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 " 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 o f M a y 2 1 , 2 0 1 4 o f f i v e s t a t u t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t s o f s e c t i o n 2 o f t h e E m D i s a b i l i t i e s A c t ( " E A P W D A " ) f o r d e s i g n a t i o n a s a p e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t m e t t h e a g e r e q u i r e m e n t a n d t h a t a p p e l l a n t ' s i m p a i r m e n t i s l i k e l y t o c o n t i n u e f o r a t l e a s a t i s f i e d t h a t : • t h e e v i d e n c e e s t a b l i s h e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h • t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s ( " D L A " ) a d i r e c t l y a n d s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t e d e i t h e r c o n t h a t • a s a r e s u l t o f t h o s e r e s t r i c t i o n s , t h e a p p e l l a n t a n o t h e r p e r s o n , a n a s s i s t i v e d e v i c e , o r t h e s 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 f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b E m p l o y m e 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 E A A T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E 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 w h i c h f o u n 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 r e e p l o y m e 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 r s o n w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s ( " P W D " ) . T h e m i n i s t r y f o u n d i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r t h e s t t w o y e a r s . H o w e v e r , t h e m i n i s t r y w a s n o t a s a s e v e r e p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t ; r e , i n t h e o p i n i o n o f a p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l , t i n u o u s l y o r p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s ; a n d r e q u i r e s t h e s i g n i f i c a n t h e l p o r s u p e r v i s i o n o f e r v i c e s o f a n a s s i s t a n c e a n i m a l . i l i t i e s A c t ( " E A P W D A " ) , s e c t i o n 2 i l i t i e s R e g u l a t i o n ( " E A P W D R " ) , s e c t i o n 2
I APPEAL# PART E -Summar of Facts The information before the ministry at the time of reconsideration included the following: • The appellant's PWD application form consisting of the appellant's self-report along with a physician's report ("PR") and assessor's report ("AR") both signed by the appellant's family physician of 1 year, dated January 16, 2014. • A letter from the appellant's specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, dated June 14, 2006. • A report on the results of diagnostic imaging of the appellant's lumbosacral spine, dated March 12, 2006. • Four pages of forms completed by the appellant's former physician for the purpose of applying for the equivalent to disability assistance in another province, dated April 2009. The panel reviewed the evidence as follows: Diagnoses • In the PR the appellant's physician diagnosed her as having chronic non-specific back pain and chronic depression. In the AR the physician described the appellant's impairments as being "chronic back pain and leg pain." In the AR the physician indicated that the appellant sees a chronic pain specialist and is on a daily antidepressant. • In the April 2009 application forms for disability benefits in another province, the appellant's former physician reported that the appellant had chronic low back pain with sciatica, osteoarthritis in hands and wrists, carpal tunnel syndrome, osteoarthritis in the knees, and depression. Physical Impairment • In the PR the physician commented that the appellant experiences moderately severe back pain every day. She also commented "Chronic nature. Symptoms are fairly well controlled with medical management and supportive therapy." • In terms of physical functional skills the physician indicated that the appellant can walk 1 to 2 blocks unaided on a flat surface, climb 2 to 5 stairs unaided, lift 5 to 15 pounds, and remain seated for less than 1 hour. • In the AR the physician indicated that the appellant independently manages all aspects of mobility and physical ability with respect to walking indoors; walking outdoors (taking significantly longer than typical, and having to stop after 2 city blocks); climbing stairs (but have to hold onto railing); standing (can only stand for 30 minutes); lifting/carrying/holding (limited in weight she can lift. Only able to carry one grocery bag in each hand.) • The June 14, 2006 letter from the appellant's former specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation reported that an MRI showed that the appellant has a broad-based disc bulge at the level of L5-S1 consistent with the results of an early CT scan. The specialist noted that the a ellant had en·oyed some improvement from medication and physiotherapy. EMT003(10/06/01)
