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 N o v e m b e r 1 7 , 2 0 1 4 , w h s o l e r e c i p i e n t w i t h a d e p e n d e n t c h i l d i n a c c o r d a n c 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 A c t b e c a u s m e e t s t h e m e a n i n g o f " s p o u s e " a n d o f " d e p e n d a n 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 A c t ( E A A ) s e c t i o n s 1 a EM T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I 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 ) i c h d e n i e d t h e a p p e l l a n t d i s a b i l i t y a s s i s t a n c e a s a w i t h s e c t i o n s 1 a n d 1 . 1 o f t h e E m p l o y m e n t a n d e t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h e r b o y f r i e n d . n d 1 . 1 .
P A R T E S u m m a 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 t h e t i m e o f r e • F r o m m i n i s t r y r e c o r d s : T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s b e e n r e c e i v i n g a s s i s t a ( P P M B ) a s a s o l e r e c i p i e n t w i t h a d e p e n d O n O c t o b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s a d e s i g n a t i o n . • W i t h 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 s t a t i n g t h a t t h e i m p a c t o f l o s i n g a s s i s t a n c e i s l o s i n g t h e i r h o m e a n d h e r h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y a c h o i c e i s t o l e a v e t h e i r c u r r e n t l i v i n g s i t u a t i o n a n d t h e f a t h e r o f h e r c h i l d i s a P W D a n d p a y d e c i s i o n s h e a n d h e r d a u g h t e r a r e n o w h o m e S h e i s i n a r o m a n t i c r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h e r b o y b o y f r i e n d / g i r l f r i e n d p u b l i c l y w h i c h i n c l u d e s p r c o m m u n i t y , s h a r i n g m e a l s , s p e n d i n g t i m e w i t T h e y a r e n o t f i n a n c i a l l y d e p e n d e n t n o r f i n a n c o f p r a c t i c a l n a t u r e : T h e b o y f r i e n d ' s r e n t w a s t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s p a y i n g n e a r l y t h e s a m e a m a p a rt m e n t w h e r e s h e h a d n o s u p p o r t f o r h e r a r r a n g e m e n t t o k e e p t h e i r f i n a n c e s c o m p l e t e u t i l i t i e s , b u y s f o o d f o r h e r s e l f a n d h e r d a u g h t S h e h a s s o l e c u s t o d y o f h e r d a u g h t e r a n d t h e h i m a n y r i g h t o f d e c i s i o n a n d p a r e n t i n g i n r e g H e r d i s a b i l i t y i s c o g n i t i v e p r o b l e m s a n d a n x i e d o b a s i c c h o r e s . H e r c u r r e n t h o m e s i t u a t i o n h a n x i e t y o f l o s i n g i n c o m e a n d h o m e m a k e s h e c o m p l e t e t h e f o r m s f o r a p p e a l . T h e d a i l y s u p b o y f r i e n d h a s o f f e r e d h e r i n d e s c r i b a b l e r e l i e f w i t h h e r d i s a b i l i t y a n d t h e y t r u s t h i m a n d h e e h o u r s b e f o r e s o m e o n e i s h o m e t o m a k e s u r e c o m p l e t e f o r m s , a t t e n d a n d m a k e n o t e s o f d o f r o m a s t a b l e , s a f e , h e a l t h y h o m e . O t h e r h e a t h e y a r e p a y i n g n o w . H e r d a u g h t e r h a s s u f f e r e d s e v e r a l t r a u m a s i n i m p r o v e d . L o s s o f f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e a n d a h e r d a u g h t e r ' s m e n t a l h e a l t h . EAA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L # 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 i n f o r m a t i o n : n c e f o r a P e r s o n w i t h P e r s i s t e n t M u l t i p l e B a r r i e r s e n t c h i l d . p p r o v e d f o r P e r s o n w i t h D i s a b i l i t i e s ( P W D ) O c t o b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t s u b m i t t e d a l e t t e r h a r m f u l t o h e r a n d h e r d a u g h t e r a s t h e y a r e r e h a r s h l y a f f e c t e d . W i t h o u t a s s i s t a n c e h e r o n l y . S h e i s b a r e l y a b l e t o w o r k t o b r i n g i n i n c o m e s $ 2 0 c h i l d s u p p o r t a n d b e c a u s e o f t h e m i n i s t r y ' s l e s s a n d w i t h o u t i n c o m e . f r i e n d . T h e y i d e n t i fy t h e m s e l v e s a s e s e n t i n g t h e m s e l v e s a s a c o u p l e i n t h e h e a c h o t h e r ' s k i d s , a n d s u p p o r t i n g e a c h o t h e r . i a l l y c o o p e r a t i v e . T h e r e a s o n f o r m o v i n g i n w a s b e i n g i n c r e a s e d s o h e n e e d e d a r o o m m a t e , a n d o u n t e a c h m o n t h i n a n u n h e a l t h y i s o l a t e d d i s a b i l i t y . F r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g t h e y h a d t h e l y i n d e p e n d e n t : s h e p a y s f o r r e n t , c o n t r i b u t e s t o e r , a n d p a y s h e r o w n b i l l s . r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h h e r b o y f r i e n d d o e s n o t g i v e a r d s t o h e r d a u g h t e r . t y i s s u e s a n d s h e s o m e t i m e s f i n d s i t d i ff i c u l t t o e l p s h e r a n d h e r d a u g h t e r t o g e t w e l l , b u t r h e a l t h w o r s e t o t h e p o i n t o f n o t b e i n g a b l e t o p o r t s h e a n d h e r d a u g h t e r a r e g e t t i n g f r o m h e r f r o m a n x i e t y a n d s t r e s s . H e r b o y f r i e n d i s f a m i l i a r n s u r e s t h a t s h e w i l l n o t g o m o r e t h a n a f e w t h e y ' r e l o o k e d a f t e r . H e i s o f d a i l y h e l p t o c t o r ' s a p p o i n t m e n t s . M o v i n g w i l l u p r o o t t h e m l t h y c l e a n h o m e s r e n t f o r a t l e a s t d o u b l e o f w h a t t h e p a s t , b u t s i n c e l i v i n g h e r e s h e h a s g r e a t l y c o n s e q u e n t m o v e w i l l h a v e a n e g a t i v e i m p a c t o n
APPEAL# I • The appellant's advocate submitted a letter stating that the appellant has and continues to pay her share of the rent and utilities electronically each month. There is no financial dependence or interdependence as their finances are independent; the appellant does not share bank accounts or credit cards with her boyfriend, and they do not have jointly owned assets or joint liabilities/debts. Their financial arrangement is as roommates splitting shelter costs. • A ministry letter dated October 16, 2014 informing the appellant that she is no longer eligible for assistance because she currently lives in a "marriage-like" situation and at this time her eligibility for income assistance cannot be determined. • Shelter Information signed September 27, 2013, disclosed the appellant's rent start date at her current address as September 1, 2013. Rent is $550 per month including utilities. Her boyfriend is named as "landlord including property manager, agent"; he is not the same person as the home owner. • A letter by the appellant dated September 24, 2014, stating that she and her daughter have not been added to her boyfriend's rental agreement. The arrangement was that her boyfriend would collect her rent and utilities payment each month and disperse it to his own accounts. In the past couple of months she has made online tranfers directly to her boyfriend's account for rent, and towards her boyfriend's utilities accounts. Her rent/utility money is still going to her boyfriend. • The appellant's bank statements from June 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014 identify a total of 2 rent payments and 2 utility payments: o August 29, 