n t o v e r t h e d a y s p r e c 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 a d i n c l u d e d " p o o r w o r d i n g " s t a n d a r d " f o r c o m p l e t i n a a s e r v i c e r e q u e s t a n d t h e E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L I y . S h e e x p l a i n s t h a t a s a r e s u l t o f p a y i n g f o r t h e y r e m a i n i n g t o p a y t h e c o s t s o f t h e d a m a g e e d t o t h e F o r m w a s a 1 0 D a y N o t i c e t o E n d g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s n o t p a i d t h e r e n t t h a t w a s e y h a d n o o b j e c t i o n t o t h e a d m i s s i o n o f t h e s e t w o i d e s a d d i t i o n a l d e t a i l w i t h r e s p e c t t o i s s u e s i n g l y , t h e p a n e l h a s a d m i t t e d t h i s n e w i n f o r m a t i o n w e r 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 f t h e E A R . d e t e r m i n e d o n M a r c h 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 t h a t s h e h a d t o a n g e r o u s s t a t e . T h e f o l l o w i n g d a y s h e c o n t a c t e d p l e m e n t . S h e e x p l a i n e d t o t h e m i n i s t r y w o r k e r l i v e w i t h h e r s o n a s h e r c u r r e n t r e s i d e n c e w a s a n n M a r c h 2 7 , t h e a p p e l l a n t p r o v i d e d t h e m i n i s t r y f i c e s a n d p r e s e n t e d a d o c t o r ' s n o t e d a t e d t h a t l o c a t e t o a n o t h e r c o m m u n i t y d u e t o h e r s e v e r e l l a n t w a s a d v i s e d b y a m i n i s t ry w o r k e r t h a t t h e y h a d s u b m i t t e d o n M a r c h 2 6 , 2 0 1 4 . T h e a p p e l l a n t s h e d e p o s i t e d i n t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d r o p b o x a s s h e M a r c h 2 9 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t c a l l e d t h e m i n i s t r y ' s o t e h a d b e e n r e c e i v e d a n d w a s i n f o r m e d t h a t m e d a y t h e a p p e l l a n t o b t a i n e d a ( t h i r d ) q u o t e a g a i n i n a n a t t e m p t t o p r o v i d e t h e m i n i s t r y s a d v i s e d t h a t s h e n e e d e d a s e c o n d d o c t o r ' s n o t e . T h e a p p e l l a n t t r i e d t o e x p l a i n t h a t n o o t h e r f u s e d t o a c c e p t h e r s t a t e m e n t . O n M a r c h 3 1 , e h e r r e n t e d U H a u l e n r o u t e t o h e r n e w t h e m i n i s t r y o f f i c e a n d p r o v i d e d r e c e i p t s f o r a l l o f e n i g h t h o t e l s t a y , $ 2 5 5 f o r g a s r e c e i p t s , $ 2 5 8 . 7 3 a l s . a n t s t a t e d t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y h a d n o t i n f o r m e d h e r e n t f o r r e c e i p t o f a m o v i n g s u p p l e m e n t . T h e f e a r s o f d o m e s t i c v i o l e n c e t o t h e p o l i c e a n d s h e w a s a l s o a s k e d w h e t h e r s h e h a d c o n s i d e r e d t h e r e v i c t i o n b u t s h e c o n f i r m e d t h a t s h e h a d n o t " t r i a g e " r e q u e s t s f o r m o v i n g s u p p l e m e n t s a n d t h a t c k l y . B u t i n t h e c a s e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t , t h e m i n i s t r y a t s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t r e a s o n s f o r t h e m o v e h a d d i n g t h e m o v e . T h e m i n i s t r y a l l o w e d t h a t t h e " i n i t s r e f e r e n c e t o t h e e x p e c t a t i o n o f a 3 -5 d a y a p p e l l a n t ' s f a i l u r e t o a l l o w t h i s t i m e t o p a s s
b e f o r e c o m p l e t i n g h e r m o v e . T h e m i n i s t r y e x p l a i n e m i n i s t r y ' s p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e b u t t h a t t h i s i s n o t a E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A l I d t h a t t h i s i s j u s t a g u i d e l i n e b a s e d o n t h e m i n i s t r y r e q u i r e m e n t .
