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 r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e 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 ) d a t e d 2 5 A u g u s t 2 0 i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e f o r J u l y 2 0 1 4 a s t h e m i n i s t r y d e t w o r k s e a r c h s i n c e a p p l y i n g f o r a s s i s t a n c e i n A p r i l 2 p r o v i d e d , t h e m i n i s t r y 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 s e t o u t i n s e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 4 ) ( d ) o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d A c o n d i t i o n t h a t , i n t h e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , p r e c l u d e s t h e m p l o y m e n t a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r " ) o r a n y o f t r e c e i v e d 3 m o n t h s o f h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e , p u r s u a n t u n a b l e t o p r o v i d e f u r t h e r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e t o h e r 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 t E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )c i s i o n o f t h e M i n i s t r y o f S o c i a l D e v e l o p m e n t a n d 1 4 t h a t f o u n d 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 e r m i n e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d n o t c o m p l e t e d a 0 1 4 a n d , b a s e d o n t h e m e d i c a l d o c u m e n t a t i o n d o e s n o t m e e t t h e m e d i c a l e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i o n s s i s t a n c e R e g u l a t i o n ( " h a s a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l e p e r s o n f r o m c o m p l e t i n g a s e a r c h f o r h e o t h e r e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i a . A s s h e h a s a l r e a d y t o s e c t i o n 3 9 ( 4 ) o f t h e R e g u l a t i o n , t h e m i n i s t r y i s a t t h i s t i m e . i o n s 4 . 1 , 3 9 ( 4 ) a n d 4 2 . 7 .
PART E Sum m ar y of F ac ts Th e evi dence bef ore t he ministry at reconsi derat i on 1. From the ministr y ' s file s a s summar i ze d in the a ppella n t app li ed fo r income a ssis t a nce as a f ass i s t a nce file was clo s ed i n December 2 012 the ap pe l lant received employment ins ura nce h ard ship assist ance for Apri l, M ay a nd J u ne 2014 pending a 3 w docum enta tio n t o s upp ort an exemp t ion fro m 2. A Me dical Re p ort -Employability dated 17 June practiti oner (GP) w h o has known her f o r 6 m onths or l p ri m ary medica l c ond i tion as degener ative disc disea pt." ) The GP d esc ribes the o vera l l medica l con expected duratio n of the med ic al cond ition is dai l y a nd constant. The G P describe s the restrict with e xte nded periods of stand ing." 3. A no te fro m t he a ppellant 's GP dated 27 J une 2014, s "I spoke with [the ap pe llant] t oday on the t i n format i on on my p revious note stating her h ave a c cess to old re co rds, s o we a re still w b ooked for early Au gust. At this po in t, I can t dis able d d ue to low e r ba ck and l eg pain an period s of ti me. I d o n ot ha ve obj e ctive e v will help in th is reg ar d." 4. A note fr om a physic ian-a sso c iat e of the GP date appel lan t is schedul ed for a CT sc an on 06 A week s afterwards. T h e physi cia n writes : "from stand for prolon g ed p e r iods b ecause o f her pa opp ort unities." 5 . A radiology report dated 12 August 2014 regarding a CT scan of the appellant's lumbar spine done on 06 August 2014. Reason f o r e xam: "Chronic right ba Final impression: "Significant multilevel degene rightward scoliosis." Conclusion: "The patient's symptoms most likely arise from the right foramina l and right lateral disc bulge at L4-5, which would affect the exiting right L4 nerve root. Clinical correlation is recommended." 6. An exercise therapy/ fitness consu ltation referral form prepared for a registered kinesiologist dated 20 A ugust 2 0 1 4. U nder limita tions/re strict Management please" 7 . A prescription dated 21 August 2014 for an anti-depressant medication. 8. The aooellant's Reauest for Recon sideration, EMT003(10/06/01) i n cluded t he fol lowin g : recons id e ra ti o n de c is io n: on 11 April 201 4 , the orm e r r e cipie n t. T he appe l lan t' s previous because of empl oyment. After b eing empl oye d, unt i l M a rch 2014 . T he m inistry app roved e ek work s earc h or m ed ic al m eeting t he work sear ch r equiremen t . 