o The M arch 12, 2006 imaging re p ort showed advanced degenerative vacuum disc phenom e na , circumferenti foraminal st e nosis an d slight fla ttenin g of t he e In t he A pril 200 9 appli cation forms for disability benefits in a f ormer physician indi cated that the app el lant can't sit fo items, can't twist or bend repet itively, and must stop walkin knee pain. The physici an noted "Condition is considered chronic/perm • I n her self-report t he appe llan t w rote that sh e an d that when s i t ting in a car s he has to get o that she cannot stand for too long or her back climbing stairs. She reported that kn ee, hip an • In her oral testimo n y on appeal the appellant said bei n g able to work. Sh e s ai d that she can only work for a while and then ha She stated that the chores she d oes ar oun d t complete. o In response to a q u e st i on from the ministry, th equiva len t to di sabi li ty assistance in ano ther Columb ia i n December, 2011. Mental I mp airme nt o I n the PR the physician no ted that the appellant co gnitive and emo tio nal func tion -em otio n al chro nic n at ur e. Well controlled ( in remi s si on) • I n te rms o f fun cti ona l s kill s , t he physician indi app e l lant's abi lity to c omm uni cate is g ood in o I n t h e A R the physician in dicate d that the a ppell impact with re sp e ct to 1 of 1 4 c at e gories of cogn indic ated a minimal imp ac t w i t h respe c t to 1 o d is tu rbance). O th erw i s e the physician indicated • I n her s elf re p o rt the appe llant wrote t h at h er medica t io n, though she wrote that she still has sad times and anxie • In the April 200 9 a pplication form s f or d i sa bility ass physician at the time indicated that the appellant's depressio causes a "sad mood. Difficul ties with sleeping, concentration, headaches." • In the PR the physician reported that the appellant has been prescribed no medication or treatmen ts that interfere with her ability to perform DLA. • I n the PR the physician indicated that the appellant's impairments directly restrict her ability to p e rform 3 of t he 10 prescri b e d DLA: basic housework, daily shopping, and the outside aspect of the DLA move about indoors and outdoors. physici an commented "Patient needs longer time than usual to perform AOL's." • In the AR, which provides more d eta i l by breaking physician indicated that the appellant independently manages all aspects of the 5 DLA of oersonal self-care, meal preoaration, manaae oersonal finances, manaae oersonal EAA T003(10/06/01) APPEAL# � disc spac e na r rowing at L 5-S 1, a l disc bulging with mild bi lat er al thecal sa c . N o disc h erniation. nother province, the appellant's r more than 30 m inut es , ca n 't l i ft heavy g after 2-3 blocks due to back and anent." can't sit for too long withou t her leg going numb, u t and walk around for a while. She also said and hip s hurt, and that she ha s a hard time d le g pains wak e her 2 o r 3 times a night. th at with he r d i sabilities she c a n't see h e rself s to rest her back. he h ome t ake much lo n g er t h a n typical to e ap pellant resp onded t hat sh e had re ceived the p rovin c e starting in 2 00 9 . S he mov ed t o British h as a sign ifi cant defi cit in 1 of 12 categ or ie s of disturban c e . She c o mme nted "D epression -no w ." c ate d in b o th the PR and th e AR t h at the all resp ect s. an t's m enta l impai rment has a m od e rate itive and emo t i ona l function : em otio n. She t her category: bodily fun ction s (slee p no impa ct s in the remai nin g 1 2 c atego rie s . depr es sion is "pretty well c on trolled " with he r t y . istance i n an other province, the a ppellant's n (described as "recurrent") In describing the degree of restriction, the the DLA into various component tasks, th e