APPEAL I PART F Reasons for Panel Decision The issue in this appeal is whether the ministry reasonably denied the appellant's request for a moving supplement based upon section 55(3) of the EAPWDR because the appellant had the resources available to cover the cost of moving and did not receive prior approval from the ministry. Specifically, the issue is whether the ministry's decision is reasonably supported by the evidence, or is a reasonable application of the legislation in the circumstances of the appellant. The relevant legislation is the following: From the EAPWDA: Disability assistance and supplements 5 Subject to the regulations, the minister may provide disability assistance or a supplement to or for a family unit that is eligible for it. From the EAPWDR: Supplements for moving, transportation and living costs 55 (1) In this section: "living cost" means the cost of accommodation and meals; "moving cost" means the cost of moving a family unit and its personal effects from one place to another; "transportation cost" means the cost of travelling from one place to another. (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the minister may provide a supplement to or for a family unit that is eligible for disability assistance or hardship assistance to assist with one or more of the following: (a) moving costs required to move anywhere in Canada, if a recipient in the family unit is not working but has arranged confirmed employment that would significantly promote the financial independence of the family unit and the recipient is required to move to begin that employment; (b) moving costs required to move to another province or country, if the family unit is required to move to improve its living circumstances; (c) moving costs required to move within a municipality or unincorporated area or to an adjacent municipality or unincorporated area because the family unit's rented residential accommodation is being sold or demolished and a notice to vacate has been given, or has been condemned; (d} moving costs required to move within a municipality or unincorporated area or to an adjacent municipality or unincorporated area if the family unit's shelter costs would be significantly reduced as a result of the move; (e) moving costs required to move to another area in British Columbia to avoid an imminent threat to the physical safety of any person in the family unit; (f) transportation costs and living costs required to attend a hearing relating to a child protection proceeding under the Child, Family and Community Service Act, if a recipient is given notice of the hearing and is a party to the proceeding; (g) transportation costs, living costs, child care costs and fees resulting from (i) the required attendance of a recipient in the family unit at a hearing, or (ii) other requirements a recipient in the family unit must fulfil in connection with the exercise of a maintenance riQht assiQned to the minister EAAT003(10/06/01)
u n d e r s e c t i o n 1 7 [ c a t e g ( 3 ) A f a m i l y u n i t i s e l i g i b l e f o r a s u p p l e m e n t u n ( a ) t h e r e a r e n o r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e s u p p l e m e n t m a y b e p r o v i d e d , a n d ( b ) a r e c i p i e n t i n t h e f a m i l y u n i t r e c e i c o s t s . T h e a p p e ll a n t ' s p o s i t i o n : T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e s t h a t s h e l e f t h e r p r e v i o u s r e s i d h e r u n s a n i t a r y h o m e , f l e e i n g a n a b u s i v e r e l a t i o n s h s a f e t y . S h e a r g u e s t h a t s h e t r i e d r e p e a t e d l y t o s a t i r e g a r d i n g t h e d o c u m e n t a t i o n t h e y r e q u i r e d t o p r o c e s t a t e s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y o f f i c e m i s p l a c e d h e r d o c u m 3 t i m e s . 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 ry f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y f o r h e r m o v e b u t s h e c l a i m s t h a t s r e q u e s t s . S h e a r g u e s t h a t u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s 3 -5 b u s i n e s s d a y p e r i o d t o p r o c e s s h e r r e q u e s t f o r c o n c l u s i o n s h e n o t e s t h a t s e c t i o n 5 5 ( 2 ) ( e ) o f t h e E A e l i g i b i l i t y , t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s n e v e r a d v i s e d b y a d a y s f o r h e r r e q u e s t t o b e c o n s i d e r e d , a n d t h a t t h e p o l i c y m a t e r i a l s t h a t a r e c u s t o m a r i l y a c c e s s i b l e t o t w h e t h e r t h e m i n i s t r y ' s f a i l u r e t o c o n s i d e r i n a t i m e l y s u p p l e m e n t w a s a n e f f e c t i v e d e n i a l o f t h i s b e n e f i t a T h e a p p e l l a n t c i t e d K l a i s v . C a n a d a ( M i n i s t e r o f C i t " g u i d e l i n e s a r e a ' r u l e o