2014, com pleted b y the app e l lant' s g e nera l ess. The GP diagnos es the a ppell ant's se (D DD ) , low er spine ( t he GP notes "p er di tion a s " mil d . " The GP ind icates that the mor e tha n 2 year s ("chronic,") and n ot ep i sod ic -ions specifi c to the medica l condi t i on a s "pa in ta ting: ele p h one. S h e w a s reque s ti n g f u rther w orkplac e l i mitations . Unf o rtunatel y we d o no t orking up he r file. She d oes have CT sc an e ll you that the patien t stat es s h e is se v e r e ly d i s unable t o st a n d, si t , or wal k for extended i d e nc e o f t his but we are h oping that t h e CT scan d 30 July 2 014. T he p hy sician no te s tha t the u gust 20 14 and w ill b e seein g a physic ian 1 -2 wha t [ the ap pe llant] des c rib e s s he is unable t o i n. This w i ll li kel y limit her emp loy m e nt ck pain radiating down right leg." r ative disc disease, li ke ly sup erimposed on the io n s, t h e G P writes: "Assess & conditioning & dated 01 Auqust 2014, atta ched to which is a
subm i ss ion pre pa red b y her adv oca te d a t e d r e view s the med i cal informa tio n and notes that from her pre v i ou s physician but w as in formed t he submiss ion goes to ar gum ent (see Par t F In he r N o t ice of App eal, da ted 29 A u gus t 2 014, th e ap exempt from d oin g an e m plo yment p l an & hav e prove Befor e the hear in g , the app el lant subm i t ted a no te f "D ue to mul tiple med i cal c on ditio ns [the appell We will cont inu e to foll owup at that ti me." A t the h eari ng, the a pp e lla nt 's a dvoc ate reviewed the m why the app ell a n t m et the m e d i cal ex emption criter i or ig i nal dec is ion . ( S ee Part F, Rea so ns f o r P anel Deci In her p r e sen t a tion and in answer to questions th e a • She confirm e d t hat w h e n sh e applied fo r inc ome me dical condition, she opted to se ek th e medica sea r ch . She s tated tha t sh e w ish e d t o apply f h ad not ye t bee n able to obtain th e form . • Sh e d es c rib ed how her dege nerative disc dis w alking f or any le ng th of time. She stated th at t past s everal mo nth s, to t he point w here she fe • She expl ained tha t her GP was relu ct an t to mak u ntil he was able to obtai n a firm diagno s is o f • Wh i le she has bee n pres crib e d p hysiotherapy me dical condit ion, she has not be en able t o foll me dical co ve rage. • She stat ed th at th e drug prescr i ption she ha s som e th ing that w as o rig ina lly f ormula ted as an ant muscle relaxant. The ministry stood by its position at reconsideration. When a s k ed a bou t t he admissibility of the GP's 04 September 2014 note submitted prior to the hearing, the ministry representati v e noted th at t h i s information was no reco nside ration. The mini s t ry representative stated that if the June 2014 period, then things might have been different. The panel finds that the information provided in the GP's note of 04 September 2014 is admissible as evidence under section 22(4) of the Employment and Assistance Act, for the following reasons: 1) the information was not before the ministry at reconsideration; 2) the information does not corroborate or subs t antiate any of the medical records befo of these records provide a firm assessment of the appellant's employability, and therefore is not in support of the information and records before the minis not relevant, as it speaks to the aooellant's emplovabilitv for the 30 days after the date of the note, not EAA T003(10/06/01) 07 August 2014. In his submi ss ion, th e a d v ocate the app ell a n t had a tte mpte d to re t riev e rec o r ds that her record s h a ve been los t. The balance o f , Re aso n s for Pane l D e cision , below). pell an t write s: " I fee l I shou ld be m e dic al ly n my con di t ion, but I wa s st ill denie d. " r om he r G P da ted 0 4 Septem b er 201 4 that reads: a n t] is u nable to work f or th e n e xt mo nt h. edica l infor mation , goin g t o a rgum e nt as to o n. He also r aised iss ues with regard t o the sion , belo w.) ppe ll ant p rovide d th e following info rmat ion: a s sist an ce i n A p ril 2014, beca u se o f he r l exe mption rather tha n doing th e 3 we ek work or person with disabi l i ties (PWD ) design ation, bu t ease c aus e s he r difficu lt y standi ng, si tti n g and hes e res tr ictions have gotten wor se o ve r t he lt t hat she c ould n ot m anage se ar c h ing for work e a defin it ive a s sessment of her emplo yabi lit y her dege nerativ e di s c d isea s e . and m a ssage therapy to he lp her with her ow throu gh because she do es not have the bee n gi ve n is no t a na rcotic p ain k i l ler, but idepres san t and has bee n gi ve n to he r as a t before the ministry at note had been prov ided in the April -no t r e the ministry at reconsider ation, as none t ry a t reconsi derat i on; and 3 ) the information i s