I APPEAL ii medications, and social functioning. o With respect to the DLA of basic housekeeping, the physician reported the appellant taking significantly longer than typical. • With respect to the DLA of daily shopping, the physician reported the appellant independently managing all aspects, except that she is unable to carry more than 2 grocery bags. o Regarding the DLA of use of transportation, the physician reported that the appellant can independently use transit schedules and arrange transportation, but there is no access to public transportation in her area, and she takes significantly longer than typical depending on the vehicle -lower vehicles are more difficult. • With respect to social functioning, the physician indicated that the appellant independently manages all aspects, and that she has good functioning with her immediate and extended social networks. e In the April 2009 application forms for disability benefits in another province, the appellant's former physician indicated that the appellant has pain and difficulty performing "AOL's" such as opening jars and writing. o In her self-report the appellant wrote that she can't sweep a floor or mop or vacuum without her back causing her pain. • In response to a question from the ministry as to whether her physician had stated anything in the application forms with which the appellant didn't agree, the appellant said that when she told the physician she could walk 2 blocks, she'd meant 2 blocks in her small community, which are bigger than city blocks. She also stated that the physician had failed to mention that the appellant had been given 3 cortisone shots that failed to provide any relief. • In response to a question from the panel, the appellant said that when sweeping the floor, or if standing too long to do dishes, she has to sit and stretch because her back gets sore. She said that vacuuming causes tremendous pain. The appellant stated that one thing she can't do is to bend down to clean the tub -a friend does this for her. • The physician reported that the appellant requires no prostheses or aids for her impairment, and that the appellant does not have an assistance animal. • In response to a question in the AR as to who provides the help that the appellant requires for DLA, the physician indicated "friends", commenting "Patient has no vehicle. Goes to the store with a friend who takes her. No public transit available." • In response to a question from the ministry as to whether she received any help from anyone to do any DLA other than cleaning the tub, the appellant responded that her friend helps her to carry groceries, he helps with the yard work, and sometimes sweeps her floors. The panel accepted the appellant's oral testimony as being in support of the information and records that had been before the ministry at reconsideration, in accordance with section 22(4) of the Employment and Assistance Act. The ministry relied on its reconsideration decision and provided no new evidence. EAAT003(10/06/0I)
P A RT F Reasons for Panel D ec ision T h e issue o n t his appeal is whether th e minis try's decision to deny P WD was r easo nably s u p ported b y t h e evidence or was a r enactment in the circumst ances of the appellant. In d e t e rmi ning t h a t th e app ellant does not have a severe phys opin ion of a pres cribed profe ssional the appellant's restri ct her from performing DL A e ither c ont in u ously appe llant does no t re quire help to pe r form DLA as a r The r e l e vant legislation is as follows: EAPWDA: 2 (1) In this section: "as sis tive dev i c e" me a n s a dev ice design a ctivity tha t, because of a sever e ment al p e rform ; "d aily livin g activ ity" h a s the p re "p r escribed professiona l " has the presc ( 2) Th e min ist er m a y des i gnate a pe rson disa b i l i t i es for the pu rpose s of th is Act if t m ent al or physical impairmen t that (a) i n the opinion of a me dical y e ars , and (b ) in the op inion of a pre sc ribed ( i) dir ectl y and signifi li v ing a ctivities ei ther (A) contin uou sly, or (B) periodically for extended periods, and (ii) a s a result o f those restrictions, the perso those activities. ( 3) For the purposes of subsection (2), (a) a person who has a sev ere mental disorder, and (b) a person requires help in relation to a daily living activity if, in order to p erf o rm it , the p erson requires (i) an ass istive device, (ii) the significant help or supervision of another person, or (iii) the services of an assistance animal. EMT 003(10/06/01) I APPEAL# the ap pellant desi gnation as