f t h u m b ' w h i c h c a n n o t b e a p A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e a p p e l l a n t c l a i m e d t h a t i t w o u l d b e t o e x p e c t h e r t o r e c e i v e p r i o r a p p r o v a l w h e n i t w o u l T h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o d i s p u t e d t h e m i n i s t r y ' s c l a i m t h a c o s t s o f t h e m o v e . S h e n o t e s t h a t t h e c o s t s o f t h e m u n a b l e t o p a y h e r r e n t o r p u r c h a s e f o o d o n c e r e l o c a m e e t t h e s e c o s t s . M o r e o v e r , s h e a r g u e s t h a t s i n c e d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y r e c o g n i z e d t h a t s h e m o v i n g c o s t s a s w e l l a s h e r n o r m a l s h e l t e r a n d f o o d E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e A p p e a l T r i b u n a l n o t i n g a b e n e v o l e n t p u r p o s e w h e n d r a f t i n g t h e E m p l o y m e a n d t h e R e g u l a t i o n s . T h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t t o a t h e E A W P D R m u s t b e i n t e r p r e t e d s o a s t o p r o v i d e t i m m e d i a t e l y t o a l l o w h e r t o l e a v e a l i v i n g s i t u a t i o n t h h e a l t h . A c c o r d i n g l y , t h e a p p e l l a n t c l a i m e d t h a t i t w a s h e h a d s u f f i c i e n t r e s o u r c e s f o r h e r m o v e . T h e m i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n : 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 , t h e m i n i s t r y a g r e e d o f s e c t i o n 5 5 ( 2 ) o f t h e E A P W D R . N o n e t h e l e s s , t h e r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e t o c o v e r t h e c o s t o f t h e m o v e a n f o r t h e m o v e . E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L I o r i e s t h a t m u s t a s s i g n m a i n t e n a n c e r i g h t s ] . d e r t h i s s e c t i o n o n l y i f t o t h e f a m i l y u n i t t o c o v e r t h e c o s t s f o r w h i c h t h e v e s t h e m i n i s t e r ' s a p p r o v a l b e f o r e i n c u r r i n g t h o s e e n c e o n M a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 1 4 a s s h e w a s e v i c t e d f r o m i p a n d f a c i n g a n i m m i n e n t t h r e a t t o h e r p e r s o n a l s f y t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e m i n i s t r y o f f i c e s s h e r r e q u e s t f o r a m o v i n g s u p p l e m e n t . S h e e n t s a n d t h a t s h e h a d t o s u b m i t t h e U H a u l q u o t e ' s c l a i m t h a t s h e d i d n o t r e c e i v e p r i o r a p p r o v a l h e d i d h e r b e s t t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e m i n i s t r y ' s i t w a s u n r e a s o n a b l e f o r t h e m i n i s t r y t o r e q u i r e a a m o v i n g s u p p l e m e n t . I n s u p p o r t o f t h i s P W D R s p e c i f i e s n o t i m e l i m i t a s a c o n d i t i o n o f m i n i s t r y w o r k e r t h a t s h e h a d t o w a i t 3 -5 b u s i n e s s 3 -5 d a y g u i d e l i n e i s n o t p u b l i s h e d i n a n y m i n i s t r y h e p u b l i c . M o r e o v e r , t h e a p p e l l a n t q u e s t i o n e d m a n n 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 a m o v i n g n d r e s u l t e d i n a f e t t e r e d e x e r c i s e o f d i s c r e t i o n . i z e n s h i p a n d I m m i g r a t i o n ) w h i c h s t a t e d t h a t p l i e d a u t o m a t i c a l l y s o a s t o f e t t e r d i s c r e t i o n . " u n r e a s o n a b l e i n h e r c i r c u m s t a n c e s f o r t h e m i n i s t r y d t a k e 3 -5 b u s i n e s s d a y s t o p r o c e s s t h e r e q u e s t . t s h e h a d t h e r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e t o c o v e r t h e o v e s o d e p l e t e d h e r r e s o u r c e s t h a t s h e w a s t e d a n d h a d t o a p p l y f o r a c r i s i s s u p p l e m e n t t o t h e m i n i s t r y d i d p r o v i d e a c r i s i s g r a n t t h i s d i d n o t h a v e s u f f i c i e n t r e s o u r c e s t o p a y f o r t h e c o s t s . T h e a p p e l l a n t c i t e d H u d s o n v . t h a t i t c o n f i r m e d t h a t t h e l e g i s l a t u r e h a d i n m i n d n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s A c t c h i e v e i t s b e n e v o l e n t p u r p o s e , s e c t i o n 5 5 ( 2 ) ( e ) o f h e a p p e l l a n t w i t h a m o v i n g s u p p l e m e n t a t p o s e d a n i m m i n e n t h a r m t o h e r p h y s i c a l s u n r e a s o n a b l e f o r t h e m i n i s t r y t o c o n c l u d e t h a t t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d s a t i s f i e d t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s m i n i s t r 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 h e d d i d n o t o b t a i n p r i o r a p p r o v a l f r o m t h e m i n i s t r y