w i t h r e s p e c t t o t h e t i m e p e r i o d w i t h i n w h i c h t h e m i n i e m p l o y a b i l i t y t h a t i s , t h e p e r i o d A p r i l t o J u n e 2 0 1 4 T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t 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 i s 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 , a s i t i s f u r t h e r t o i n f o t h e m i n i s t r y a n d i n t h e m i n i s t r y ' s f i l e s . A c c o r d i n g l y , t 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 A c t . E M T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )------------, s t r y w a s a w a i t i n g a n a s s e s s m e n t o f h e r . 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 a n d r e c o r d s b e f o r e r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d i n t h e m e d i c a l r e c o r d s b e f o r e h e p a n e l a d m i t s t h i s e v i d e n c e u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 2 ( 4 )
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 i 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 w a s i n 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 f o r J u l y 2 0 1 4 u n d e r a s s i s t a n c e u n d e r s e c t i o n 3 9 ( 4 ) a n d 4 7 . 2 o r t h e E A R f o l l o w i n g d e t e r m i n a t i o n s w e r e r e a s o n a b l y s u p p o r t e d t h e l e g i s l a t i o n 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 : • T h e a p p e l l a n t h a d n o t c o m p l e t e d a w o r k s e a • B a s e d o n t h e m e d i c a l d o c u m e n t a t i o n p r o v i d e e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i o n s e t o u t i n s e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 4 ) ( d c r i t e r i a • A s s h e h a s a l r e a d y r e c e i v e d 3 m o n t h s o f h a r f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e t o h e r a t t h i s t i m e . T h e a p p l i c a b l e l e g i s l a t i o n i s f r o m t h e E A R : A p p l i c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e s t a g e 1 4 . 1 ( 1 ) T h e f i r s t s t a g e o f t h e p r o c e s s f o r a s s e s s i n g t h e e l r e q u i r e m e n t s o f s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) . ( 2 ) T h e a p p l i c a n t s f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e i n a f a m i l y ( a ) m u s t c o m p l e t e a n d s u b m i t t o f o r m a n d m u s t i n c l u d e a s p a rt o f ( i ) t h e s o c i a l i n s u r a n c e d e s c r i b e d i n s e c t i o n 7 ( 2 ( i i ) t h e i n f o r m a t i o n , a u t h m i n i s t e r , a s r e q u i r e d i n t h ( b ) s u b j e c t t o s u b s e c t i o n s ( 4 ) a n d ( i ) c o m p l e t e s e a r c h e s f o p e r i o d u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n u n d e r p a r a g r a p h ( a ) , o r ( i i ) d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t e a e m p l o y m e n t s a t i s f a c t o r y t h e a p p l i c a t i o n u n d e r p a r a n d i n e i t h e r c a s e p r o v i d e e m p l o y m e n t , i n t h e f o r m ( 2 . 1 ) T h e a p p l i c a b l e p e r i o d f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f s u b s ( a ) 3 w e e k s , i f a n y a p p l i c a n t i n t h e ( b ) 5 w e e k s i n a n y o t h e r c a s e . ( 3 ) S u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) d o e s n o t a f f e c t t h e m i n i s t e r ' s p o w ( 4 ) S u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) ( b ) d o e s n o t a p p l y t o a p e r s o n w h ( a ) i s p r o h i b i t e d b y l a w f r o m w o r k i ( b ) h a s r e a c h e d 6 5 y e a r s o f a g e , ( c ) R e p e a l e d . [ B . C . R e g . 4 8 / 2 0 1 0 , I d \ h a s a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l c o n d i E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )r e a s o n a b l e i n f i n d i n g t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t i s s e c t i o n 4 . 1 o f t h e E A R a n d f o r h a r d s h i p . M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e i s s u e i s w h e t h e r t h e b y t h e e v i d e n c e o r i 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 r c h s i n c e a p p l y i n g f o r a s s i s t a n c e i n A p r i l 2 0 1 4 . d , t h e a p p e l l a n t d o e s n o t m e e t t h e m e d i c a l ) o f t h e E A R o r a n y o f t h e o t h e r e x e m p t i o n d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e , t h e m i n i s t r y i s u n a b l e t o p r o v i d e i g i b i l i t y o f a f a m i l y u n i t f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e i s f u l f i l l i n g t h e u n i t t h e m i n i s t e r a n a p p l i c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e ( p a r t 1 ) t h e a p p l i c a t i o n n u m b e r o f e a c h a p p l i c a n t i n t h e f a m i l y u n i t w h o i s a p e r s o n ) , a n d o r i z a t i o n s , d e c l a r a t i o n s a n d v e r i f i c a t i o n s s p e c i f i e d b y t h e e a p p l i c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e ( p a r t 1 ) f o r m , a n d ( 6 ) , m u s t r e m p l o y m e n t a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r f o r t h e a p p l i c a b l e ( 2 . 