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 r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n d a t e d S e p t e m b e r 1 0 , 2 0 M e d i c a l S e r v i c e s O n l y ( M S O ) p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 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 ( E A P W D R ) b a s s i s t a n c e ( D A ) a s a r e s u l t o f e m p l o y m e n t i n c o m e u n d e r t h e C a n a d a P e n s i o n P l a n ( C P P ) . 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 f o r P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L I 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 ( M i n i s t r y ) 1 4 w h i c h h e l d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t i s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r 6 1 . 1 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 f o r e c a u s e h e d i d n o t c e a s e t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r d i s a b i l i t y e a r n e d ; o r r e c e i p t o f a p e n s i o n o r o t h e r p a y m e n t b i l i t i e s R e g u l a t i o n s e c t i o n s 1 2 . 1 a n d 6 1 . 1
I APPEAL PART E -Summary of Facts The evidence before the Ministry at reconsideration included the following: • The Appellant's Request for Reconsideration dated August 13, 2014 with attached submission from his advocate dated August 19, 2014. The Advocate stated that on July 20, 2013 the Appellant was granted PWD status and placed on MSO as a result of early CPP benefits of $680 per month. The Appellant owns a share in a business (the Company) in which he was working until 2007 when he took sick leave due to his disabilities. He is hesitant to sell his share as doing so would terminate his employment with the Company where he intends to resume work. In addition, the share is not easily disposed of. The Ministry has determined that shares are a non-exempt asset and as a result, the Appellant no longer qualifies for MSO benefits. The Appellant requests that the Ministry grant an exemption for his share and allow him to access a shelter top up, medical services, and a bus pass program. The following documents were also attached to the Request for Reconsideration: • Two letters to the Ministry from the Advocate dated January 10th and April 11th 2014 in which the Advocate outlines the difficulty involved in disposing of the Appellant's share. Information from the Company regarding the Appellant's share and company policies: • A letter from the Company dated February 26, 2014 stating that the Appellant is one of 278 shareholders and has been on sick leave since February 2007. • A fax from the Company to the Advocate dated August 22, 2013 stating that ownership of a company share confers a right to employment by the company subject to the company's rules and regulations. The sale of a share terminates employment and the right to future employment by the company. • A letter from the Company to the Advocate dated May 12, 2014 stating that if the Appellant wishes to return to work, he will not be able to resume the position he held when he began his absence, and he will be required to pass a medical exam. His employment with the Company will be terminated if he sells his share. • A copy of web pages for the Company's management history and philosophy, dated April 9, 2012. Submissions from the Advocate regarding the emphasis on employment for persons with disabilities: • A copy of Legislative Assembly Hansard, April 17, 2002; • Copies of two BC court decisions (Dockets 117064 and CA031388); and • A copy of the Ministry's policy: Ministry Case Management Principles, Dec. 1, 2003. Other documents included the following background information: • Two letters to the Appellant from the Ministry dated August 23rd and 30th, 2012 regarding a review of his file. • An exchange of emails between the Ministry and the Company dated September 6, 2012 in which the Company stated that one common share is registered in the Appellant's name (since 1984). The selling price for the Company's shares was between $273,500 and $277,500 in the past year. EAAT 003(10/06/01)