I APPEAL As noted previously, the ministry explained that the reference in the reconsideration decision to an expectation of 3-5 business days to process a service request is only a guideline and is not a requirement. The ministry explained that is some cases the request can be handled the same day it is received. But in the appellant's case the ministry did not have all of the needed documentation to make a determination. The ministry noted that the reasons given by the appellant for requiring the move kept changing. The appellant's initial request for a moving supplement was based upon her health challenges. Subsequently, the appellant advised the ministry of her eviction notice. Following that, the appellant explained that the reason for the move was an abusive relationship and a threat to her physical safety. The ministry explained that it was still awaiting needed documentation from the appellant associated with the move when the move took place. Accordingly, the ministry argued that the lack of prior approval was not a consequence of a requirement for 3-5 business days but rather the failure of the appellant to provide necessary documentation in support of her request. The ministry noted that the appellant paid for the expenses associated with the move and there was no indication of an outstanding debt yet to be paid. At the time of reconsideration the ministry was aware that the appellant had applied for a crisis supplement but it understood that the costs associated with the move had been paid. Accordingly, the ministry determined that the appellant did have the resources needed to pay for the costs of the move and dealt with the request for a crisis supplement as a separate issue. The panel's decision: The panel notes that the appellant does not deny that she did not obtain prior approval for the move. The appellant states that she was not specifically advised by the ministry that prior approval was required for the move but the panel expects that a reasonable person would expect that such permission would be required before spending the money they hope to have reimbursed. The panel appreciates the appellant's understandable frustration that key documents appear to have been misplaced and the appellant did her best to provide the ministry with the documents they required. The panel also recognizes that the appellant felt under pressure to act quickly and was dealing with serious health challenges at the same time as she was trying to sort out arrangements for her move. Nonetheless, the appellant chose to initiate the move without further reference to the ministry rather than explore other options which would have allowed her to move out of her previous accommodation and into some temporary accommodation (such as a transition house) until a decision had been made by the ministry regarding her request for a moving supplement, but did not do so. In addition, the appellant provided the ministry with several different explanations of the reason(s) behind the appellant's decision to move and the ministry was obliged to collect and examine documentation in support of each of these explanations. The panel is satisfied that the ministry did not arbitrarily impose a 3-5 business day time frame to process the appellant's request for a moving supplement but rather was seeking to obtain from the appellant the documentation needed to process the request in a timely manner. Accordingly, the panel concluded that the ministry reasonably determined that the appellant had not received prior approval and therefore had not satisfied the requirements of EAWPDR section 55(3)(b). The panel notes that the appellant made a decision to incur the costs of the move even though this would not leave her enough funds to cover her expected costs of shelter and food. Having made that decision it was necessary for her to apply for a crisis supplement in order to pay her shelter costs In the panel's view this was a decision with consequences, but one that the appellant was free to choose. The fact that the aooellant was able to cover the costs of the move without incurrina debts EAAT 003(10/06/01)
APPEAl I means that she did have the resources for the move. The resulting shortfall created a need for a crisis supplement which the ministry funded. Accordingly, the panel concluded that the ministry reasonably determined that the appellant did have the resources necessary to cover the costs of the move and therefore did not satisfy the requirements of EAPWDR section 55(3)(a). Having reviewed and considered all of the evidence and the relevant legislation, the panel finds that the ministry's decision that the appellant was not eligible for a moving supplement was a reasonable application of the legislation in the circumstances of the appellant. The panel therefore confirms the ministry decision. EAAT003(10/06/01)
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