1 ) i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a t i o n c h o f t h e a p p l i c a n t s h a s c o m p l e t e d a s e a r c h f o r t o t h e m i n i s t e r w i t h i n t h e 3 0 d a y p e r i o d p r i o r t o t h e d a t e o f a g r a p h ( a ) , i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t a n d v e r i f i c a t i o n o f t h e s e a r c h e s f o r s p e c i f i e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r . e c t i o n ( 2 ) ( b ) ( i ) i s f a m i l y u n i t i s a f o r m e r r e c i p i e n t , a n d e r s u n d e r s e c t i o n 1 0 o f t h e A c t . o n g i n C a n a d a , S c h . 1 , s . 1 ( b ) . ] t i o n t h a t , i n t h e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , p r e c l u d e s t h e n e r s o n
f r o m c o m p l e t i n g a s e a r c h f o r e m ( e ) i s f l e e i n g a n a b u s i v e s p o u s e ( f ) R e p e a l e d . [ B . C . R e g . 6 / 2 0 0 8 ( 5 ) R e p e a l e d . [ B . C . R e g . 1 9 7 / 2 0 1 2 , S c h . 1 , s . 3 ( e ( 6 ) S u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) ( b ) d o e s n o t a p p l y t o a s o l e a p p ( a ) h a s a d e p e n d e n t c h i l d , o r ( b ) p r o v i d e s c a r e t o a f o s t e r c h i l d s e c t i o n 8 o r 9 3 ( 1 ) ( g ) ( i i ) o f t h e i f t h e c h i l d h a s n o t r e a c h e d 3 y e a r s o f a g e . A p p l i c a n t s w h o d o n o t m e e t w o r k s e a r c h r e q u i r e m e n t s 4 7 . 2 ( 1 ) T h e m i n i s t e r m a y p r o v i d e h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e t b e c a u s e a m e m b e r o f t h e f a m i l y u n i t h a s n o t s a t i s c o m p l e t i o n o f s e a r c h e s f o r e m p l o y m e n t , i f ( a ) t h e a p p l i c a n t s w h o s u b m i t t e d s u b m i t t o t h e m i n i s t e r a n a p p l i c a s e c t i o n , c o m p l i e s w i t h s e c t i o n 4 . ( b ) t h e m i n i s t e r c o n s i d e r s t h a t ( i ) a n y p e r s o n i n t h e f a m n e e d s u r g e n t m e d i c a l a t ( i i ) u n d u e h a r d s h i p w i l l ( 2 ) A n a p p l i c a n t m a y s u b m i t a n a p p l i c a t i o n f o r i n c o p u r p o s e o f a p p l y i n g f o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e e r e s p e c t i n g t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f s e a r c h e s f o r e m H a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e e l i g i b i l i t y a n d l i m i t a t i o n s 3 9 ( 1 ) F o r a f a m i l y u n i t t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c ( a ) m u s t b e i n e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e t o 4 7 . 2 , a n d ( b ) m u s t n o t b e i n e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o ( 2 ) A f a m i l y u n i t t h a t i s e l i g i b l e f o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n ( a ) i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h S c h e d u l e ( b ) o n l y f o r t h e c a l e n d a r m o n t h t h a p p l i c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e ( c ) o n l y f r o m t h e d a t e i n t h a t c a l e f a m i l y u n i t i s e l i g i b l e f o r h a r d s h i p ( i ) s e c t i o n 4 ( 2 ) o f S c h e d t o 4 7 . 1 , a n d ( i i ) s e c t i o n 4 ( 3 ) o f S c h e 4 7 . 2 . ( 3 ) A f a m i l y u n i t t o w h i c h h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e h a s b o f t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s d e s c r i b e d i n ( a ) s e c t i o n 4 1 , 4 4 o r 4 6 , o r E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )p l o y m e n t a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r , o r o r r e l a t i v e . , s . 1 . ] ) . ] l i c a n t w h o o r a c h i l d i n t h e i r c a r e u n d e r a n a g r e e m e n t r e f e r r e d t o i n C h i l d , F a m il y a n d C o m m u n i t y S e rv i c e A c t o a f a m i l y u n i t t h a t i s i n 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 f i e d t h e r e q u i r e m e n t u n d e r s e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) r e s p e c t i n g t h e t h e a p p l i c a t i o n f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e ( p a rt 1 ) f o r m a l s o t i o n f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e ( p a r t 2 ) f o r m t h a t , s u b j e c t t o t h i s 2 , a n d i l y u n i t h a s a n i m m e d i a t e n e e d f o r f o o d o r s h e l t e r o r t e n t i o n , a n d o c c u r i f t h e