,--------- ------------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 L J 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 D e v e 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 J u l y 4 , 2 0 1 4 w h i c h f o u n d t h a b e c a u s e h e o w n e d t w o h o m e s , o n e o f w h i c h w a s e x e m p E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e R e g u l a t i o n b u t t h e o t h e r o f 4 0 0 . 0 0 w h i c h e x c e e d s t h e a l l o w a b l e a s s e t l i m i t o f $ 2 , 0 0 p r o v i d e d f o r I n s . 1 1 ( 2 ) o f t h e R e g u l a t i o n . 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 A c t ( " E A A " ) , s . 1 ( 1 ) a n d s E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e R e g u l a t i o n ( " E A R ' J , s . 1 , ---;:::= = = = = = · : _ · : c c --= = I A P P E A L # _ I 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 " M i n i s t r y " ) 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 c o m e a s s i s t a n c e t f r o m c o n s i d e r a t i o n p u r s u a n t t o s . 1 1 ( 1 ) o f t h e w h i c h w a s n o t e x e m p t a s i i w a s v a l u e d a t $ 1 1 7 , 0 . 0 0 f o r s o l e a p p l i c a n t s w i t h n o d e p e n d e n t s a s 1 ! : I : I ; i . I j ! ! ! . 2 ; I , I ' I • 1 1 ( 1 ) a n d 1 1 ( 2 ) , s . 1 3 , s . 1 3 . 1 I ! ! ! ' ' , I ' ! I I
. ------------P A R T E S u m m a o f F a c t s T h i s w a s a n a p p e a l i n w r i t i n g p u r s u a n t t o t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a p p e a l w i t h t h e s a m e d a t e . T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s i n d i c a t e d t h a t h e d i s a g r e e s w i t h t h e M a . H i s a s s e t s s h o u l d b e e x e m p t u n d e r s . 1 3 . p a t i e n t r e c e i v i n g s p e c i a l c a r e o n e x t e n d e w i t h o u t h a v i n g b e e n g i v e n a n y d a t e o f r e c b . H e h a s m a d e a n a p p l i c a t i o n f o r f e d e r a l d t h a t r e g a r d ; T h e a p p e l l a n t t e n d e r e d a s e v i d e n c e a M e d i c a l R e p o rt o n p u r s u a n t t o s . 2 4 o f t h e M e n t a l H e a l t h A c t . T h a t c e rt i f i c a t f a c i l i t y w h o c e r t i f i e d t h a t o n J u n e 3 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t w f a c i l i t y b e c a u s e t h e a p p e l l a n t s u f f e r e d f r o m c h r o n i c p e r s i l l n e s s a n d p a r a n o i d i d e a t i o n . T h e a p p e l l a n t w a s s u b s e q J u n e 3 , 2 0 1 4 . I n a r e v i e w p a n e l d e t e r m i n a t i o n d a t e d J u n s h o u l d c o n t i n u e t o b e d e t a i n e d i n a d e s i g n a t e d f a c i l i t y p u I n h i s a p p e a l t h e a p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d a c o p y o f a l e t t e r d i n d i c a t i n g t h a t S e r v i c e C a n a d a n e e d e d a d d i t i o n a l i n fo r m C a n a d a P e n s i o n P l a n d i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s a p p l i c a t i o n . T h e p a n e � a d m i t t e d t h e e v i ? e n c e i n _ t h e n o t i c e o f a p p e a I t h e r e 1 o r e m s u p p o r t o f t h e m f o r m a 1 0 n a n d r e c o r d s h a w s . 2 2 ( 4 ) ( b ) o f t h e E A A . I I I T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s n o d e p e n d a n t s . H e o w n s t w o p r o p e r t i v a l u e o f t h e s e c o n d p r o p e r t y i s $ 1 1 7 , 4 0 0 . I n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s o r i g i n a l 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 t h e a . H i s " f i r s t h o u s e " w a s h i s p r i n c i p a l r e s i d e n c e l i g i b i l i t y ; b . H i s " s e c o n d h o u s e " s h o u l d b e e x e m p t a s a n d d i s t r e s s e d b y t h e M i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n t b e n e f i t s t o h i s t e n a n t s i n 2 0 0 9 a n d t h a t t h e t e n a n t s c a u s e t h e d e a t h o f o n e a n d t h e v a c . T h a t h e h