I APPEAL • Three letters to the Appellant from the Ministry from September 7th and 25th 2012 stating that he is no longer eligible for assistance due to "assets in excess". The Appellant had received assistance for which he was not eligible and has an overpayment of $12,929.61 as well as a sanction for inaccurate or incomplete reporting. • A copy of the Appellant's DA application dated April 18, 2013; and a letter to the Appellant from the Ministry dated July 20, 2013 advising that the Ministry has approved his designation as PWD. The Ministry advised him to contact it if he wishes to receive DA and stated that DA is also dependent on financial and other eligibility criteria being met. • A copy of the Ministry's "Employment and Assistance Review" form dated August 7, 2013 indicating that the Appellant has a share in the company and monthly CPP income of $697.36. The form also noted that the Appellant had no fixed address and no immediate need for a shelter allowance. • A letter addressed "To whom it may concern" from an advocate dated November 29, 2013 with attached PWD medical assessments. The Advocate stated that she explained the Ministry's policy to the Appellant "of temporarily exempting assets to give the applicant time to set up a trust." The Advocate reported that the Appellant did not make arrangements to sell his share due to his medical conditions and the absence of any reliable assistance. In any event, he would not be able to sell his share quickly. • A Ministry "Shelter Information" form dated November 21, 2013 indicating the Appellant was intending to rent a suite for $375 per month. Oral testimony The Advocate explained that at the time the PWD application was approved, the Appellant did not have a residence; he therefore had no rent to claim. The Ministry approved MSO (and no other allowances) because the Appellant was receiving CPP. The Appellant was not eligible for the support portion of DA due to CPP income in excess of the disability rate of $531.42. The Appellant was receiving MSO from August 7, 2013 until the Ministry determined he wasn't eligible for it on July 17, 2014. The Appellant requested the shelter allowance in November 2013 because he had found a place to rent. The Ministry did not process the request because it was waiting for the Appellant to deal with his share. The Advocate noted that part of the Ministry's original decision denying an exemption for assets was not addressed in the reconsideration. In accordance with section 22(4)(b) of the Employment and Assistance Act, the panel admits the oral testimony as evidence in support of the information and records that were before the Ministry at the time the decision being appealed was made. The panel finds that the oral submissions relate to the Ministry's information regarding the categories of allowances the Appellant was assessed for (support, shelter, and MSO). The Ministry relied on its reconsideration decision and background information and did not introduce any new evidence. The Ministry reported the following: • In September 2012, the Appellant applied for income assistance and was denied due to assets in excess of $5,000, representing a share in the Company. The share had a value of between $273,500 and $277,500 and entitled the Appellant to work for the Company. • In March 2013, the Appellant was denied income assistance due to assets in excess of $5,000, and CPP income of $685.00 er month which exceeded the income assistance rates. EAA T 003(1 0/06/01)
I APPEAL • Subsequently, the Appellant applied for PWD designation which was approved on July 20, 2013. • At a file review on August 7, 2013, the Ministry informed the Appellant that since he did not have a rent expense, he would only be eligible for the support portion of DA, $531.42. However, he would not be eligible to receive financial assistance at that time because his CPP was $678.36, exceeding the support allowance. • At the file review, the Appellant was found to still have assets in excess as the result of his share. Pursuant to section 12.1 of the EAPWDR, the Ministry granted the Appellant a three month exemption to enable him to place his asset in a trust or RDSP. The Ministry granted him MSO status during the exemption period and explained to him that the maximum trust exemption is $200,000 and that documentation regarding the sale of the share would be required within the next three months so that ongoing eligibility for MSO could be assessed. • In November 2013, the Appellant stated that he had been unable to sell his share or place it in a trust or RDSP because (a) it was difficult for him to find a buyer for the share; and (b) he wanted to retain the share so that he could work for the company after he got well. The Ministry extended the deadline for selling the shares or placing them in a trust or RDSP because it found that the Appellant was making reasonable efforts towards doing so. • Also in November 2013, the Appellant submitted an "Intent to Rent" form, requesting rent of $375 per month. The Ministry did not process the request because the Appellant's eligibility for financial assistance was still pending the requested documentation regarding the sale of the share. • On July 17, 2014, the Ministry determined that the Appellant was ineligible for MSO due to assets in excess of the allowable limit under the EAPWDR. The Ministry noted that it had given the Appellant more than eleven months to provide the requested