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 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 3 1 , 2 0 1 4 , w h i c h f o a s s i s t a n c e a c c o r d i n g t o s e c t i o n 4 4 ( d ) o f t h e E m p l o h e r i n c o m e c a n r e a s o n a b l y b e e x p e c t e d t o b e u s e d f o r h e r f a m i l y u n i t . 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 R e g u l a t i o n ( E A R ) , s e c E AA 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 m i n i s t r y ) u n d t h e a p p e l l a n t n o t e l i g i b l e f o r h a r d s h i p 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 ) b e c a u s e t o m e e t t h e b a s i c n e e d s o f s h e l t e r a n d s u p p o r t t i o n s 5 , 1 0 , 4 4 .
A P P E A L # '. P A R T E S u m m a r y o f F a c t s T h e i n f o r m a t i o n b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a t r 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 : A B C H y d r o b i l l f o r p a s t d u e $ 5 4 . 9 2 d a t e d J u n e 2 4 , 2 0 1 4 . A F o r t i s B C b i l l f o r $ 4 5 . 5 7 d a t e d J u l y 1 , 2 0 1 4 . A T e l u s b i l l f o r $ 1 1 3 . 3 7 i n c l u d i n g o v e r d u e $ 7 0 . 6 6 d a t e d J u n e 7 , 2 0 1 4 . A b i l l f o r b r i d g e t o l l s f o r $ 1 4 3 . 1 O d a t e d A p r i l 1 6 , 2 0 1 4 . I n 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 d a t e d J u l y 8 , 2 0 1 4 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 r e a l i z e s t h a t w i t h h e r e m p l o y m e n t s t a t u s s h e i 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 s h e i s a p p l y i n g f o r t e m p o r a r y h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e . • H e r c h i l d t a x c r e d i t d e c r e a s e d t h i s y e a r s o h e r i n c o m e w e n t d o w n o v e r $ 1 0 0 p e r m o n t h . • H e r m o n t h l y h y d r o , g a s , a n d i n t e r n e t e x p e n s e s a r e p a s t d u e . • H y d r o i s a b o u t t o b e d i s c o n n e c t e d . • S h e h a s n o m o n e y t o p u r c h a s e f o o d f o r h e r c h i l d r e n u n t i l h e r n e x t p a y p e r i o d . • S h e h a s m o n t h l y v e h i c l e p a y m e n t s , c a r i n s u r a n c e , a n d a b a n d r e n t a l p a y m e n t f o r a s c h o o l i n s t r u m e n t . • H e r m o n t h l y c e l l p h o n e b i l l i s u n p a i d . • S h e h a s b e e n b e h i n d p a y i n g h e r r e n t f o r t h e p a s t 2 m o n t h s . • H e r 2 b o y s e a t a l o t a n d a r e b o t h w e a r i n g a d u l t s h o e s a n d o n e o f t h e m a d u l t c l o t h e s w h i c h a r e m o r e e x p e n s i v e . • H e r y o u n g e s t s o n i s w e a r i n g r u n n e r s w i t h t h e s o l e f a l l i n g o f f a n d s h e c a n n o t b u y h i m n e w m e n ' s r u n n e r s . • S h e n e e d s a s s i s t a n c e w i t h s u m m e r p r o g r a m s f o r A u g u s t a s s h e d o e s n o t h a v e a n y h e l p w i t h t h e c h i l d r e n . • T h e c o s t o f g a s h a s r i s e n c o n s i d e r a b l y a n d s h e l i v e s o v e r 2 0 k m o u t o f t o w n a n d d r i v e s b a c k a n d f o r t h 5 d a y s a w e e k , s o m e t i m e s o n t h e w e e k e n d . • S h e h a s a d d i t i o n a l e x p e n s e s w h i c h s h e i s u n a b l e t o a f f o r d : e y e g l a s s e s f o r h e r s e l f a n d f o r h e r b o y s , n e w t i r e s , k i d s s p o r t i n g a c t i v i t i e s p l u s e q u i p m e n t . • S h e h a d t o p a y $ 2 5 0 f o r t h e s c h o o l y e a r e n d f i e l d t r i p . • S h e h a d t o p a y $ 2 3 0 f o r c o m p u t e r r e p a i r s s o t h a t h e r c h i l d r e n g e t t h e i r h o m e w o r k a s s i g n m e n t s a n d p r e s e n t a t i o n s d o n e , a n d t h e c o m p u t e r s t i l l n e e d s u p g r a d i n g . • S h e r e q u i r e s d e n t a l w o r k a n d i s o n l y p a r t i a l l y c o v e r e d . • S h e h a s n o m o n e y t o b u y s c h o o l s u p p l i e s . • H e r y o u n g e s t s o n r e q u i r e s m a t h t u t o r i n g w h i c h s h e c a n n o t a f f o r d . • S h e c a n n o t a f f o r d c o u r t c o s t s . • S h e r e c e i v e s n o f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t f o r h e r c h i l d r e n . F r o m m i n i s t r y f i l e s : • O n J u n e 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t a p p l i e d f o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e f o r h e r s e l f a n d h e r 2 d e p e n d e n t c h i l d r e n . • T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s m o n t h l y i n c o m e o f $ 2 4 0 0 i s i n e x c e s s o f t h e $ 1 0 3 5 . 5 8 a s s i s t a n c e r a t e f o r h e r f a m i l y u n i t . E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )
I n h e r N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d A u g u s t 8 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a a n d t h a t s h e h a s r e c e i v e d a n e v i c t i o n n o t i c e . W i t h 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 p r o v i d e d a s t a t i n g t h a t s h e h a s f a i l e d t o p a y r e n t i n t h e a m o u n t n o t i c e s t a t e s f u r t h e r t h a t t h e t e n a n t m a y b e e v i c t e d h a s 5 d a y s t o p a y t h e r e n t , a n d t h e l a n d l o r d i s g i v i n A t t h e h e a r i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t h e r f i n a n c i a a h o l e a n d c a n ' t g e t o u t . A f t e r h e r s e p a r a t i o n s h e w o u t a p e r s o n a l l o a n . O n e o f h e r s o n s i s o n d i s a b i l i t y a p p o i n t m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g t w i c e a w e e k t o a n o t h e r c i t a r o u n d 3 h o u r s b y c a r . S h e s t i l l l i v e s a t t h e s a m e a d d r e s s a n d h a s u n t i l t h e w i l l b e e v i c t e d . S h e h a s u n s u c c e s s f u l l y a t t e m p t e d t o P u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 ) o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A T e n a n c y a n d t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s o r a l t e s t i m o n y a s b e i n g 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 n t h i s n e w i n f a p p e l l a n t ' s f i n a n c i a l s i t u a t i o n . T h e m i n i s t r y r e l i e d o n i t s r e c o n :, i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n w b o n u s t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s I n c o m e A s s i s t a n c e r a t e w e n t i n f o r m a t i o n : A s " b a s i c n e e d s " t h e m i n i s t r y c o n s i d e r s m i n i s t r y d o e s n o t t a k e d e b t l o a d i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n . m i n i s t r y h a d n o o b j e c t i o n t o a d m i t t h e N o t i c e t o E n d e v i d e n c e w o u l d n o t h a v e c h a n g e d t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e c E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L # � p p e l l a n t s t a t e s t h a t s h e i s u n a b l e t o p a y h e r r e n t N o t i c e t o E n d T e n a n c y , d a t e d A u g u s t 7 , 2 0 1 4 o f $ 8 7 5 t h a t w a s d u e o n O c t o b e r 1 , 2 0 1 3 . T h e i f s h e d o e s n o t r e s p o n d t o t h i s n o t i c e , t h a t s h e g h e r 1 O d a y s n o t i c e t o m o v e o u t . l p r o b l e m s s t a r t e d 2 y e a r s a g o . S h e h a s f a l l e n i n t o a s f a c e d w i t h h i g h f a m i l y d e b t s a n d h a d t o t a k e a n d s h e c o n s t a n t l y h a s t o d r i v e h i m t o y a n d s o m e t i m e s t o a n o t h e r c i t y w h i c h t a k e s e n d o f t h e m o n t h t o p a y h e r r e n t , o t h e r w i s e s h e g e t h e r r e n t s u b s i d i z e d . s s i s t a n c e A c t , t h e p a n e l a d m i t s t h e N o t i c e t o E n d i n s u p p o r t o f t h e i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t w a s b e f o r e t h e o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e s a d d i t i o n a l d e t a i l s a b o u t t h e h i c h n o t e d t h a t d u e t o t h e r e d u c t i o n o f f a m i l y u p t o $ 1 3 8 5 . 6 5 a n d a d d e d t h e f o l l o w i n g f o o d , s h e l t e r a n d e s s e n t i a l m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s ; t h e M e d i c a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n m a y b e a n o p t i o n . T h e T e n a n c y a s e v i d e n c e a n d s t a t e d t h a t t h i s n e w i s i o n .