h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e i s n o t p r o v i d e d . m e a s s i s t a n c e ( p a r t 2 ) f o r m u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 1 ) ( a ) f o r t h e v e n t h o u g h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s u n d e r s e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) p l o y m e n t h a v e n o t b e e n s a t i s f i e d . e , t h e f a m i l y u n i t a s s i s t a n c e f o r o n e o r m o r e r e a s o n s s e t o u t i n s e c t i o n s 4 1 m e a s s i s t a n c e f o r a n y o t h e r r e a s o n . c e m u s t b e p r o v i d e d w i t h h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e D , a t i n c l u d e s t h e d a t e o f t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s s u b m i s s i o n o f t h e ( p a r t 2 ) f o r m , a n d n d a r m o n t h o n w h i c h t h e m i n i s t e r d e t e r m i n e s t h a t t h e a s s i s t a n c e , s u b j e c t t o u l e D f o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e p r o v i d e d u n d e r s e c t i o n s 4 1 d u l e D f o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e p r o v i d e d u n d e r s e c t i o n e e n p r o v i d e d f o r 3 c o n s e c u t i v e c a l e n d a r m o n t h s b e c a u s e
( b ) s e c t i o n 4 3 , u n l e s s t h e s o u r c i s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e u n d e r a n y o f i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g t h o s e 3 c o n s e c u t i v e c ( 4 ) I f ( a ) h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e h a s b e e c a l e n d a r m o n t h r e f e r r e d t o i n s u ( b ) t h e f a m i l y u n i t c o n t i n u e s t o b f a m i l y u n i t h a s n o t s a t i s f i e d t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f s e a r c h e s f o r e m p l ( c ) t h e m e m b e r o f t h e f a m i l y u n i t a k i n g t h e s t e p s t o s a t i s f y t h e r e h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e m a y b e p r o v i d e d u n d e r s e c t i o t h e i n i t i a l c a l e n d a r m o n t h f o r w h i c h t h e h a r d s 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 a d v o c a t e r a i s e d i s s u e a " c o n f l i c t " w i t h t h e l e g i s l a t i o n , w i t h t h e d e c i s i o n r e f e 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 i l i t i e s R e g u l a t i o n s u g g e s t e d t h a t i m p o r t a n t e v i d e n c e , n a m e l y t h e 3 0 J a p p e l l a n t ' s u p c o m i n g C T s c a n , w a s n o t c o n s i d e r e d c h a i r n o t e d t h a t 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 r e c a n d t h a t t h e s e i s s u e s a r e n o t r e l e v a n t t o t h i s a p p e a l u n d e r s t o o d t h i s t o b e t h e c a s e . E l i g i b ili t v fo r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e S e c t i o n 4 . 1 o f t h e E A R r e q u i r e s a n a p p l i c a n t f o r i n c o m e e t c e r t a i n c r i t e r i a t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a a p p l i c a n t m u s t e i t h e r c o m p l e t e s e a r c h e s f o r e m p l o y m t h a t a s e a r c h f o r e m p l o y m e n t s a t i s f a c t o r y t o t h e m i n t o t h e d a t e o f a p p l i c a t i o n . A s t h e a p p e l l a n t i s a f o r m e s e a r c h f o r e m p l o y m e n t p e r i o d a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e m i n A l t e r n a t i v e l y , t h e a p p l i c a n t m u s t d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t ( s s e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 4 ) a n d ( 6 ) o f t h e E A R . T h e s e c r i t e r i a i n c l w h o h a s a p h y s i c a l o r m e n t a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t , i n t h e m c o m p l e t i n g t h e s e a r c h f o r e m p l o y m e n t a s d i r e c t e d b p e r s o n i s p r o h i b i t e d b y l a w f r o m w o r k i n g i n C a n a d a , a b u s i v e s p o u s e o r r e l a t i v e , o r h a s a d e p e n d e n t c h i l d c a r e i f t h e c h i l d h a s n o t r e a c h e d 3 y e a r s o f a g e . T h e r e i s n o d i s p u t e t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d i d n o t c o m p l e p r o v i d e m e d i c a l d o c u m e n t a t i o n t h a t s h e m e t t h e m e d p r o v i d e d n o i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t s h e m e e t s t h e o t h e r e x e T h e m i n i s t r y p r o v i d e d t h e a p p e l l a n t w i t h h a r d s h i p a s a p p l i c a t i o n i n A p r i l 2 0 1 4 u n d e r s e c t i o n 4 7 . 