documentation to show that he had made a reasonable effort to liquidate the share and place it in a trust or RDSP; however, the Appellant had not submitted the required documents which included the Company's board minutes. • On August 13, 2014 the Appellant requested a reconsideration of the Ministry's denial of MSO. • On reconsideration, the Ministry determined that the Appellant was not eligible for MSO pursuant to EAPWDR section 61.1 because he did not cease to eligible for DA due to certain types of income (e.g., employment or CPP). • The Appellant was approved for PWD designation but never received DA from the Ministry at any time. At the hearing, the Ministry stated that the Appellant was receiving MSO because it was the only way the Ministry could keep the file open while the Appellant was dealing with the asset (his company share). The Ministry stated that during the time the asset was being reviewed, there was nothing in the file to show that shelter funds had been requested again (subsequent to the original request in November 2013 when the Appellant began paying rent). In response to a question from the Advocate, the Ministry stated that it is not clear in the legislation (EAPWDR section 12.1) why the Ministry left the file open. It was an exception that the Ministry made because it wanted to give the Appellant more time to liquidate the asset. In response to a question from the panel, the Ministry stated that the Appellant would have received DA if it found him eligible for the shelter allowance. The panel makes the following findings of fact: • The Appellant was designated PWD but did not receive DA • The Appellant received MSO from AuQust 2013 until July 2014. EMT 003(10/06/01)
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 ' s r h e l d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t i s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r M S O p u r s d i d n o t c e a s e t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r D A a s a r e s u l t o f e 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 o r a r e a s o n 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 f o l l o w i n g s e c t i o n s o f t h e l e g i s l a t i o n a p p l y t o t h T e m p o r a r y e x e m p t i o n o f a s s e t s f o r p e r s o n w i t 1 2 . 1 ( 2 ) D u r i n g t h e e x e m p t i o n p e r i o d d e s c r i b e d i n d i s a b i l i t i e s o r b y a p e r s o n r e c e i v i n g s p e c i a l c a r e i s l i m i t s ] i f t h e m i n i s t e r i s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e p e r s o n i n t ( a ) e s t a b l i s h a r e g i s t e r e d d i s a b i l i t y s a v i n g s p l a n o r ( b ) c o n t r i b u t e s o m e o r a l l o f t h e a s s e t t o t h e r e g i s t ( 3 ) T h e e x e m p t i o n u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) s t a r t s o n m o n t h s a f t e r t h a t d a t e u n l e s s ( a ) t h e e x e m p t i o n p e r i o d i s e x t e n d e d t o a l a t e r d a t ( b ) t h e e x e m p t i o n c e a s e s t o a p p l y u n d e r s u b s e c t i o ( 4 ) T h e m i n i s t e r m a y e x t e n d t h e e x e m p t i o n p e r i o d t h e p e r s o n i s m a k i n g r e a s o n a b l e e ff o r t s t o e s t a b l i s E l i g i b i l i t y f o r m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s o n l y 6 1 . 1 F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h i s D i v i s i o n , a p e r s o n m ( a ) t h e p e r s o n i s a p e r s o n w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s w h o i s u b e e l i g i b l e f o r d i s a b i l i t y a s s i s t a n c e a s a r e s u l t o f ( i ) e m p l o y m e n t i n c o m e e a r n e d b y t h e p e r s o n o r t ( i i ) m o n e y r e c e i v e d b y t h e p e r s o n o r a n o t h e r m e m s e t t l e m e n t a g r e e m e n t a p p r o v e d b y t h e S u p r e m e C ( i i i ) a n y p e r s o n i n t h e f a m i l y u n i t r e c e i v i n g a p e n s P l a n , o r ( i v ) m o n e y o r v a l u e r e c e i v e d b y t h e p e r s o n o r t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o r d e r , m a i n t e n a n c e a g r e e m e n t o r o t ( b ) t h e p e r s o n ' s f a m i l y u n i t c e a s e d t o b e e l i g i b l e f o b e c a m e 6 5 y e a r s o f a g e , ( c ) t h e p e r s o n i s a p e r s o n w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s a n d t h e d i s a b i l i t y a s s i s t a n c e b e c a u s e o f ( i ) f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e p r o v i d e d t h r o u g h a n a g r e e C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e A c t , o r ( i i ) a n a w a r d o f c o m p e n s a t i o n u n d e r t h e C r i m i n a l u n d e r t h e C r i m e V i c t i m A s s i s t a n c e A c