a d a d i s a b i l i t y a n d p o o r s o c i o e c d . T h a t h e " o c c u p i e d " t h e s e c o n d h o u s e a n d v a l u e o f t h e h o u s e i s n o t i n p r o p o r t i o n t o i t . . ,-------= = = = = = -· -· --[ A P P E A L -_ # _ _ _ _ _ . . . . . . . I l r e q u e s t d a t e d J u l y 1 0 , 2 0 1 4 a s s e t o u t I n h i s n o t � : : � f l i n i s t r y ' s r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n a s : 1 o f t h e E A A d u e t o b e i n g a n i n v o l u n t a r y d l e a v e c e rt i f i c a t e s f o r d i s o r d e r o f t h e m i n d o v e r . i s a b i l i t y b e n e f i t s a n d i s a w a i t i n g a d e c i s i o n i n E x a m i n a t i o n o f I n v o l u n t a r y P a t i e n t f o r m e i s c o m p l e t e d b y a p h y s i c i a n a t a d e s i g n a t e d a s a d m i t t e d a s a n i n v o l u n t a r y p a t i e n t a t t h e e c u t o r y d e l u s i o n s w i t h n o i n s i g h t i n t o h i s u e n t l y a p p r o v e d f o r l e a v e a u t h o r i z a t i o n o n e 9 , 2 0 1 4 i t w a s 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 r s u a n t t o s . 2 2 o f t h e M e n t a l H e a l t h A c t . a t e d J u n e 9 , 2 0 1 4 f r o m S e r v i c e C a n a d a a t i o n t o c o n t i n u e p r o c e s s i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a s i i w a s r e l a t e d t _ o _ t h e a p p e l l a n t ' � a s s � t s a n d w a s e r e b e o r e t h e M m i s t ry a t r e c o n s 1 d e r a t 1 o n p u r s u a n t t o J , , . 1 1 • j I e s , o n e o f w h i c h i s n o t h i s r e s i d e n c e a n d t h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t : e a n d n o t " r e c o r d a b l e " i n d e t e r m i n i n g w e l l s i n c e t h e p r o p e r t y w a s d a m a g e d o r e d u c e t h e n d i s a l l o w r e n t o r s h e l t e r a d d i t i o n a l s t r e s s p l a c e d o n t h e n d a l i s m o f t h e h o m e . ; o n o m i c h e a l t h ; a n d i t d o e s n o t g e n e r a t e i n c o m e a n d t h e s s t a t e .
P A R T F R e a s o n s f o r P a n e l D e c i s i o n T h e i s s u e o n t h i s a p p e a l i s w h e t h e r t h e M i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s a s s i s t a n c e w a s r e a s o n a b l y s u p p o r t e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e e n a c t m e n t i n t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f t h e a p p e l l a n t . I n p a r 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 c o m e a s s i s t a n c e b e o t h e rw i s e h a d a t o t a l v a l u e e x c e e d i n g t h e l i m i t s s p e c i f i e s u m o f $ 2 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 . ? T h e r e l e v a n t l e g i s l a t i o n i s a s f o l l o w s : E A A : 1 ( 1 ) I n t h i s A c t : " a p p l i c a n t " m e a n s t h e p e r s o n i n a a s s i s t a n c e , h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e o r a ( a ) t h e p e r s o n ' s s p o u s e , i f t h ( b ) t h e p e r s o n ' s a d u l t d e p e n . . . 2 F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s A c t , a f a m i l y u n i t a s s i s t a n c e o r a s u p p l e m e n t , i f ( a ) e a c h p e r s o n i n t h e f a m i l y h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e o r s u p p c o n d i t i o n s o f e l l g i b l l l t y e s t a b l ( b ) t h e f a m i l y u n i t h a s n o t b e h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e o r s u p p l E A R : 1 ( 1 ) I n t h i s r e g u l a t i o n : " a s s e t " m e a n s ( a ) e q u i t y i n a n y r e a l o r p e r s o ( b ) a b e n e f i c i a l i n t e r e s t i n r e a ( c ) c a s h a s s e t s ; 1 1 ( 1 ) T h e f o l l o w i n g a s s e t s a r e e x e m p t f o r t ( c ) a f a m i l y u n i t ' s p l a c e o f r e s I A P P E A L # i o n 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 c o m e o r w a s a r e a s o n a b l e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e