2 o f t h e E A w o r k s e a r c h o r s a t i s f y t h e m i n i s t ry t h a t s h e m e t t h e m o f t h e E A R , s u c h h a r d s h i p a s s i s t a n c e i s l i m i t e d t o 3 m E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )e i s e m p l o y m e n t i n s u r a n c e , t h o s e s e c t i o n s f o r t h e 3 c o n s e c u t i v e c a l e n d a r m o n t h s a l e n d a r m o n t h s o f r e c e i p t . n p r o v i d e d t o a f a m i l y u n i t u n d e r s e c t i o n 4 7 . 2 f o r t h e b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) ( c ) o f t h i s s e c t i o n , e i n 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 c a u s e a m e m b e r o f t h e r e q u i r e m e n t u n d e r s e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 2 ) ( b ) r e s p e c t i n g t h e o y m e n t , a n d t w h o h a s n o t s a t i s f i e d t h a t r e q u i r e m e n t i s , i f a p p l i c a b l e , q u i r e m e n t a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r , n 4 7 . 2 f o r a f u r t h e r 2 c o n s e c u t i v e c a l e n d a r m o n t h s f o l l o w i n g h i p a s s i s t a n c e i s p r o v i d e d . s w i t h t h e o r i g i n a l d e c i s i o n , n o t i n g t h a t t h e r e w a s r r i n g t o s e c t i o n s f r o m t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d i n s t e a d o f f r o m t h e E A R . T h e a d v o c a t e a l s o u l y 2 0 1 4 n o t e f r o m t h e p h y s i c i a n c o n c e r n i n g t h e b y t h e m i n i s t r y i n t h e o r i g i n a l d e c i s i o n . T h e p a n e l o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n , n o t t h e o r i g i n a l d e c i s i o n , . T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a d v o c a t e s t a t e d t h a t h e m e a s s i s t a n c e t o c o m p l e t e c e r t a i n t a s k s a n d / o r n c e . A f t e r c o m p l e t i n g t h e a p p l i c a t i o n f o r m , t h e e n t a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e m i n i s t e r o r d e m o n s t r a t e i s t e r h a s b e e n c o m p l e t e d w i t h i n t h e 3 0 d a y s p r i o r r r e c i p i e n t o f i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e , t h e a p p l i c a b l e i s t e r i s 3 w e e k s ( " 3 w e e k w o r k s e a r c h " ) . ) h e m e e t s t h e e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i a s e t o u t i n u d e t h e m e d i c a l e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i o n : " a p e r s o n i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n , p r e c l u d e s t h e p e r s o n f r o m y t h e m i n i s t e r . " T h e o t h e r c r i t e r i a a p p l y i f t h e h a s r e a c h e d 6 5 y e a r s o f a g e , i s f l e e i n g a n o r p r o v i d e s c a r e t o a f o s t e r c h i l d o r a c h i l d u n d e r t e a 3 w e e k w o r k s e a r c h , o p t i n g i n s t e a d t o i c a l e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i a . T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s m p t i o n c r i t e r i a . s i s t a n c e b e g i n n i n g f r o m t h e d a t e o f h e r R t o a l l o w t h e a p p e l l a n t t o c o m p l e t e t h e 3 w e e k e d i c a l e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i o n . U n d e r s e c t i o n 3 9 ( 4 ) o n t h s , o r i n t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s c i r c u m s t a n c e s , f o r
t h e m o n t h s o f A p r i l , M a y a n d J u n e 2 0 1 4 , o r u p u n t i l 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 h a d n o t c o m p l e t e d t h e s h e m e t t h e m e d i c a l e x e m p t i o n o r o t h e r e x e m p t i o n a p p e l l a n t w a s i n 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 f o r J u r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h a t d e c i s i o n , a n d i t i s t h e r e c o n s f o r i n c o m e a s s i s t a n c e , t h a t i s a t i s s u e i n t h i s a p p e a l t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s a b l e t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t s h e m e t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . T h e p a n e l w i l l r e v i e w t h e p o s i t i o n s I n t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n , t h e m i n i s t r y n o t e s t h s e v e r e l y d i s a b l e d a n d t h a t s h e i s u n a b l e t o s i t , s t a n d i n d i c a t e d t h a t s h e h a d m i l d O D D , w i t h d a i l y c o n s t a n e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s o f s t a n d i n g w h i c h w o u l d l i m i t h e r e w a s a n e w p a t i e n t o f t h e G P a n d h e h a d n o a b i l i t y t o t h a t i t w a s b a s e d o n w h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t h a d r e p o rt e d m u l t i l e v e l O D D a n d h a s s i n c e b e e n p r e s c r i b e d p a i n k a n d c o n d i t i o n i n g . A l t h o u g h t h e a p p e l l a n