APPEAL II � PART F -Reasons for Panel Decision The issue under appeal in this case is whether the ministry's decision that the appellant was not eligible for hardship assistance under section 44(d) of the EAR because her income can reasonably be expected to be used to meet the basic needs of shelter and support for her family unit, was a reasonable application of the legislation or reasonably supported by the evidence. The following legislation applies to this appeal: Hardship assistance -eligibility and limitations Family units that have excess income 44 The minister may provide hardship assistance to a family unit that is not eligible for income assistance because the income of the family unit exceeds the limit under section 10 [limits on Income] if (a) the minister considers that undue hardship will otherwise occur, (b) the applicant provides the type of security specified by the minister for the repayment of the hardship assistance, (c) the family unit includes one or more dependent children, and (d) the income that causes the family unit to be ineligible for income assistance could not, in the minister's opinion, reasonably be expected to be used to meet the family unit's basic needs. The appellant argues that she is experiencing hardship because she cannot buy food for her family and shoes for her son, and she also had additional expenses: she had to pay for computer repairs and for a field trip, her child tax credit decreased, the gas price increased and her boys are now wearing adult clothing which are more expensive than children's sizes. She is unable to get caught up with her bills -she has monthly vehicle payments, car insurance, and instrument rental payments. She is 2 months behind rent and is also behind paying for hydro, gas, internet, and cell phone. She also needs assistance with summer programs for her children, math tutoring for her son, dental work, eye glasses, new tires, sporting expenses and computer upgrading. She can't rely on family members for financial assistance. The ministry argues that although the appellant lists multiple expenses and some unexpected expenses, the appellant's income can reasonably be expected to be used to meet her family unit's basic needs. With her $2400 monthly earnings and monthly rent payments of 8875 the appellant has sufficient resources to meet the basic needs of shelter and support for her family unit. The ministry notes that it does not provide assistance with computers, vehicles, extra-curricular activities, tv, and internet, and suggests that the appellant contact resources in her area such as food banks, soup kitchens, clothing banks, and the Child Care Subsidv Program. EAAT 003(1 0/06/01)
Pane l De c ision The m i n i s try ma y p ro vide hardship a s sis tance under section 44 incom e exc e eds th e pr escribed limit for inco me a s sistance, minister's op i n i o n, re a so nably be exp e ct e d to be used to m pa n el finds th at wit h a $2 4 00 m onthl y in come, which th $875, there is not suffi c ie n t eviden ce t hat her mo nth pa n el f inds f u r ther tha t it i s re a sona ble to exp ect that the app pay f or foo d and shelter, even though she ma y have Th e pane l find s , therefore , tha t the m in ist ry was r ea section 44 (d) of the EAR th e appe llant's i nc o me can rea family unit's b asic n eeds a n d th at the app el lant w as The pan e l find s the mi nistr y' s r ec onsi d er atio n decision wa and was a r ea s onable a pplicati on of the applica b le T h e mini st r y's r econs i deration dec ision is co nfirmed EM T003(10/06/01) I APPEAL # (d ) of t he EAR to an app el lant whos e if the appellant's inco me could not , in t he e et h er fami l y u n i t 's ba sic needs. T he e a ppell ant do e s not dispu te, and a rent o f ly incom e cannot mee t he r basic ne eds. The e lla nt u s e s h er mont hly income f i r st t o to defa ul t on h er lo an. s onable in con cluding th at pursuant to s onably be exp e ct e d to be used to mee t her therefore not e ligi ble f o r h ardshi p ass i st ance . s rea sonably suppo rte d b y th e evide nc e re gulat ion in the cir c u mstance s of the appellan t. .
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.