a eason ab le application of th e applicable particular, was the ministry reason able in ical or mental impa irment, and that in the i m pa irm ents do not direc tly and si gnifica n t l y or periodically for extende d periods, and t h at the e sult of those restrictions? e d to en a bl e a p e rs on to perfo rm a dail y li vin g or physi c a l imp a irme n t , t h e p ers on is unabl e to s cribed me a ning; ribe d meaning . w ho h as r eached 18 y e ars o f age as a per son with h e minister is satisf ied that the person h as a s ever e pra c ti t i oner is likel y to cont inu e for at le ast 2 profes si ona l can tly restricts the pe rso n 's ability to pe rform da i ly n re quires hel p to perform mental impair ment includes a person with a
E A P W D R s e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) : 2 ( 1 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e A c t a n d t h i s r e ( a ) i n r e l a t i o n t o a p e r s o n m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t , m e a n ( i ) p r e p a r e o w n m ( i i ) m a n a g e p e r s o n ( i i i ) s h o p f o r p e r s o ( i v ) u s e p u b l i c o r p ( v ) p e r f o r m h o u s e a c c e p t a b l e s a n i t a r y ( v i ) m o v e a b o u t i n ( v i i ) p e r f o r m p e r s o ( v i i i ) m a n a g e p e r s ( b ) i n r e l a t i o n t o a p e r s o n f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s : ( i ) m a k e d e c i s i o n s ( i i ) r e l a t e t o , c o m m ( 2 ) F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e A c t , " p r e s c r i ( a ) a u t h o r i z e d u n d e r a n e ( i ) m e d i c a l p r a c t i t ( i i ) r e g i s t e r e d p s y ( i i i ) r e g i s t e r e d n u r ( i v ) o c c u p a t i o n a l t ( v ) p h y s i c a l t h e r a p ( v i ) s o c i a l w o r k e r , ( v i i ) c h i r o p r a c t o r , ( v i i i ) n u r s e p r a c t i t ( b ) a c t i n g i n t h e c o u r s e o f b y ( i ) a n a u t h o r i t y , a s I n d e p e n d e n t S c h o o ( i i ) a b o a r d o r a f r d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 1 i f q u a l i f i c a t i o n s i n p s y c h o l o g y a r e a c o n d i t * S e v e r e P h y s i c a l I m p a i r m e n t T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p o s i t i o n i s t h a t h e r i m p a i r m e n t s c a u s s e v e r e p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t . S h e a r g u e d t h a t t h e o l d s h o u l d b e g i v e n s i g n i f i c a n t w e i g h t b e c a u s e h e r p h y s h e r c u r r e n t h s i c i a n , a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n i n d i c a t e s E A A T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )' . A P P E A L # g u l a t i o n , " d a i l y l i v i n g a c t i v i t i e s " , w h o h a s a s e v e r e p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t o r a s e v e r e s t h e f o l l o w i n g a c t i v i t i e s : e a l s ; a l f i n a n c e s ; n a l n e e d s ; e r s o n a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s ; w o r k t o m a i n t a i n t h e p e r s o n ' s p l a c e o f r e s i d e n c e i n c o n d i t i o n ; d o o r s a n d o u t d o o r s ; n a l h y g i e n e a n d s e l f c a r e ; o n a l m e d i c a t i o n , a n d w h o h a s a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t , i n c l u d e s t h e a b o u t p e r s o n a l a c t i v i t i e s , c a r e o r f i n a n c e s ; u n i c a t e o r i n t e r a c t w i t h o t h e r s e f f e c t i v e l y . b e d p r o f e s s i o n a l " m e a n s a p e r s o n w h o i s n a c t m e n t t o p r a c t i s e t h e p r o f e s s i o n o f i o n e r , c h o l o g i s t , s e o r r e g i s t e r e d p s y c h i a t r i c n u r s e , h e r a p i s t , i s t , o r i o n e r , o r t h e p e r s o n ' s e m p l o y m e n t a s a s c h o o l p s y c h o l o g i s t t h a t t e r m i s d e f i n e d i n s e c t i o n 1 ( 1 ) o f t h e l A c t , o r a n c o p h o n e e d u c a t i o n a u t h o r i t y , a s t h o s e t e r m s a r e ( 1 ) o f t h e S c h o o l A c t , i o n o f s u c h e m p l o y m e n t . * * * * * * e s e v e r e p a i n a n d l a c k o f s l e e p , c o n s t i t u t i n g a e r m e d i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m a n o t h e r p r o v i n c e i c i a n i n t h e o t h e r p r o v i n c e k n e w h e r l o n g e r t h a n t h a t h e r i m a i r m e n ! i s c h r o n i c a n d e r m a n e n t .