2014: Descriptive Withdrawal Rent to the home owner: $400 o July 23, 2014: Descriptive Withdrawal Rent: $400 o July 23, 2014: Online Bill Payment to BC Hydro: $50 o July 23, 2014: Online Bill Payment to Shaw Cable: $ 5 0 • An undated letter by the home owner in which he states that he rents his home to the appellant's boyfriend. The appellant and her daughter moved in with his permission. He did not rewrite the rental agreement and the appellant's boyfriend remains the person with the primary responsibility for the care and maintenance and monthly payment of rent. • A letter dated September 24, 2014 by the appellant's boyfriend in which he states he is a renter and rents from the landlord [who is the home owner]. He pays $900 per month rent of which $450 is covered by the appellant. He also has cable and hydro and gas to look after for which the appellant puts in $100 extra per month. Until recently the appellant has provided her boyfriend with cash, but he agreed she should put her share into the accounts involved, i.e. the landlord/home owner's account and Hydro and Shaw accounts. The appellant's Notice of Appeal dated November 21, and received November 24, 2014, included: EAAT 003{10/06/01)
• 2 b a n k p r i n t o u t s s h o w i n g 2 a c c o u n t a c t i v i t i e 2 0 1 4 . • 3 r e n t / u t i l i t i e s r e c e i p t s f o r $ 5 5 0 s i g n e d b y t h e o d a t e d J u n e 2 7 , 2 0 1 4 [ d o e s n o t s a y f o o d a t e d J u l y 2 3 f o r t h e m o n t h o f A u g u s o d a t e d S e p t e m b e r 3 f o r t h e m o n t h o f S • A l e t t e r b y t h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t i n g t h a t s h e h a s h e r r e n t a n d u t i l i t i e s i n f u l l , a n d h e r b o y f r i e n d h a s p a i d h e r s h a r e o f r e n t a n d u t i l i t i e s t o h e r t h r o u g h c a s h w i t h d r a w a l s , s o m e t i m e s w i t h o f u e l f o r h i s c a r , s o m e t i m e s d e d u c t i n g h a l f t h e m o n t h a n d m a d e s u r e i t a l l e q u a l e d h e r s h a r m o s t o f h e r s h a r e o f t h e r e n t a n d u t i l i t y p a y m $ 5 0 i n c a s h o r f u e l a t h i s c o n v e n i e n c e . T h e d e s c r i p t i o n . J u l y R e n t : M a y 2 8 c a s h w i t h d r a w a l J u n e 1 f u e l p u r c h a s e i n t o h e r b o y f r i e n d ' s c J u n e 2 0 f u e l p u r c h a s e i n t o h e r b o y f r i e n d ' s c J u n e 2 1 p u r c h a s e s a t 2 s t o r e s f o r ½ o f h o u s e h o l d e x p e n s e s J u n e 2 6 c a s h w i t h d r a w a l J u n e 2 7 f u e l p u r c h a s e i n t o h e r b o y f r i e n d ' s c J u n e 2 7 c a s h w i t h d r a w a l T A u g u s t R e n t : J u l y 2 3 t r a n s f e r t o t h e h o m e o w n e r ' s a c c o u J u l y 2 3 B C H y d r o J u l y 2 3 S h a w J u l y 2 3 c a s h w i t h d r a w a l T S e p t e m b e r R e n t : A u g 2 9 t r a n s f e r t o t h e h o m e o w n e r ' s a c c o u A u g 3 1 f u e l p u r c h a s e i n t o h e r b o y f r i e n d ' s c S e p 3 B C H y d r o S e p 3 S h a w T EAA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L # s i n M a y 2 0 1 4 a n d 6 a c t i v i t i e s i n S e p t e m b e r a p p e l l a n t ' s b o y f r i e n d r w h i c h m o n t h ] ; t ; e p t e m b e r . r e m a i n e d f i n a n c i a l l y i n d e p e n d e n t , h a s p a i d a l l n e v e r h a d t o c o v e r a n y o f h e r e x p e n s e s . S h e b o y f r i e n d w i t h c a s h i n d i f f e r e n t w a y s : s o m e t i m e s n l i n e p a y m e n t s t o h i s a c c o u n t , s o m e t i m e s b u y i n g a m o u n t s o f s h a r e d . T h e y k e p t a t a l l y e a c h e o f r e n t a n d u t i l i t i e s . I n J u l y s h e b e g a n t o m a k e e n t s d i r e c t l y i n t o t h e a p p r o p r i a t e a c c o u n t s , p l u s a p p e l l a n t p r o v i d e d t h e fo l l o w i n g s e l f r e p o r t e d $ 3 0 ( f u l l a m o u n t o f w i t h d r a w a l w a s $ 5 8 0 : $ 5 5 0 J u n e r e n t / u t i l s , $ 3 0 t o w a r d J u l y r e n t ) a r $ 2 0 a r $ 3 0 $ 5 0 $ 2 6 0 a r $ 4 0 $ 1 2 0 o t a l $ 5 5 0 n t $ 4 0 0 $ 5 0 $ 5 0 $ 5 0 o t a l $ 5 5 0 n t $ 4 0 0 a r $ 5 0 $ 5 0 $ 5 0 o t a l $ 5 5 0