a p p l i c a b l e · 1 t i c u l a r , w a s t h e M i n i s t r y r e a s o n a b l e i n d e t e r m i n i n g t h a t c a u s e h e h a d a s s e t s w h i c h w e r e n o t e x e m p t o r d f o r a s o l e a p p l i c a n t w i t h n o d e p e n d e n t s b e i n g t h e f a m i l y u n i t w h o a p p l i e s u n d e r t h i s A c t f o r i n c o m e s u p p l e m e n t o n b e h a l f o f t h e f a m i l y u n i t , a n d i n c l u d e s e s p o u s e i s a d e p e n d a n t , a n d d a n t s ; i s e l i g i b l e , i n r e l a t i o n t o i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e , h a r d s h i p u n i t o n w h o s e a c c o u n t t h e i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e , l e m e n t i s p r o v i d e d s a t i s f i e s t h e i n i t i a l a n d c o n t i n u i n g i s h e d u n d e r t h i s A c t , a n d e n d e c l a r e d i n e l i g i b l e f o r t h e I n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e , e m e n t u n d e r t h i s A c t . n a l p r o p e r t y t h a t c a n b e c o n v e r t e d t o c a s h , l o r p e r s o n a l p r o p e r t y h e l d i n t r u s t , o r I I h e p u r p o s e s o f s u b s e c t i o n s ( 2 ) a n d ( 2 . 1 ) : I , i d e n c e :
(2 ) A fam ily uni t is not eligible for i n come (a) subj ec t to paragraph; (c), a s ole app l ican t or sol e recipient has no dependent c wit h a t otal v alu e of more than Ass e ts he ld in trust f or perso n re ceiv in g s pecial care 13 (1) In this sect ion, " d i s abi lit y-r elat ed cost " m per s on receiving accommodation or ca re in a p a dru g or a lcohol treat ment centr e: (a ) devic es, or medic a l aid bein g; (b ) ca regiver se r vic es or other servi (c ) edu ca tion o r trai ni ng; (d) any oth er i tem or service ( 2 ) For a pers on (a) w ho Is rec eivi ng acco mmo f acilit y, o t h e r tha n a drug o applies, a n d (b) wh o complies w i th s u bs up t o $200 000, or a highe r limit i f authoriz e aggregate value of the person's beneficial interest i mor e trus ts, calculated as follows: (c) the sum of the val ue of the or the dale the tru st was created, plus (d) any capita l subsequently co is exempt fo r the purposes of s ection 11 (2) an (3) If the minister i s s at is fied that, becau s e of special circumstan costs of a person referred to in subsection (2) will amount to more than $200 000, the minister may authorize a higher limit for the person for the purposes of subsection (2). ( 4) A person referred to in subsection (2) who has a beneficial interest in one or more trusts must keep records of the following and make the records available for inspection at the reg1Jest of I AP PEAL# assi stance if a ny o f t he followin g ap ply: h ildren a nd has assets $2 00 0; e ans t he c o st of prov idi n g any of t he foll o w i ng to a riv ate hospital o r a s pecia l care facili ty , other than s, rel ated to im provi ng the per s o n' s health o r w el l ces r elated to t he person's d isabilit y; t ha t promo tes t h e pers o n' s i ndep ende n c e. dati on or care in a pr i v ate h o s pi tal or s pecial care r alcoh ol t re a tm e n t c entre, or to whom section 11 ( 2 .1 ) ec tion ( 4 ) , d b y th e m ini ster u n der s ubsect io n (3), of th e n real or person a l property held in one or • I capital of each trust on the later of April 26, 1996 ntributed to a trust referred to in paragraph (c) d (2.1) [asset limits]. ces , the lifetime disabi lity-related