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 t h e o l d e r m e d i c a l i n f o t h e r p r o v i n c e ' s e q u i v a l e n t t o d i s a b i l i t y a s s i s t a n c e , T h e m i n i s t ry ' s p o s i t i o n a s s e t o u t i n i t s r e c o n s i d e r p h y s i c a l f u n c t i o n i n g i s i n d i c a t i v e o f a m o d e r a t e , r a t h T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t t h e o l d e r m e d i c a l i n f o r m a t i r e f l e c t i v e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s c u r r e n t m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o P a n e l D e c i s i o n A d i a g n o s i s o f a s e r i o u s m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n d o e s n o t s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t . A n " i m p a i r m e n t " i s a m e d i c a l c o a b i l i t y t o f u n c t i o n i n d e p e n d e n t l y o r e f f e c t i v e l y . T o a s s e s s t h e s e v e r i t y o f a n i m p a i r m e n t o n e m u s t c e x t e n t o f i t s i m p a c t o n d a i l y f u n c t i o n i n g a s e v i d e n c e w h i c h p e r f o r m i n g D L A i s r e s t r i c t e d . A m e d i c a l b a r r i e m p l o y m e n t i s n o t a l e g i s l a t e d c r i t e r i o n f o r s e v e r i t y . d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f s e v e r i t y i s a t t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f t h e m i n c l u d i n g t h a t o f t h e a p p e l l a n t . H o w e v e r , t h e l e g i s l a t h e a n a l y s i s i s t h e e v i d e n c e f r o m a p r e s c r i b e d p r o f e W i t h r e s p e c t t o f u n c t i o n a l s k i l l s , t h e e v i d e n c e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t i s i n t h e m i d r a n g e o f i m p a i r m e n t . T h i s i s P R t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t s u f f e r s m o d e r a t e l y s e v e r e b a c i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m a n o t h e r p r o v i n c e i s e n t i t l e d t o l e s s o f t h e p a s s a g e o f t i m e . T h e f a c t o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s f o p r o v i n c e i s n o t u s e f u l , s u b s t a n t i a l l y b e c a u s e t h e r e i s s t a t u t o r y c r i t e r i a a r e r e l e v a n t i n t h a t p r o v i n c e . T h e r e a r e f r e q u e n t r e f e r e n c e s i n t h e e v i d e n c e t o t h e o n h e r a b i l i t y t o w o r k a t p a i d e m p l o y m e n t . T h e p a n e c r i t e r i o n r e g a r d i n g P W D d e s i g n a t i o n t h e f o c u s o f t A s d i s c u s s e d i n m o r e d e t a i l i n a s u b s e q u e n t s e c t i o n R e s t r i c t i o n s t o D L A , t h e f u n c t i o n a l s k i l l s l i m i t a t i o n s d r e s t r i c t i o n s i n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m h e r D t h e p a n e l h a s c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h e m i n i s t ry r e a s o n a b l y e s t a b l i s h i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s a s e v e r e p h y s i c a S e v e r e M e n t a l I m p a i r m e n t T h e a p p e l l a n t a d v a n c e d n o a r g u m e n t w i t h r e s p e c t t o T h e m i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n , a s s e t o u t i n i t s r e c o n s i d e r a t i d i a g n o s e d t h e a p p e l l a n t w i t h c h r o n i c d e p r e s s i o n , s h c o n t r o l l e d " a n d " i n r e m i s s i o n " . T h e m i n i s t r v s t a t e d t h E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L # '. o r m a t i o n h a d b e e n s u f f i c i e n t t o q u a l i f y h e r f o r t h e a n d t h a t i s s h o u l d h a v e t h e s a m e e f f e c t i n B . C . a t i o n d e c i s i o n i s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s l e v e l o f e r t h a n a s e v e r e d e g r e e o f p h y s i c a l i m p a i r m e n t . o n f r o m a n o t h e r p r o v i n c e i s n o t n e c e s s a r i l y n . i n i t s e l