I APPEAL PART C -Decision under Appeal -The decision under appeal is the reconsideration decision-of the Minis tty of-Social Development aud-Social Innovation (the "ministry") dated June 3, 2014, in which the ministry found the appellant did not meet the criteria to receive a crisis supplement for utilities as set out in section 57(1) of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation (EAPWDR). Specifically the minist1y determined that the requirement to pay a BC Hydro amount was not an unexpected expense and that utility costs are not an item that is unexpectedly needed. The ministry also determined that the appellant had the financial resources available to meet the expense and therefore did not meet the requirements set out under s.57(l)(a), and that non-payment of the BC Hydro amount would not result in imminent danger to the health of any person in the family unit as required under s.57(l)(b)(i). PART D -Relevant Legislation Section 5 of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act (EAPWDA) Section 57 of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation (EAPWDR) EAAT 003(10106/01)
P A R T E S u m m a ry o f F a c t s � N e i t h e r t h e a p p e l l a n t n o r t h e m i n i s t r y w a s i n a t t e n d a n c e <1 t t h e h m i n i s t r y w e r e d u l y n o t i fi e d , t h e h e a r i n g p r o c e e d e d p u r s u a n t t o R e g u l a t i o n . E v i d e n c e b e fo r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t t h e t i m e o f R e c o n s i d e r a t i o • 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 s i g n e d a c c o m p a n y i n g l e t t e r fr o m t h e a p p e l l a n t t o t h e m i n i m i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n d a t e d M a y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 . • A c o p y o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p a s t d u e B C H y d r o b i l l M s h o w i n g a b a l a n c e t r a n s f e r fr o m a p r e v i o u s b i l l o f F e b r u a r y 2 7 , 2 0 1 4 , f o r $ 6 5 6 . 7 0 fo r a b a l a n c e o w i n • A c o p y o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s p a s t d u e B C H y d r o b i l l M s h o w i n g a b a l a n c e t r a n s f e r fr o m a p r e v i o u s b i l l o f A p r i l 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 , fo r $ 5 7 5 . 8 0 fo r b a l a n c e o w i n g o f $ • A p r e s c r i p t i o n n o t e fr o m a p h y s i c i a n d a t e d M a y 1 8 m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n a n d n e e d s a n e b u l i z e r a s p a r t o f I n s e c t i o n 2 o f 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 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e m i n i s t 1 y t r i e d t o c o n t a c t t h e a p p e l l a n t r e g a r d w a s fo r $ 1 6 1 3 . 5 1 w i t h a d u e M a y 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 . T h e m i n i s t r y l e f t a m e s s a g e fo r h e r t o c o n t a c t t h e m . T h e fi l e n o t e s i n d i c a p p e l l a n t w h e n s h e m a k e s c o n t a c t w i t h t h e m i n i s t 1 y . 1 . T h e b i l l s u b m i t t e d w a s n o t a d i s c o n n e c t i o n n o t i c e p a y m e n t s ( e . g . e q u a l p a y m e n t p l a n ) ? 2 . W h a t r e s o u r c e s w e r e e x h a u s t e d t o p a y t h e m o n t h l y 3 . H o w m u c h i s t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a v e r a g e m o n t h l y u s a g 4 . T h e m i n i s t r y a l s o n o t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t w o u l d n u t i l i t i e s , o n c e i s s u e d , c o u n t s t o w ru · d s t h e a p p e l l a n t O n M a y 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e m i n i s t r y c a l l e d t h e a p p e l l a n t r e g a r d a p p e l l a n t r e p o r t e d t h a t s h e h a d n o t m a d e p a y m e n t s t