APPEAL# I PART C -Decision under Appeal The decision under appeal is the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation (the Ministry) Ministry's reconsideration decision dated June 30, 2014 in which the Ministry held that the Appellant's lottery winnings of $145 was non-exempt unearned income and therefore deductible from the monthly disability allowance for which she was eligible, in accordance with Schedule B of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation. PART D -Relevant Legislation Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation: (EAPWOR) Section 1 Section 24 and Schedule B, Sections 1, 6, 7 -10. EAAT003(10/06/01)
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APPEAL# I PART F -Reasons for Panel Decision The issue in this appeal is whether the Ministry reasonably determined that the Appellant's lottery winnings of $145 was non-exempt unearned income and therefore deductible from the monthly disability allowance for which she was eligible, in accordance with Schedule B of the EAPWDR. The relevant sections of the EAPWDR are as follows: Section 1 -Definitions In this regulation: "unearned income" means any income that is not earned income, and includes, without limitation, money or value received from any of the following: (r) a lottery or a game of chance; Section 24: Amount of Disability Assistance 24: Disability assistance may be provided to or for a family unit, for a calendar month, in an amount that is not more than (a) the amount determined under Schedule A, minus (b) the family unit's net income determined under Schedule B. Schedule B: Section 1 Exemptions from net income: 1 When calculating the net income of a family unit for the purposes of section 24 (b) [amount of disability] Section 6: Deductions from Unearned Income The only deductions permitted from unearned income are the following: (a) any income tax deducted at source from employment insurance benefits; (b) essential operating costs of renting self-contained suites. Section 7 to 10: Exemptions -unearned income None of these exemptions include lottery winnings. EAAT003(10/06/01)
APPEAL# I The Ministry's position is that that the Appellant's lottery_ winnings must be deducted from the monthly amount of disability assistance that the Appellant is eligiole for as they are non-exempt, unearned income. The Appellant's position is that disability rates have not gone up since 2007 making it hard for her to live, there have not been cost of living raises, and that the lottery winnings would help her pay down her debts. The panel noted that the Appellant's lottery winnings meet the definition of unearned income in Section 1 of the EAPWDR. Also, lottery winnings do not fall within any of the listed exemptions and deductions for unearned income in Schedule B, sections 1, 6-10 of that regulation. Therefore the Ministry reasonably determined that the lottery winnings must be deducted from the Appellant's monthly disability assistance. Therefore, the panel confirms the Ministry's reconsideration decision, finding that it was a reasonable application of the legislation in the Appellant's circumstances. EAAT 003( 10/06/01)
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