t i n d i c a t e s t h m i n i s t ry i s t h a t t h e m e d i c a l d o c u m e n t a t i o n d o e s n o t m e d i c a l e x e m p t i o n . T h e m i n i s t r y a c k n o w l e d g e s t h a t t h e m i n i s t r y ' s o p i n i o n t h e a p p e l l a n t s h o u l d s t i l l b e a b b y t h e m i n i s t r y t o s e c u r e l i g h t d u t y o r s e d e n t a r y t y p e 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 G P ' s n o t e o f 0 4 S p r o v i d e s t h e m e d i c a l e v i d e n c e t h a t s h e m e e t s t h e m p r e v i o u s m e d i c a l r e c o r d s w e r e l o s t a n d h e r G P w a s e a r l i e r , u n t i l h e h a d t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e C T s c a n . S h e a a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n , i n c l u d i n g t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e C T s c p r e s c r i p t i o n s f o r p a i n r e l i e f a n d f o r m a s s a g e t h e r a p y M e d i c a l R e p o r t E m p l o y a b i l i t y t h a t h e r c o n d i t i o n i s p e r i o d s o f s t a n d i n g " a n d h e r o t h e r p h y s i c i a n ' s n o t e o p r o l o n g e d p e r i o d s b e c a u s e o f h e r p a i n . T h i s w i l l l i k e l d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t s h e h a s a m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n t h a t p r P a n e l f i n d i n g s T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t t h e d i a g n o s i s o f a s p e c i f i c m e d c o n d i t i o n t h a t p r e c l u d e s s e a r c h i n g f o r e m p l o y m e n t . I s u c h a s t h a t g i v e n f o r t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e C T e x a m ( " c i s a n a d e q u a t e s t a r t i n g p o i n t . W h i l e t h e s p e c i f i c d i a g n f o r t r e a t m e n t p l a n n i n g , w h a t i s e s s e n t i a l f o r t h e a p p l i m e d i c a l e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i o n , i s a d e s c r i p t i o n a n d a s s a r i s i n g f r o m t h e m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n . O n t h e M e d i c a l R r e s t r i c t i o n s a s k s t h e m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r t o d e s c r i b e m e d i c a l c o n d i t i o n ( s ) , g i v i n g a s a n e x a m p l e " r e s t r i c t e d a d d i t i o n a l p a g e s i f r e q u i r e d . " ( T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t t h a s s e s s m e n t o f e m p l o y a b i l i t y u n d e r t h e l e g i s l a t i o n , t p r e c l u d e d f r o m c o m p l e t i n g a s e a r c h f o r e m p l o y m e n t m i n i s t e r ' s d i s c r e t i o n i n t h i s r e s o e c t , t h e o a n e l f i n d s t h E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )J u l y 2 0 1 4 . A t t h a t t i m e , a s t h e m i n i s t r y 3 w e e k w o r k s e a r c h o r s a t i s f i e d t h e m i n i s t r y t h a t c r i t e r i a , t h e m i n i s t r y t h e r e f o r e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e l y 2 0 1 4 a n d o n w a r d s . T h e a p p e l l a n t s o u g h t i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n , w h i c h d e t e r m i n e d h e r i n e l i g i b l e . A s e x p l a i n e d a b o v e , t h e c e n t r a l i s s u e i s w h e t h e r t h e m e d i c a l e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i a a t t h e t i m e o f o f t h e p a r t i e s w i t h r e g a r d t o t h i s i s s u e . a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d e s c r i b e s h e r s e l f a s b e i n g o r w a l k f o r e x t e n d e d p e r i o d s . H e r G P i n i t i a l l y t e p i s o d e s , a n d t h a t r e s t r i c t i o n s i n c l u d e p a i n w i t h m p l o y m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s . H o w e v e r t h e a p p e l l a n t a c c e s s h e r p r e v i o u s r e c o r d s , s o h e i n d i c a t e d . T h e C T s c a n s i n c e h a s c o n f i r m e d t h a t s h e h a s i l l e r s a n d r e f e r r e d f o r t h e r a p y f o r a s s e s s m e n t a t s h e i s s e v e r e l y d i s a b l e d , t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e s u p p o r t s u c h a s s e v e r e d i a g n o s i s t o a p p r o v e a t h e a p p e l l a n t h a s a m e d i c a l b a r r i e r ; h o w e v e r , i n l e t o c o n d u c t a 3 w e e k w o r k s e a r c h a s d i r e c t e d w o r k . e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 s t a t i n g t h a t s h e i s u n a b l e t o w o r k e d i c a l e x e m p t i o n c r i t e r i o n . S h e a r g u e s t h a t h e r r e l u c t a n t t o p r o v i d e s u c h a f i r m a s s e s s m e n t l s o s u b m i t s t h a t t h e e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t