o w a r d a n d t h e n e e d t o f i x h e r t r u c k . T h e m i n i s t r y n o t e d t h a t w h e s e r v i c e c o u l d r e a s o n a b l y b e f o r e s e e n . O n M a y 2 6 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t c o n t a c t e d t h e m i n i s t r y a n d fo r h e r B C H y d r o b i l l h a d b e e n d e n i e d a s t h e n e e d w a s n e i r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n a t t h i s t i m e a n d r e p o r t e d t h a t s h e r e q u i r e s h I n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s l e t t e r o f M a y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 , s h e r e p o r t s t h a t s d e v e l o p m e n t a l i s s u e s w i t h b o t h r e q u i r i n g w e e k l y s u p p o r t b c h i l d r e n ru · e c u r r e n t l y b e i n g s e e n b y a p h y s i c i a n a n d a p e d v i s i t . O n o n e p a r t i c u l a r w e e k b o t h c h i l d r e n w e r e a b l e t o b f o r a p o s s i b l e m e d i c a l p r o c e d u r e a n d w a s a l s o m o n i t o r i n g c o s t s . T h e a p p e l l a n t t h e n g o e s o n t o p r e s e n t a r g u m e n t a s t w a s u n r e a s o n a b l e w h i c h w i l l b e d e a l t w i t h i n P a r t F o f t h i s E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L e it r i n g . � A f t e r c o n f i r m i n g t h a t b o t h t h e a p p J O l l a n t a 11 cl t h e s e c t i o n 8 6 ( b ) 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 n i n c l u d e s t h e f o l l o w i n g : b y t h e a p p e l l a n t M a y 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 , a l o n g w i t h a n s t r y p r o v i d i n g r e a s o n s fo r h e r d i s a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e a r c h 3 , 2 0 1 4 , w i t h a d u e d a t e o f M a r c h 2 5 , 2 0 1 4 , $ 3 6 7 . 9 4 a c u r r e n t s t a t e m e n t fr o m J a n u a r y 9 , 2 0 1 4 , t o g o f $ 1 0 2 4 . 6 4 a y 1 , 2 0 1 4 , w i t h a d u e d a t e o f M a y 2 3 , 2 0 1 4 , $ 1 0 3 7 . 7 1 a c u r r e n t s t a t e m e n t fr o m M a r c h 5 , 2 0 1 4 , t o 1 6 1 3 . 5 1 , 2 0 1 4 , w h i c h s t a t e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s s o n h a s a t r e a t m e n t . c o m p l e t e d b y t h e m i n i s t r y t h e y r e p o r t t h a t o n M a y i n g a B C H y d r o b i l l w h i c h s h e s u b m i t t e d . T h e b i l l w a s u n a b l e t o c o n t a c t t h e a p p e l l a n t o n t h i s d a t e a n d a t e a l i s t o f q u e s t i o n t o b e r e v i e w e d w i t h t h e , w h a t r u r n n g e m e n t s w e r e m a d e w i t h h y d r o t o m a k e b i l l ? e ? e e d t o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t a c r i s i s s u p p l e m e n t fo r ' s c u m u l a t i v e a n n u a l l i m i t fo r c r i s i s s u p p l e m e n t s . i n g h e r r e q u e s t fo r a c r i s i s s u p p l e m e n t o n t h i s d a t e t h e s h e r H y d r o b i l l , b e c a u s e o f " m e d i c a l e m e r g e n c i e s " n p a y m e n t s a r e n o t m a d e t o H y d r o a n i n t e n u p t i o n i n w a s a d v i s e d t h a t h e r r e q u e s t f o r a c r i s i s s u p p l e m e n t t h e r s u d d e n n o r u n e x p e c t e d . T h e a p p e l l a n t r e q u e s t e d y d r o f o r h e r c h i l d ' s n e b u l i z e r . h e h a s t w o c h i l d r e n w i t h c o m p l e x m e d i c a l a n d y t h e r a p i s t s a n d o t h e r s i n t h e c o m m u n i t y . T h e i a t r i c i a n t h a t i n v o k e s t r a v e l l i n g 4 0 m i l e s f o r e a c h e f i t i n t o s e e t h e p h y s i c i a n w h o w a s a s s e s s i n g t h e m a n o t h e r m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n w h i c h r e q u i r e d e x t r a t r a v e l o w h y s h e b e l i e v e s t h e m i n i s t r y ' s o r i g i n a l d e c i s i o n d e c i s i o n .