f d e t e r m i n e P W D e l i g i b i l i t y o r e s t a b l i s h a n d i t i o n t h a t r e s u l t s i n r e s t r i c t i o n s t o a p e r s o n ' s o n s i d e r t h e n a t u r e o f t h e i m p a i r m e n t a n d t h e d b y f u n c t i o n a l s k i l l l i m i t a t i o n s a n d t h e d e g r e e t o e r t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o e n g a g e i n p a i d T h e l e g i s l a t i o n m a k e s i t c l e a r t h a t t h e i n i s t e r , t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t a l l o f t h e e v i d e n c e t i o n i s a l s o c l e a r t h a t t h e f u n d a m e n t a l b a s i s f o r s s i o n a l i n t h i s c a s e , t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p h y s i c i a n . p h y s i c i a n i n t h e P R a n d A R i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e p h y s i c i a n ' s s t a t e m e n t i n t h e k p a i n . I n t h e p a n e l ' s v i e w t h e o l d e r m e d i c a l w e i g h t t h a n t h e m o r e c u r r e n t i n f o r m a t i o n b e c a u s e r m e r r e c e i p t o f d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s i n a n o t h e r n o e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e p a n e l a s t o w h a t i m p a c t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n s h a v e l n o t e s t h a t e m p l o y a b i l i t y i s n o t a s t a t u t o r y h e l e g i s l a t i o n i s o n t h e a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A . o f t h i s d e c i s i o n u n d e r t h e h e a d i n g S i g n i f i c a n t o n o t a p p e a r t o h a v e t r a n s l a t e d i n t o s i g n i f i c a n t L A i n d e p e n d e n t l y . F o r t h e f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e f a l l s s h o r t o f l i m p a i r m e n t . a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t . o n d e c i s i o n , i s t h a t w h i l e t h e p h y s i c i a n e a l s o n o t e d t h a t t h e d e p r e s s i o n i s " w e l l a t t h e p h y s i c i a n ' s e v i d e n c e i n t h e A R i s t h a t t h e
a p p e l l a n t ' s d e p r e s s i o n h a s a t m o s t a m o d e r a t e i m p a P a n e l D e c i s i o n T h e p h y s i c i a n p r o v i d e d a d i a g n o s i s o f c h r o n i c d e p r e a n d " i n r e m i s s i o n " . T h e p h y s i c i a n i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e r e s p e c t s . S h e a l s o i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s d e c a t e g o ry o f c o g n i t i v e a n d e m o t i o n a l f u n c t i o n i n g e m S e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) ( b ) o f t h e E A P W D R p r e s c r i b e s t w o D L A d e c i s i o n s a b o u t p e r s o n a l a c t i v i t i e s , c a r e o r f i n a n c e s i n t e r a c t w i t h o t h e r s e f f e c t i v e l y ( s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g ) . T h e p h y s i c i a n ' s e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n d e c i s i o n m a k i n g i n t h a t s h e i n d e p e n d e n t l y m a n a g e s ( m a k i n g a p p r o p r i a t e c h o i c e s ) , m a n a g e p e r s o n a l m e m a n a g e p e r s o n a l f i n a n c e s ( b a n k i n g , b u d g e t i n g , p a y s o c i a l d e c i s i o n s ) a n d m e a l p r e p a r a t i o n ( m e a l p l a n n i T h e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e o f a n y r e s t r i c t i o n s t o h e r s o c i a A R t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s g o o d f u n c t i o n i n g i n r e s p e c I n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e o l d e r m e d i c a l r e c o r d s f r o m t h e a p i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e c u r r e n t i n f o r m a t i o n . C o n s i d e r i n g t h e e v i d e n c e a s a w h o l e , t h e p a n e l c o n t h a t i t d o e s n o t d e m o n s t r a t e a s e v e r e m e n t a l i m p a i r m S i g n i f i c a n t R e s t r i c t i o n s t o D L A T h e l e g i s l a t i