,-- ----------------the m inister: ( a) f or a trus t created befo ( b) for a trus t cre at e d on or a da t e the trust was created (c) th e a moun t of cap it a l c to in par agr ap h (a) or ( b); (d) a ll pa ym e nts mad e a f ter Apri t ru st i n whi ch t hat person ha (5) For t he purp ose s o f t his se ctio n, t he rea Patie nt s Prop e rty Act, is to be t r eat ed for th e pa t ient by the pati ent's comm lltee [a m. B.C . Regs. 8 T emporary exemp tion o f ass e t s for p erson a ppl ying 13.1 (1) in this s ection : "p e r son a pply ing f o r a disabili t y des applies: "p e r son receiv i ng specia l car e " means care in a priv ate hos pital or special ca c entre. (2) D urin g t he ex empti o n pe riod d esc ri be d appl ying for a disa bility designati on or by purposes of section 11 (2) and (2.1) [asset limits] if the minister is satisfied that th i n tends t o (a) establish a registered disabili (b) contribute some or all of the asset to the registered disability savings plan or t rust. (3) The exemption under subsection (2) starts on the date the person rec ends 3 months after that date unless (a) the exemption period is extended to a later date under subsection (4), or b the exem lion ceases to a ---=== == =·-· --·I APPE AL # ii : I I re Apr il 2 6, 1996, the capital of the trus t on th a t da t e; f t er Apri l 26, 1 9 96 , the ca pita l of the trus t on the ; i I I I ontributed i n each subseque nt yea r to a trust referred l 26 , 1996 to or on beh alf of the per son fro m a s a benef icial inte rest. l or person al p r o pe rty of a " patie nt", as d efine d in th e as if th e rea l o r pe rson al p r o perty were h eld in trust . 6 /2 0 08 , s. 2; 1 9 7/20 1 2, S c h . 1, s. 11.] for disab llity d es i g n a t ion o r recei ving s p e ci al care i ' i gna ti o n " mean s a person to w hom s ectio n 11 ( 2.1) ' [ a pers on wh o is receivi ng accommodation or r e facilit y, ot h e r than a drug or al co h o l trea tment i n s ubsect ion (3), a n as set recei ved by a perso n a pers on r e ceivin g sp ecial care is e xempt for the e person ty savings plan or trust, and ei v es the asset and I under subsection (5).
I APPEAL# (4) The minister may extend the exemption period to a specified date if the minister is satisfied that the person is making reasonable efforts to establish a registered disability savings plan or trust. (5) The exemption under subsection (2) ceases to apply if (a) the person contributes all of the asset to a registered disability savings plan or trust, in which case the exemption ceases to apply to the asset on the date of the contribution, (b) the person contributes a portion of the asset to a registered disability savings plan or trust, in which case the exemption ceases to apply to that portion on the date of the contribution, or ' ' I ' (c) the minister becomes aware of information that, in the minister's opinion, f I indicates that I ' I I (i) the person does not intend to contribute any portion of the asset to a registered disability savings plan or trust, in which case the exemption ceases to apply to the asset on the date specified by the minister, or (ii) the person has contributed some of the asset to a registered disability savings plan or trust but does not intend to contribute any remaining portion of the asset to a registered disability savings plan or trust, in which case the exemption ceases to apply to the remaining portion on the date specified by the minister. (6) The appellant has indicated that he disagrees with the ministry's reconsideration decision as his assets should be exempt under s.13.1 of the EAA due to being an involuntary patient receiving special care on extended leave certificates for disorder of the mind without having been given any date of recovery; [en. B.C. Reg. 19712012, Sch. 1, s. 12.) In his notice of appeal the appellant provides certain additional facts. In particular he notes that he has made application for federal disability benefits and is awaiting a decision. He also attaches five pages of supporting documentation as described in Part E -Summary of Facts. The appellant's position is that his first house is exempt and that his second house should be exempt as well since it was damaged and is In distressed condition. He also argues that he has a disability and is in poor socioeconomic health. Finally, he argues that he occupies the second house and it does not generate income and the value of the house is not in proportion to its state.