t m a d e t o t h ( d ) t h e p e r s o n i s a d e p e n d a n t o f a p e r s o n r e f e r r e d ( e ) t h e p e r s o n i s a d e p e n d a n t o f a p e r s o n r e f e r r e d E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A L I e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n o f A u g u s t 1 3 , 2 0 1 4 w h i c h u a n t t o s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 o f t h e E A P W D R b e c a u s e h e m p l o y m e n t i n c o m e o r r e c e i p t o f C P P w a s 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 e n a c t m e n t i n t h e e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n u n d e r a p p e a l : h d i s a b i l i t i e s o r p e r s o n r e c e i v i n g s p e c i a l c a r e s u b s e c t i o n ( 3 ) , a n a s s e t r e c e i v e d b y a p e r s o n w i t h e x e m p t f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f s e c t i o n 1 O ( 2 ) [ a s s e t e n d s t o t r u s t , a n d e r e d d i s a b i l i t y s a v i n g s p l a n o r t r u s t . t h e d a t e t h e p e r s o n r e c e i v e s t h e a s s e t a n d e n d s 3 e u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 4 ) , o r n ( 5 ) . t o a s p e c i f i e d d a t e i f t h e m i n i s t e r i s s a t i s f i e d t h a t h a r e g i s t e r e d d i s a b i l i t y s a v i n g s p l a n o r t r u s t . a y b e e l i g i b l e f o r m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s o n l y i f n d e r a g e 6 5 a n d t h e p e r s o n ' s f a m i l y u n i t c e a s e d t o h e p e r s o n ' s s p o u s e , b e r o f t h e p e r s o n ' s f a m i l y u n i t u n d e r t h e o u r t i n A c t i o n N o . S 5 0 8 0 8 , K e l o w n a R e g i s t r y , i o n o r o t h e r p a y m e n t u n d e r t h e C a n a d a P e n s i o n p e r s o n ' s s p o u s e t h a t i s m a i n t e n a n c e u n d e r a h e r a g r e e m e n t , r d i s a b i l i t y a s s i s t a n c e o n t h e d a y t h e p e r s o n p e r s o n ' s f a m i l y u n i t c e a s e d t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r m e n t u n d e r s e c t i o n 1 2 . 3 o f t h e C h i l d , F a m i l y a n d I n j u r y C o m p e n s a t i o n A c t o r a n a w a r d o f b e n e f i t s e p e r s o n o r t h e p e r s o n ' s s p o u s e , t o i n p a r a g r a p h ( a ) o r ( c ) , o r t o i n p a r a g r a p h ( b ) , i f t h e d e p e n d a n t w a s a
d e p e n d a n t o f t h e p e r s o n r e f e r r e d t o i n p a r a g r a p h ( a n d r e m a i n s a d e p e n d a n t o f t h a t p e r s o n . A p p e l l a n t ' s P o s i t i o n I n h i s N o t i c e o f A p p e a l d a t e d O c t o b e r 3 , 2 0 1 4 , t h e a d j u d i c a t e d b y t h e M i n i s t r y , a n d n o t h i s C P P d i s b u S i m i l a r l y , i n t h e 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 a s s e s s e d t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s s h a r e a s a n " a s s e t " . T h e s h a r e a s a n e x e m p t a s s e t s i m i l a r t o " e s s e n t i a l e q u f i s h i n g " o r " f i s h i n g c r a f t a n d f i s h i n g g e a r o w n e d a n t h e E A P W D R . H e a r g u e d t h a t t h e s h a r e s h o u l d b f o r m s o f s e l f s u s t a i n e d e m p l o y m e n t " . H e f u r t h e r a r e n t i t l e s h i m t o w o r k f o r t h e C o m p a n y a f t e r h e g e t s s e l f r e l i a n c e a n d e m p l o y m e n t w h i c h u n d e r p i n t h e E A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e A d v o c a t e n o t e d t h a t t h e M i n i s t r r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n , e v e n t h o u g h t h e M i n i s t r y a s s e t , a n d t h e A p p e l l a n t i n h i s R e q u e s t f o r R e c o n s A d v o c a t e a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t t h e p a n e l ' s j u r i s d i c t i o M 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 i n w h i c h t h e M i p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 o f t h e E A P W D R . H e s u b m s i d e s t e p t h e i s s u e o f t h e s h a r e . T h e A p p e l l a n t ( t h r h i s a r g u m e n t s r e g a r d i n g t h e s h a r e b e i n g a n o n e x d e c i s i o n o n t h e i s s u e o f e l i g i b i l i t y f o r M S O u n d e r E a r g u m e n t s : • T h e M i n i s t r y e r r e d i n m a k i n g a d e t e r m i n a t i o n f o r d e t e r m i n e d t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s e l i g i b i l i t y f o r M S O u n d e • T h e A p p e l l a n t w a s t e c h n i c a l l y n e v e r f o u n d e l i g i b l r e c e i v i n g M S O ( s i n c e A u g u s t 2 0 1 3 ) f o r t h e p u r p o s • T h e M i n i s t r y ' s t e m p o r a r y e x e m p t i o n o f t h e a s s e t t h e A p p e l l a n t m o r e t