T h e a p p e l l a n t a d d s t h a t i n h e r p h o n e c o n v e r s a t i o n t h a t s h e h a d b e e n d e n i e d a s s i s t a n c e s h e w a s n o t a s h o w w i t h d r a w a l s i n t h e a m o u n t o f h e r r e n t , n o r w a e n o u g h t o c o n f i r m t h a t s h e h a s p a i d h e r r e n t / u t i l i t i e s u p p o r t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n s h e w o u l d h a v e e a s i l y p r o v i n o r g i v e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y . A t t h e h e a r i n g t h e a d v o c a t e s u b m i t t e d a w r i t t e n o u i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e a p p e a l p a c k a g e a n d m o r e d e t S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 ; o n O c t o b e r 9 , 2 0 1 4 t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s n o l o n g e r e l i g i b l e f o r b e n e f i t s b e c a u s e s h e l i v e T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t b e f o r e h e r a c c i d e n t s h e w w r i t i n g . B e f o r e s h e m o v e d i n w i t h h e r b o y f r i e n d s h e U n t i l t h i s s u m m e r t h e y h a d a l o o s e a r r a n g e m e n t f o l u m p s u m s , c o n t r i b u t i o n s t o H y d r o a n d S h a w , a n d a p p e l l a n t a n d h e r b o y f r i e n d t h e n k e p t a n o n g o i n g a o w n e d h e r o w n a c a r a t t h e t i m e p e r i o d i n q u e s t i o n s h e p a i d $ 5 0 t o w a r d s h o u s e h o l d e x p e n s e s b u t a f f i r e n t r y i n h e r b a n k s t a t e m e n t s o n a 2 1 s t $ 5 0 a m o u n t $ 5 8 . 7 8 a n d $ 4 7 . 3 9 t h e s e p u r c h a s e s w e r e f o r t o i l e $ 5 0 w a s r o u g h l y h e r s h a r e . T h e 3 r e n t / u t i l i t i e s r e c e b o y f r i e n d f o r t h e a p p e a l . 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 2 0 1 4 a n d S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 4 b a n k p r i n t o u t s b e c a u s e b a n k 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 m i n i s t r y a t r e c r e c e i p t s i s s u e d b y h e r b o y f r i e n d b e c a u s e t h e y s u p p i n c l u d i n g u t i l i t i e s i n f u l l . F o r t h e s a m e r e a s o n t h e p a s t a t e m e n t s a t t h e h e a r i n g a s w e l l a s t h e a d v o c a t e ' s a m o u n t s p a i d i n M a y a n d S e p t e m b e r a s t h e s e a r e w a s b e f o r e t h e m i n i s t ry a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n . EAA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L # I w i t h t h e m i n i s t r y d u r i n g w h i c h s h e w a s i n f o r m e d s k e d t o e x p l a i n w h y h e r b a n k s t a t e m e n t s d i d n o t s s h e i n f o r m e d t h a t h e r b o y f r i e n d ' s l e t t e r w a s n o t s i n f u l l . I f t h e m i n i s t r y h a d a s k e d f o r t h a t d e d t h e e n c l o s e d d e t a i l s b u t s h e w a s n o t a s k e d t l i n e o f h e r o r a l p r e s e n t a t i o n w h i c h i n c l u d e d a i l s o n t h e m i n i s t r y r e v i e w : i t w a s c o n d u c t e d i n w a s t o l d b y t h e m i n i s t r y o v e r t h e p h o n e t h a t s h e d i n a m a r r i a g e l i k e r e l a t i o n s h i p . a s a w r i t e r a n d e d i t o r , n o w s h e j u s t d o e s a b