The a ppellant a r gues in h is n oti c e of appeal t hat hi s assets is an involuntary pa t i ent receiving speci al c are on extend has n ot been given a date of recovery . He points out as w disabi lity be n e fits a nd is awaiting a d eci sion. In the Mini stry's written submission in respect to the appea (assets held i n trust for person receiving sp eci al care) d that although the a p pell ant is a n involunt a ry pat i e n t receivi cu rrently h e l d in tr ust. T he Mi n istry noted that there was no evidence that the a definition o f a " pa tient" as defined in th e Patient s P ro p erty Act, certific ate o f in capabilit y . Th e Ministry po inte d out that to be defi Property Act th e perso n must be the subject of a certificate of incapab inca pable of mana ging himself or his affairs by a j ud ge. The Ministry noted that the appellant had not prov i de d any inf n ot be converted to cash or tha t it w as n ot valued at $117,400.00 even prop e rty h ad been dam aged a n d the home had been va The M in istry f ou n d tha t the se cond home must be included appellant's e l i gi bilit y for income ass i s t ance a n d the v a lu e of $2, 0 00.0 0 a s prov ided for in s.11(2) of the Re gula tion. The panel n otes the evid ence th at the s e con d house Is v at ta c h e d at pa ge 48 of t h e rec ord. The pan e l not e s t hat property is reg istere d In th e name o $78,0 00.00 even i f the improv e men t has litt l e or n o v a l ue I n the d efin itions s ec tion of the E A R , s.1(1 ) defines " asset or p er s o n al property t hat can be co nverte d to cash. Ther n ot the ass ess e d value of th e hou se . Th ere i s no ev idence cor r ect. Th ere is no eviden ce th at the e q u i ty i n the second ho s . 11(1) (c) of the EA R provides t h 6t a family unit 's place of in di cated that he r esides principally in the firs t house. The house b ut there is n o evidence th at ii i s his plac e of residence. Accordingly, the place of residence, making the sec o nd house no t exempt. s. 11(2)(a) of t he EAR provides that a family unit is not eligible for so le applicant has no dependent children and has assets with a total value of more evidence establishes that the value of the second house is greater than s.11(2)(a) of the EAR. In his notice of appeal the appellant refers to s.13.1 of the EAA. It is noted that s.13.1 of the EAA has no application (consequences o f not m eet ing e mployment-related meant to refer to th e EAR. Section 1 3. 1 of t he EAR applies in respect of a tempor sought for persons applying for disability designation or receiving special care. There is no evidence that the appellant is a person applying for his disability designation within the meaning of s.11(2.1) of the EAR or a person receiving special care within the meaning of s.13.1(1). Accordingly, s.13.1 does not apply. the Ministry has responded to the appellant's position as if he was relying upon s. 13 o his appeal. Although the appellant does not do so his appeal could not succeed in any event if he has referenced the incorrect section and if the Ministry is correct in conclu because s.13 aoolies to assets held in trust and there is no evidence that the second house is an asset -----------·-----------------------I APPE A L# s hould be exemp ted under s .1 3.1 of the EAA as h e ed leave certificates for a d isorder o f th e m ind a nd e ll that he has made an appl icatio n f o r federal l, the Minist ry sta t ed that s.13 o f the EAR oes not apply in this case. The Min istry argued n g car e , th e ap pell ant's ass ets are not I I ppe l lant meets the s.5, a s the app ellant does not ha v e a ned as a patient unde r the Patient s ility or have been declared ormation to support that the secon d home could though the a ppe l lant advi s ed tha t the nd ali ze d. a s an asset fo r the pur po se of d ete rmini ng the the a sset ex ceeded the allowable limit of a l ued at $1 17,4 0 0.00 a s no te d in the assessm ent roll f th e app ellant and that the lan d alone is valu ed a t as s ug gested by the app e ll an t. " as me an ing, among oth er th ings, e qu it y in any re al e is n o ev id ence that the e qu it y in the sec o nd ho u s e is tha t t h e assessed value o f the h ouse i s other tha n use cann ot b e converted to cash. re si d enc e is e x e mpt . In thi s c ase the app ellant has appellant s t ates that he "occupies" the second the fi rst hou s e is d etermined t o b e income assistance if, among other things, a that $2,000.00. The the total value allowable under obligations) a nd it is a s su m ed the appellant a ry exemption of assets However, f the EAR in support of in fact d ing the appellant meant s.13. That is ---� -
I APPEAL# currently held in trust. The panel finds that the Ministry was reasonable in not exempting the second house on the basis of it having a value of more than $2,000.00. The panel finds that the Ministry's reconsideration decision is a reasonable application of the legislation in the circumstances of the appellant. The panel therefore confirms the Ministry's decision.
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.