r y a n s h o w i n g s i g n i f i c a n t m u l t i l e v e l D O D , a n d p h y s i o t h e r a p y , t h e G P ' s a s s e s s m e n t i n t h e c h r o n i c a n d t h a t s h e h a s " p a i n w i t h e x t e n d e d f 0 6 A u g u s t 2 0 1 4 t h a t " s h e i s u n a b l e t o s t a n d f o r y l i m i t h e r e m p l o y m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s , " a l l c l e a r l y e c l u d e s h e r f r o m s e a r c h i n g f o r e m p l o y m e n t . i c a l c o n d i t i o n i s n o t i n i t s e l f d e t e r m i n a t i v e o f a n t h e p a n e l ' s v i e w , a d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e c o n d i t i o n , h r o n i c r i g h t b a c k p a i n r a d i a t i n g d o w n r i g h t l e g " ) o s i s b a s e d o n t h e C T s c a n m i g h t b e r e q u i r e d c a t i o n o f s e c t i o n 4 . 1 ( 4 ) ( d ) o f t h e E A R , t h e e s s m e n t o f t h e e m p l o y m e n t r e l a t e d r e s t r i c t i o n s e p o r t E m p l o y a b i l i t y f o r m , t h e s e c t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e n a t u r e o f a n y r e s t r i c t i o n s s p e c i f i c t o t h e m o t i o n i n a r m s o r l e g s " a n d i n d i c a t i n g " a t t a c h e m e d i c a l p r a c t i t i o n e r i s n o t a s k e d f o r a n h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f w h e t h e r t h e p e r s o n i s i s " i n t h e m i n i s t e r ' s o p i n i o n . " I n e x e r c i s i n g t h e a t i t i s r e a s o n a b l e f o r t h e m i n i s t r v t o r e l y o n t h e
diagnosis and restrictions reported by the medical practitioner.) As the ministry noted, the only restriction described in the medical documentation before the ministry at reconsideration related to pain with extended periods of standing. The Medical Report -Employability describes the appellant's restriction as "pain with extended periods of standing." The other physician's note of July 30 states that the appellant said that "she is unable to stand for prolonged periods of time because of her pain." The physician notes: "This will likely limit her employment opportunities." The panel understands this to mean that the physician is commenting on the limits to the type of work the appellant might be able to do, not providing an assessment of her overall employability. While the appellant argues that she also has difficulty sitting and walking, in the medical records, there is no mention of restrictions for these activities. While the appellant has stated that her previous medical records were lost, she had 3 months to arrange for a medical practitioner to make and submit an assessment of the full range of employment-related restrictions arising from the appellant's medical conditions. Given the information concerning the appellant's employment related restrictions provided by the appellant's physicians was limited to references to pain with prolonged/extended periods of standing, the panel finds that the ministry was reasonable in determining that the medical exemption criterion had not been met and that the appellant should still be able to conduct the 3 week work search as directed by the ministry to secure light duty or sedentary type work. Eliqibilitv for hardship assistance In the reconsideration decision, the ministry stated that, as the appellant has already received 3 months of hardship assistance, the ministry is unable to provide financial assistance to her at this time. The appellant made no submissions on this matter. The panel notes that under section 39 of the EAR, if hardship assistance has been provided to a family unit under section 47.2 of the EAR pending the completion of searches for employment, the hardship assistance is limited to one calendar month under subsection (2)(b) of section 39 and a further 2 calendar months under subsection (4). As the appellant had received hardship assistance for 3 months -April, May and June 2014 -the panel finds that the ministry was reasonable in determining that the appellant was not eligible for further hardship assistance at that time. Conclusion Based on the foregoing, and in particular the panel's finding that the ministry was reasonable in determining that the medical exemption criterion set out in section 4.1 (4)(d) of the EAR had not been met, the panel finds that the ministry's decision that the appellant is ineligible for income assistance for July 2014 under section 4.1 , of the EAR and for further hardship assistance under section 39( 4) and 42.7 of the EAR is reasonably supported by the evidence. The panel therefore confirms the ministry's decision. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
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