i t o f l i v e d i n a m o l d y 4 0 0 s q u a r e f o o t a p a rt m e n t . r r e n t a n d u t i l i t y p a y m e n t s , w h i c h i n c l u d e d c a s h c r e d i t f o r h o u s e h o l d a n d g a s o l i n e p u r c h a s e s ; t h e n d u n w r i t t e n t a l l y o f t h e a m o u n t s p a i d . S h e b u t i t i s n o w s o l d . I n h e r J u l y r e n t t a l l y s h e w r i t e s m s a t t h e h e a r i n g t h a t t h e r e i s n o s u p p o r t i n g . O n J u n e 2 1 s h e m a d e p u r c h a s e s a t 2 s t o r e s f o r t p a p e r , g a r b a g e b a g s a n d c l e a n i n g s u p p l i e s , a n d i p t s f o r $ 5 5 0 e a c h w e r e w r i t t e n u p b y h e r s s i s t a n c e A c t t h e p a n e l d o e s n o t a d m i t t h e M a y t h i s i s n e w i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t i s n o t i n s u p p o r t o f o n s i d e r a t i o n ; t h e p a n e l a d m i t s t h e 3 r e n t / u t i l i t i e s o r t t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s c l a i m t h a t s h e p a i d h e r r e n t n e l a d m i t s t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s a p p e a l l e t t e r a n d h e r s u b m i s s i o n , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f r e f e r e n c e s t o n o t s u b s t a n t i a t e d b y t h e b a n k i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t
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 u n d e r a p p e a l i s t h e w h e t h e r i t w a s r e a s o d i s a b i l i t y a s s i s t a n c e a s a s o l e r e c i p i e n t w i t h a d e p e w i t h h e r b o y f r i e n d m e e t s t h e m e a n i n g o f " s p o u s e " a 1 ( 1 ) I n t h i s A c t : " d e p e n d a n t " , i n r e l a t i o n t o a p e a n d w h o ( a ) i s t h e s p o u s e o f t h e p e ( b ) i s a d e p e n d e n t c h i l d o f ( c ) i n d i c a t e s a p a r e n t a l r o " f a m i l y u n i t " m e a n s a n a p p l i c a n M e a n i n g o f " s p o u s e " 1 . 1 ( 1 ) T w o p e r s o n s , i n c l u d i n g p e r s o n s o f t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s A c t i f ( a ) t h e y a r e m a r r i e d t o e a ( b ) t h e y a c k n o w l e d g e t o t m a r r i a g e l i k e r e l a t i o n s h i p . ( 2 ) T w o p e r s o n s w h o r e s i d e t o g e t h e r s p o u s e s o f e a c h o t h e r f o r t h e p u r p o s e ( a ) t h e y h a v e r e s i d e d t o g e ( i ) t h e p r e v i o u s 3 ( i i ) 9 o f t h e p r e v i o ( b ) t h e m i n i s t e r i s s a t i s f i e d ( i ) f i n a n c i a l d e p e n ( i i ) s o c i a l a n d f a m c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a m a r r i a g e EAA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L # n a b l e o f t h e m i n i s t r y t o d e n y t h e a p p e l l a n t n d e n t c h i l d b e c a u s e t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p n d o f " d e p e n d a n t " . r s o n , m e a n s a n y o n e w h o r e s i d e s w i t h t h e p e r s o n r s o n , t h e p e r s o n , o r l e f o r t h e p e r s o n ' s d e p e n d e n t c h i l d ; t o r a r e c i p i e n t a n d h i s o r h e r d e p e n d a n t s ; t h e s a m e g e n d e r , a r e s p o u s e s o f e a c h o t h e r f o r c h o t h e r , o r h e m i n i s t e r t h a t t h e y a r e r e s i d i n g t o g e t h e r i n a , i n c l u d i n g p e r s o n s o f t h e s a m e g e n d e r , a r e s o f t h i s A c t i f t h e r f o r a t l e a s t c o n s e c u t i v e m o n t h s , o r u s 1 2 m o n t h s , a n d t h a t t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p d e m o n s t r a t e s d e n c e o r i n t e r d e p e n d e n c e , a n d i l i a l i n t e r d e p e n d e n c e , l i k e r e l a t i o n s h i p .