I APPEAL After the ministry Reconsideration Decision and prior to the hearing the appellant submitted a letter dated June _1 , 2014, al9n_ g with her Notice of Apptal tQ the'fribunaJfo whkh sbe repmis that she feels a need to clarify_ what the unexpected costs are and also her ability to make payment to BC Hydro. The letter then goes on to provide argument as to why she believes the ministry Reconsideration Decision to be unreasonable which will be dealt with fmiher along in Part F of this decision. Findings of Fact • The appellant is in receipt of disability assistance and is eligible to apply for a crisis supplement for utilities. • The appellant has not received a disconnect notice from BC Hydro. • The appellant's BC Hydro bill of March 3, 2014, shows a balance transfer from a previous bill of $367.94 a current statement from January 9, 2014 to February 27, 2014, for $656.70 for balance owing of $1024.64 by March 25, 2014. No payment was made by the due date. • The appellant's BC Hydro Bill May 1, 2014, shows a balance transfer from a previous bill of$1037.71 a current statement from March 5, 2014 to April 28, 2014 for $575.80 balance owing of $1613.51 by May 23, 2014. No payment was made by the due date. • The appellant has made one payment to her BC Hydro account since receiving her March 3, 2014, BC Hydro statement of $250.00 on May 29, 2014. EAA T003(10/06/01)
I APPEAL PART F -Reasons for Panel Decision The issue in this appeal is whether the ministry's determinatiou that the appellaut is not eligible to receive a c:_tisis supIJl§me11t on the basis that she did notm��ttbe ci:it_er_ i_ll_fil>lQ!ltjs s_ection 57(1) of EAPWDR wa_s_Jl_ __ reasonable application of the legislation or reasonably supported by the evidence. Specifically the ministry determined that the requirement to pay a BC Hydro amount was not an unexpected expense and that utility costs are not an item that is unexpectedly needed. The ministry also determined that the appellant had the financial resources available to meet the expense and therefore did not meet the requirements set out under s.57(1)(a), and that non-payment of the BC Hydro amount would not result in imminent danger to the physical health of any person in the family unit as required under s.57(l)(b)(i). In artiving at their decision the ministry relied upon the following: Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act Disability assistance and supplements s Subject to the regulations, the minister may provide disability assistance or a supplement to or for a family unit that is eligible for it. Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation Crisis supplement 57 (1) The minister may provide a crisis supplement to or for a family unit that is eligible for disability assistance or hardship assistance if (a) the family unit or a person in the family unit requires the supplement to meet an unexpected expense or obtain an item unexpectedly needed and is unable to meet the expense or obtain the item because there are no resources available to the family unit, and (b) the minister considers that failure to meet the expense or obtain the item will result in (i) imminent danger to the physical health of any person in the family unit, or (ii) removal of a child under the Child, Family and Community Service Act. The ministry's position is that the appellant did not meet the criteria to receive a crisis supplement for utilities as set out ins. 57(1) ofEAPWDR because the requirement to pay a BC Hydro amount was not an unexpected expense and that utility costs are not an item that is unexpectedly needed. The ministly also determined that the appellant had not received a disconnection notice, had the financial resources available to meet the expense, and that non-payment of the BC Hydro amount would _not result in imminent danger to the physical health of any person in the family unit. In its Reconsideration Decision the ministry argiied that not paying the appellant's BC Hydro bill does not constitute a crisis for utilities due to an unexpected expense. Although the appellant states that she has made efforts to pay her hydro bill and her electricity costs are increasing for unforeseen reasons, the minist1y contacted BC Hydro and was informed that since her current file was opened March 5, 2014, she has only made one payment of $250.00 on May 29, 2014. Therefore an outstanding balance is not unexpected nor was her need for the item unexpectedly needed. In addition, the annellant has managed to pay $250.00 towards her EAAT 003(10/06/01)
