I APPEAL PART C -Decision under Appeal The decision under appeal is the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (the ministry) Reconsideration Decision dated May 7, 2014 which held that the appellant is not eligible for a crisis supplement to purchase furniture, specifically a futon, under section 57 of the Employment and Assistance for Person With Disabilities Regulation because he did not meet the criteria as set out in the legislation. The ministry is satisfied that the requested item was required to meet an unexpected expense or to obtain an item unexpectedly needed, however; the ministry found that the appellant did not demonstrate that there were no resources available to him to purchase the item on his own and that failure to obtain this item will result in imminent danger to the appellant's physical health. PART D -Relevant Legislation Employment And Assistance For Persons With Disabilities Act (EAPWDA), Section 5. Employment And Assistance For Persons With Disabilities Regulation (EAPWDR), Section 57.
PAR T E -Su mma rv of Fa cts W it h th e co nsent of the parti e s , t h e hearin g was c the Employment and As sist ance Ac t. The evidence befor e the m in istry at reconsi de ratio Apri l 2 5, 2 014, in wh ich t he ap pella nt w rit es that he m anifestat ion a nd has bo ught a ( tempor a ry) blow-up mat treat ments. T he a ppella nt wri tes t h a t he has an addict t h erefore , it d oe sn't l e a ve hi m much money every to a new pl ace 6 m o nt h s a g o an d ha s h ad to furnish (t abl e, chair s, T V sta nd, dress er, night ta ble & coo In his No tice of Ap pea l date d May 2 1, 2014, the a out B C Tax C r edits a c ouple of years ago and all h Findings o f Fa ct The ap pell a nt is a s ole recipie n t r e ceivi ng di sability The appell an t rec eive s $ 9 0 6 .42 in m onthl y funds of w the ba lance of $556 .8 5 c o min g fr om the Canada Pensio I n J u ly 2013 , the app ellant r ec eived $188 fo r a bed f r om the mi n i st ry.APP E A L I on duc ted in wri ting pursuant to sectio n 22 (3) (b ) of n c ons isted of a Reque st for Reco ns id er a ti on d ated had to thr ow o u t h is futon due to a bed bug tress t o sleep on while he conti nues hi s i on proble m, is tryin g to q uit sm oking an d m onth. The a ppel lant state d that he h ad moved in it . He indica tes t hat getti n g a fu t on wo uld be nice king a ccesso ries). ppe llan t states t h a t the gover nment st o p ped giv ing e has is his GST that co m es 3 t im es pe r year. a ssistanc e. hich $349 .5 7 is provi d ed by the ministry wit h n Plan . , $ 60 f or be d/ki tchen s tart -up an d $20 fo r be ddi n g
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I APPEA Resources available to the appellant The appellant's position is that he has no resources to buy a futon and that he has tried several community outlets however, they all require referrals. He has priced out a futon at 2 stores, one for $145.60, tax included and one for $249.50 plus tax. The ministry's position is that the appellant receives $906.42 in monthly funds of which $531.42 is intended to provide for such necessities as basic furniture. The ministry notes that the appellant received his GST cheque on April 5, 2014 and is eligible for $75 BC Sales Tax Credit once he files his income tax return. Moreover, the ministry argues that the appellant purchased a blow-up mattress to sleep on. The ministry has determined that the appellant has these resources available to him and that the criterion has not been met. The panel finds that based on the evidence; although the appellant indicates that he does not have the resources to purchase a futon, has approached community and retail outlets without success, he does not provide any information that he has also asked for help from family or friends. The panel finds that the appellant chose to use his available resources in order to purchase a blow-up mattress which as he has admitted is a temporary solution rather than towards a replacement futon. Therefore, the panel finds that the ministry reasonably determined that the appellant did not meet the legislated requirement that no other resources are available pursuant to section 57 of the EAPWDR. Imminent danger to the appellant's physical health The appellant's position is that he had to buy a temporary blow-up mattress to sleep on while he continues to have treatments. The ministry's position is that while failure to assist the appellant with funds to obtain a bed would result in discomfort, there is no evidence that failure to obtain a bed would result in imminent danger to the appellant's health. Moreover, the appellant is using a blow-up mattress for the time being. For these reasons, the ministry has determined that the criterion has not been met. The panel finds that although the appellant states that he purchased a blow-up mattress to sleep on while he continues to have treatments; there was no medical evidence presented to indicate that failure to provide the crisis supplement will result in immediate danger to the appellant's physical health. Therefore, the panel finds that the ministry reasonably determined that the appellant did not meet the legislated requirement that failure to provide the crisis supplement will result in immediate danger to appellant's physical health pursuant to section 57 of the EAPWDR. 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 crisis supplement for furniture, specifically a futon, was supported by the evidence and therefore confirms the ministry's decision.
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