o n r e q u i r e s t h a t a s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t d i r a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m D L A e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s l y o r p e r i o d i c m e a n s t h a t t h e r e m u s t b e a c a u s a l l i n k b e t w e e n t h e r e s t r i c t i o n m u s t a l s o b e s i g n i f i c a n t . F i n a l l y , t h e r e i s d i r e c t a n d s i g n i f i c a n t r e s t r i c t i o n m a y b e e i t h e r c o n t i n e x t e n d e d t i m e . I n h e r e n t l y , a n y a n a l y s i s o f p e r i o d i c i t f r e q u e n c y . A l l o t h e r t h i n g s b e i n g e q u a l , a r e s t r i c t i o n s i g n i f i c a n t t h a n o n e w h i c h o c c u r s s e v e r a l t i m e s a w e e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t a r e s t r i c t i o n a r i s e s p e r i o d i c a e v i d e n c e o f t h e d u r a t i o n a n d f r e q u e n c y o f t h e r e s t r i c c r i t e r i o n i s m e t . W i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s d e g r e e o f i n d e p e n d e n E A P W D A i n d i c a t e s t h a t a p e r s o n m u s t " r e q u i r e " h e l p " r e q u i r e " i n d i c a t e s a d e g r e e o f n e c e s s i t y s o t h a t i t i s w i t h o u t . I f t h e p e r s o n d o e s n o t g e t t h e h e l p s h e r e q u o r p e r i o d i c a l l y f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s , o r t h e D L A t a k e E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L # � c t o n h e r d a i l y f u n c t i o n i n g . s s i o n , w h i c h s h e d e s c r i b e d a s " w e l l c o n t r o l l e d " a p p e l l a n t ' s a b i l i t y t o c o m m u n i c a t e i s g o o d i n a l l p r e s s i o n h a s a t m o s t a m o d e r a t e i m p a c t i n o n e o t i o n . t h a t a r e s p e c i f i c t o m e n t a l i m p a i r m e n t m a k e ( d e c i s i o n m a k i n g ) , a n d r e l a t e t o , c o m m u n i c a t e o r t i s n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t e d w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e d e c i s i o n m a k i n g a s p e c t s o f d a i l y s h o p p i n g d i c a t i o n ( f i l l i n g / r e f i l l i n g / t a k i n g a s d i r e c t e d ) , r e n t a n d b i l l s ) , s o c i a l f u n c t i o n i n g ( a p p r o p r i a t e n g ) . l f u n c t i o n i n g , a n d t h e p h y s i c i a n c o n f i r m e d i n t h e t o f h e r i m m e d i a t e a n d e x t e n d e d s o c i a l n e t w o r k s . p e l l a n t ' s p r e v i o u s p r o v i n c e o f r e s i d e n c e i s n o t c l u d e s t h a t t h e m i n 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 e n t . e c t l y a n d s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e s t r i c t s t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a l l y f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s . T h e t e r m " d i r e c t l y " s e v e r e i m p a i r m e n t a n d t h e r e s t r i c t i o n . T h e d i r e c t a c o m p o n e n t r e l a t e d t o t i m e o r d u r a t i o n . T h e u o u s o r p e r i o d i c . I f i t i s p e r i o d i c i t m u s t b e f o r a n y m u s t a l s o i n c l u d e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e t h a t o n l y a r i s e s o n c e a y e a r i s l e s s l i k e l y t o b e e k . A c c o r d i n g l y , i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s w h e r e t h e l l y , i t i s a p p r o p r i a t e f o r t h e m i n i s t ry t o r e q u i r e t i o n i n o r d e r t o b e " s a t i s f i e d " t h a t t h i s l e g i s l a t i v e c e , t h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t s e c t i o n 2 ( 3 ) o f t h e a s d e f i n e d . I n t h e p a n e l ' s v i e w t h e w o r d s o m e t h i n g t h a t a p e r s o n c a n n o t r e a s o n a b l y d o i r e s , t h e D L A g o e s u n d o n e e i t h e r c o n t i n u o u s l y s a n u n r e a s o n a b l y I o n a t i m e t o c o m p l e t e .