b a l a n c e m o s t r e c e n t l y a n d t h e m i n i s t 1 y a r g u e d t h a t s h e h a s . . o n . h e r a c c o u n t ; s h e h a s c h o s e n n o t t o i n t h e p JISL 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 s h e m e e t s t h e e l i g i b i l i t y c r i o u t i n s . 5 7 ( 1 ) o f E A P W D R b e c a u s e B C H y d r o b i l l s h a v e l e a v i n g h e r w i t h n o fi n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s t o m e e t a n y o t h e r u m a k e a c h o i c e b e t w e e n p a y i n g h e r B C H y d r o b i l l a n d h a v i u n fo r e s e e n e m e r g e n c y m e d i c a l a p p o i n t m e n t s i n a n o t h e r t o i n h e r a p p l i c a t i o n f o r a c r i s i s s u p p l e m e n t fo r u t i l i t i e s . A s t o t h e c r i t e d a s e t o u t a b o v e i n s . 5 7 ( 1 ) ( a ) o f E A R , t h e a a t t a c h e d t o h e r R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s i d e r a t i o n a n d i n h e r l e t t t h a t s h e w a s u n a b l e t o p a y h e r B C H y d r o b i l l b e c a u s e o f t h c h i l d r e n h a v e s p e c i a l n e e d s a n d w e r e b o t h u n e x p e c t e d l y a b f u t u r e m e d i c a l p r o c e d u r e s a n d t o m o n i t o r t h e i r o t h e r o n g o b e c a u s e t h e m i n i s t t y r e q u i r e s m o r e l e a d t i m e t o a p p r o v e m w a s fo r c e d t o m a k e t h e d e c i s i o n t o u s e h e r fi n a n c i a l r e c o u m e d i c a l a p p o i n t m e n t s r a t h e r t h a n p a y h e r B C H y d r o b i l l . 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 a l t h o u g h s h e c m T e n t l y h a s a r e q u i r e s h e r t o p a y $ 2 5 0 . 0 0 e v e r y 2 w e e k s , " i t i s t h e i r p l a n t h e p o o r i n s u l a t i o n i n h e r h o m e a n d d e s p i t e a t t e m p t s t o u s e e x c e s s o f $ 6 5 6 . 7 0 i n o n e m o n t h a n d t h i s i s n o t m a n a g e a b l e t r y i n g t o p a y b i l l s a n d m e e t t h e a g r e e m e n t w i t h B C H y d r o b e c o m e a n " u n e x p e c t e d e x p e n s e " . T h e p a n e l fi n d s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t s h e w a s u n a b t o u s e h e r a v a i l a b l e fi n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s t o m e e t a " m e d i c a l c a s e i s l i m i t e d t o d e t e r m i n i n g t h e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f t h e m i e l i g i b l e t o r e c e i v e a c r i s i s s u p p l e m e n t f o r u t i l i t i e s , a n d n o t m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s . T h e p a n e l fi n d s t h a t w h i l e t h e a p p e l l a n t r e p o r t s i n h e r l e t t e A p p e a l , t h a t s h e c u r r e n t l y h a s a p a y m e n t p l a n a r r a n g e m e n t m i n e " . S h e fu r t h e r a r g u e d t h a t t h i s b i l l h a s c o n t i n u e d t o i n d e s p i t e a t t e m p t s t o u s e a l t e r n a t i v e h e a t i n g t h e b i l l i n g a m o u w h i c h i s n o t m a n a g e a b l e fo r h e r f a m i l y . F u r t h e r m o r e , d e s p B C H y d r o , t h e b i l l s a r e e x c e e d i n g h e r r e s o u r c e s a n d h a v e e v i d e n c e d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d e v e r a p p r o a c u p w i t h a w o r k a b l e p a y m e n t p l a n . O n t h e c o n t r a r y , m i n i s t a p p e l l a n t t o d i s c u s s t h i s m a t t e r t h e i r p h o n e c a l l w a s n o t r e t T h e p a n e l a l s o f i n d s t h a t t h e t w o B C H y d r o b i l l s s u b m i t t e d o t h e r M a y 1 , 2 0 1 4 , c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e e x p e n s e t h e a p n o t u n e x p e c t e d . T h e s e b i l l s p r o v i d e a h i s t o r y s h o w i n g s e v h a v e r e a s o n a b l y e x p e c t e d t o s e e t h e o u t s t a n d i n g b a l a n c e o n f i n d 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 t h a t t h e a n n e E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A i t h e fi n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e t o m a k e p a y m e n t s t e r i a t o r e c e i v e a c r i s i s s u p p l e m e n t fo r u t i l i t i e s a s s e t b e c o m e a n " u n e x p e c t e d e x p e n s e " i n h e r h o m e n e x p e c t e d e x p e n s e s . A s a r e s u l t , w h e n f o r c e d t o n g h e r t rn c k fi x e d s o s h e c o u l d t a k e h e r t w o s o n s t o w n , s h e c h o s e n o t t o p a y h e r h y d r o b i l l . T h i s r e s u l t e d p p e l l a n t a r g u e d i n b o t h h e r l e t t e r o f M a y 2 8 , 2 0 1 4 , e r o f J u n e 1 1 , 2 0 1 4 , a t t a c h e d t o h e r N o t i c e o f A p p e a l , e n e e d t o m e e t a " m e d i c a l e m e r g e n c y " . B o t h o f h e r l e t o b e f i t i n t o s e e a p h y s i c i a n t o b e a s s e s s e d f o r i n g m e d i c a l c o n d i 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 e d i c a l a p p o i n t m e n t s t h a n s h e w a s a b l e t o g i v e s h e r s e s t o f i x h e r