I APPEAL# It is the panel's task to decide whether it was reasonable of the ministry to determine that the relationship of the appellant and her boyfriend meets the meaning of "spouse" and "dependant" in accordance with the relevant legislation. The meaning of "spouse" is determined in section 1.1 of the EAA; section 1.1 (2) lists the conditions that determine whether 2 persons who reside together are considered spouses: According to subsection (a) they have to be residing together for at least the previous 3 consecutive months or 9 of the previous 12 months. The appellant does not dispute this. In addition, as set in subsections (b)(i) and (ii), the minister must be satisfied that the relationship demonstrates (i) financial dependence or interdependence and (ii) social and familial interdependence, consistent with a marriage-like relationship. The appellant disagrees that there is financial dependence or interdependence in her relationship (i), and she disagrees that her social and familial interactions constitute a marriage-like relationship (ii). A spouse is considered a "dependant" in accordance with section 1 (1) . The appellant argues that since her boyfriend does not meet the definition of "spouse", he cannot be considered a "dependant". Financial dependence or interdependence -1. 1 (2)(b) (i) The appellant argues that she and her boyfriend are not in a marriage-like relationship because there is no financial dependence or interdependence between them as set out in section 1.1 (2)(b)(i). The reason for moving in together was of a practical nature: his rent was being increased and as a result he needed a roommate. The appellant was able to improve her situation by leaving an "unhealthy isolated apartment" and moving to a place where she had support for her disability. From the beginning their financial arrangement was that of roommates splitting shelter costs. They have been keeping their finances completely separate. The appellant does not share bank accounts or credit cards with her boyfriend, and they do not have jointly owned assets or joint liabilities/debts. The appellant continues to pay her share of the rent and utilities electronically each month in full. She buys food for herself and her daughter and pays her own bills. The ministry argues that there is no documentation provided that the appellant paid S550 for June, July and August for rent and utilities and as a result concludes that her boyfriend paid her additional portions of rent and utilities in which she was short; this indicates financial dependence or interdependence in accordance with section 1.1 (2)(b )(i). While the appellant states she pays $450 for rent and $100 for utilities monthly and while her boyfriend/landlord provided 3 receipts for $550 each, the appellant's bank statements for June, July and August 2014 indicate that she paid no rent and utilities in June, $400 rent and $100 utilities in July, and $400 rent in August. The panel finds therefore that there is no evidence that the appellant paid rent/ utilities in full for June, July and August 2014, and, as there is no evidence of the outstanding payments, that on the balance of probabilities the ministry was reasonable to conclude that her boyfriend paid the outstanding amounts. Therefore the panel finds the ministry reasonably established that the relationship between the appellant and her boyfriend demonstrates financial dependence or interdependence as set out in section 1.1( 2)(i). EAAT 003(10/06/01)
! APPEAL# The panel notes that, while the appellant claims she made contributions towards her rent/utilities at varying times and with varying amounts by buying fuel, sharing household expenses, paying her boyfriend by cash or online, and was tallying up the amounts verbally each month, there is no evidence that any of these payments were applied towards rent in the months of June, July and August. The appellant argues further that the ministry should have asked her why her bank statements did not show withdrawals in the amount of her rent and give her the opportunity to provide additional evidence. The panel finds it to be a reasonable request from the ministry to ask for bank statements of 3 consecutive months in order to examine the appellant's rent and utility payments. After the appellant was informed of her denial in the original decision she had the opportunity to ask for more information and provide additional documents at reconsideration. Social and familial interdependence-1.1(2)(b)(ii) The appellant argues that her relationship does not constitute social and familial interdependence consistent with a marriage-like relationship because even though they identify themselves as boyfriend/girlfriend publicly which includes presenting themselves as a couple in the community, sharing meals, spending time with each other's kids, and supporting each other, they would do these things whether they are living in the same home or not. She has sole custody of her daughter and does not allow her boyfriend to make decisions regarding her daughter, nor does she allow him any parenting responsibilities. The ministry argues that social and familial interdependence as set out in section 1.1( 2)(b )(ii) is established in the appellant's circumstances because the appellant resides with her boyfriend and confirms that she and her boyfriend present themselves as a couple in their community, share meals, spend time with each other and with each other's children, and support each another. The ministry concludes that all this together with their financial dependence or interdependence is consistent with a marriage-like relationship, and as a result the relationship between the appellant and her boyfriend meets the meaning of "spouse". The panel finds that the ministry reasonably established social and familial interdependence as set out in section 1.1 (2)(b)(ii) because the appellant confirms that she and her boyfriend are in a romantic relationship, are living together, present themselves as a couple publicly and in the community, share meals, spend time with each other's children, and support each other. The appellant describes how greatly she appreciates her boyfriend, the stable home they have together, the positive impact this has on her daughter, and how she and her daughter trust him. Conclusion: As a result the panel finds that the ministry reasonably established that the relationship of the appellant and her boyfriend is consistent with a marriage-like relationship according to section 1.1 (2)(b), and they are spouses of each other. As the appellant's boyfriend resides with her he also meets the definition of "dependant" pursuant section 1 (1 ). Consequently, the appellant is not eligible to receive assistance as a sole recipient with a dependent child. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
APPEAL# ! The panel finds, therefore, that the ministry reasonably concluded that pursuant to sections 1 and 1.1 of the EAA the appellant is not eligible to receive disability assistance as a sole recipient with a dependent child. The panel finds the ministry's reconsideration decision was reasonably supported by the evidence and was a reasonable application of the applicable regulation in the circumstances of the appellant. Therefore the panel confirms the ministry's reconsideration decision. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
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