Sec tion 2 ( 1) of the EAPWDA prescrib e s 1 O DLA. Of and the A R is cons i stent that t he a ppell a nt i s un restr car e, me al pre par ation, m a nag ement o f medicati o ns, and decision making. Of the r emaini n g 4 DLA -mo vi ng a bout indoo rs and an d us e o f t r a ns porta tio n t h e phys ician has indicat ea ch of them i n dep e ndent l y, a n d that sh e takes long prov ided no indic ati o n of how much lon ge r than typical t a pp ella nt's e vidence is that s he man ages her DLA ind the for m of cleani ng her batht ub, doing y ard work, prov to car ry gro c er i es in excess o f t h e t wo bags that t h e Consi d e ring the evid e nce as a whole, w h ile a cknowl co nclu d es th a t t h e m i n i stry reaso nably de termi ned tha b a l an ce of prob a b ilities t h at t h e ap pell ant's a bility t o p co n t i nuous ly or perio dic all y for e xtended p eri od s. H elp wi th DLA The ap pel lant' s position is th a t sh e r equires h elp from a n basic housek eepi n g. The m i nist r y 's p o sition is th a t since i t ha s not been es si gn i fi cantly rest r icte d, i t ca nnot be de te r mined t hat sign Panel Decision Fi ndings th a t a sev ere impa irme nt di rectl y a nd signific DLA either c ontinuou sly or periodically for an e xtended peri "help" as de fi ne d by sect i o n 2( 3 ) (b) of the EAP W D A. p recondition h as not bee n satisfied on the balance of probabilities in this case. Accordingly, the panel finds that the ministry reasonably concluded it could not be determined that the appellant requires help with DLA as defined by section 2(3)(b) of the EAPWDA. Co nclusion The panel acknowledges that the appellant's m edical Howev er, ha vi ng reviewed a nd considered all of the find s that th e ministry 's deci s ion finding t h e a ppellant i application of the legislation in the circumstances of the appellant. m i n i s try 's decision. EAA T003(10/06/01) � A PPE AL# t hose 10, t h e profess i o nal e v i dence i n the PR icted wi th respe ct to at l east 6: per son al self manage ment o f finances, soc i a l f u ncti oning, ou t do or s , bas i c ho use k e eping , d aily sh op ping, ed that th e appellant manag es m o st aspect s of er t h a n typi c a l wi th other aspects. She's h e app ellant may take with these tas ks. Th e e pend e n tly, wit h very litt l e hel p from a frie nd in iding transpor t ation for sh oppi ng, and helping a pp e l lant ca n carr y. e dging a degre e of restr iction, t he panel t t h e ev idence is insuff ic ient to show on th e e rfor m her DLA is s i gnifi ca ntly restrict e d e it her e igh b o u r to p erfor m as pec ts of DLA such as tab lishe d t hat the a ppellant 's DLA are ifi c ant he lp is r e quir e d fr o m ot her pe rsons. antly restri c ts a per s on's a bil ity t o manage her o d is a precondition to a person r e qui ring For t h e reasons provided abo v e , that conditions affect h e r ab ility to function. e vid en c e and the relevant le gisl ation, the panel n eli gible f or PWD d e s i gnation is a reasonable The panel therefore confirms the
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.