t t u c k a n d t a k e h e r c h i l d r e n t o t h e i r p a y m e n t p l a n a r r a n g e m e n t w i t h B C H y d r o w h i c h n o t m i n e " . T h i s b i l l h a s c o n t i n u e d t o i n c r e a s e d u e t o a l t e rn a t i v e h e a t i n g t h e b i l l i n g a m o u n t s h a v e b e e n i n fo r h e r f a m i l y . T h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t d e s p i t e , t h e b i l l s a r e e x c e e d i n g h e r r e s o u r c e s a n d h a v e l e t o p a y h e r B C H y d r o b i l l b e c a u s e s h e w a s fo r c e d e m e r g e n c y " , h o w e v e r , t h e p a n e l ' s j u r i s d i c t i o n i n t h i s n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n t h a t fo u n d t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t t h e m e r i t s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s n e e d fo r e m e r g e n c y r d a t e d J u n e 1 1 , 2 0 1 4 , a t t a c h e d t o h e r N o t i c e o f w i t h B C H y d r o , s h e a r g u e s t h a t , " i t i s t h e i r p l a n n o t c r e a s e d u e t o t h e p o o r i n s u l a t i o n i n h e r h o m e a n d n t s h a v e b e e n i n e x c e s s o f $ 6 5 6 . 7 0 i n o n e m o n t h i t e t r y i n g t o p a y b i l l s a n d m e e t t h e a g r e e m e n t w i t h b e c o m e a n " u n e x p e c t e d e x p e n s e " . T h e p a n e l f i n d s n o h e d e i t h e r B C H y d r o o r t h e m i n i s t r y t o t r y a n d c o m e r y r e c o r d s s h o w t h a t w h e n t h e y t r i e d t o c o n t a c t t h e u r n e d . b y t h e a p p e l l a n t , o n e d a t e d M a r c h 3 , 2 0 1 4 , a n d t h e p e l l a n t w a s r e q u e s t i n g a c r i s i s s u p p l e m e n t f o r w a s e r a l m o n t h s o f n o n · p a y m e n t s o t h e a p p e l l a n t w o u l d h e r M a y 1 , 2 0 1 4 , B C H y d r o b i l l . T h e p a n e l a l s o l l a n t ' s u t i l i t v c o s t s w e r e n o t a n i t e m t h a t w a s
I APPEAL unexpectedly needed but rather one she has continued to utilize on an ongoing basis. In addition, the panel finds that as th� appdlant has managed to pay $250.00 towards her balance most recently on May 29, 2014, the ministry reasonably determined she has the financial resources to make payment on her account; she has chosen not to do so in the past. For these reasons the panel finds that the ministry reasonably determined that the appellant does not meet any of the regulatory requirements set out above ins. 57(l)(a) of the EAPWDR. As to the requirements set out above ins. 57(l)(b)(i), the appellant argued in her letter of May 28, 2014, that had she refused to accept the medical appointments she may have needed to wait for a much later date and that she has been advised that, "hearing issues may be affecting my children's behaviour, development and speech". The appellant also argued that she absolutely can not have her hydro disconnected as her son requires a nebulizer, without which his health is in immediate danger. The appellant submitted a prescription note from a physician dated May 18, 2014, stating that her son has a medical condition and needs a nebulizer as part of treatment to suppo1t her argument. Finally, in her letter of June 11, 2014, the appellant argues that, "If I did not attend to the medical appointments I believe this would contribute to ignoring the physical needs of my children and put them at risk. The panel finds that with the exception of the physicians prescription note dated May 18, 2014, which rep01ts that the appellant's son has a medical condition and needs a nebulizer as part of treatment, no other documental evidence has been presented in support of the appellant's argument to demonstrate how waiting for a later medical appointment could have contributed to ignoring the physical needs of her children or have put them at risk. Furthermore, the panel finds that, as ministry records state, no disconnection notice was submitted by the appellant; therefore, she is not in immediate danger of having her electricity cut off. For these reasons the panel finds that the ministry reasonably determined a failure to provide the appellant with a crisis supplement for utilities will not result in imminent danger to the physical health of any person in the family unit and the appellant has therefore not met the regulatory requirement as set out above ins. 57(1)(b)(i) of the EAPWDR. The panel finds the ministry's determination that the appellant did not meet the requirements set out above ins. 57(l)(a) and 57(l)(b)(i) was reasonably supp01ted by the evidence and is a reasonable application of the applicable Regulation. The panel therefore upholds the minist1y's decision. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
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