i m e t o a c t i v e l y w o r k o n l i q u i d a t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r D A , n o t M S O . H e h a d b e e n a p p r o h o w h i s P W D e l i g i b i l i t y w a s d e t e r m i n e d , b u t h e h a s a y s h e h a s a s s e t s i n e x c e s s o f t h e l i m i t . M i n i s t ry ' s P o s i t i o n I n i t s 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 s t a t e d t t h e E A P W D R " c l e a r l y i n d i c a t e s t h a t a f a m i l y u n i t m o f i n c o m e ( e . g . e m p l o y m e n t o r C P P ) " . T h e M i n i s t r e l i g i b l e f o r D A f o r t w o r e a s o n s : ( 1 . ) h e n e v e r r e c e i v P W D d e s i n a t i o n i n J u l 2 0 1 3 , h e w a s n e v e r d e t e r E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )A P P E A i I b ) o n t h e d a y t h a t p e r s o n b e c a m e 6 5 y e a r s o f a g e A p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t i t i s h i s a s s e t l e v e l a s r s e m e n t s t h a t m a k e h i m i n e l i g i b l e f o r D A . d v o c a t e a r g u e d t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y A d v o c a t e a r g u e d t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y s h o u l d t r e a t t h e i p m e n t a n d s u p p l i e s f o r f a r m i n g a n d c o m m e r c i a l d u s e d b y a c o m m e r c i a l f i s h e r m a n " i n s e c t i o n 1 0 o f e e x e m p t e d a s a " B u s i n e s s T o o l " a n d a s " o t h e r g u e d t h a t f o r c i n g t h e A p p e l l a n t t o s e l l a s h a r e t h a t w e l l , r u n s c o u n t e r t o t h e p r i n c i p l e s a n d p o l i c i e s o f A P W D l e g i s l a t i o n . y h a d n o t p u r s u e d t h e i s s u e o f t h e s h a r e i n i t s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e s h a r e w a s a n o n e x e m p t i d e r a t i o n a s k e d f o r t h e s h a r e t o b e e x e m p t e d . T h e n i s t o d e t e r m i n e t h e r e a s o n a b l e n e s s o f t h e n i s t r y f o u n d t h e A p p e l l a n t t o b e i n e l i g i b l e f o r M S O i t t e d t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y w a s u s i n g s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 t o o u g h h i s a d v o c a t e ) s t a t e d t h a t h e w o u l d s e t a s i d e e m p t a s s e t , a n d a p p e a l t h e r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n A P W D R s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 . H e p r e s e n t e d t h e f o l l o w i n g M S O u n d e r s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 , a n d s h o u l d h a v e r s e c t i o n 1 2 . 1 o f t h e E A P W D R . e f o r M S O u n d e r E A P W D R s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 . H e w a s e o f k e e p i n g h i s f i l e o p e n . p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 1 2 . 1 o f t h e E A P W D R ( t o g i v e t i n g t h e s h a r e ) e s s e n t i a l l y p e r m i t t e d t h e A p p e l l a n t v e d f o r D A u n d e r E A P W D R s e c t i o n 1 2 . 1 w h i c h i s s n o t r e c e i v e d t h e a l l o w a n c e b e c a u s e t h e M i n i s t r y h a t i n o r d e r t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r M S O , s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 o f u s t c e a s e t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r D A d u e t o c e r t a i n t y p e s y a r g u e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t d i d n o t c e a s e t o b e e d D A ; a n d ( 2 . ) a l t h o u g h h e w a s a p p r o v e d f o r m i n e d t o b e e l i i b l e f o r D A .
A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e M i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t i t l e f t t h e A g i v e h i m m o r e t i m e t o d e a l w i t h h i s s h a r e , a n d n o t e x t e n d e d t h e t i m e f r a m e f r o m t h r e e m o n t h s t o e l e r e a s o n a b l e e f f o r t s t o d e a l w i t h t h e s h a r e u p u n t i l J d o c u m e n t a t i o n t h e M i n i s t r y r e q u e s t e d ( c o m p a n y b T h e M i n i s t r y a l s o a r g u e d t h a t i t d i d n o t f i n d t h e A p a l l o w a n c e . T h e A p p e l l a n t w a s f o u n d t o b e i n e l i g i b d e s i g n a t i o n a s P W D b e c a u s e h e d i d n o t h a v e a n y i t r e c e i v e d t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s " I n t e n t t o R e n t " f o r m i n r e q u e s t f o r a s h e l t e r a l l o w a n c e b e c a u s e i t w a s s t i l t h e s h a r e i n o r d e r t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r h e w a s e l P a n e l ' s D e c i s i o n S e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 o f t h e E A P W D R d e a l s w i t h e l i g i b i l i t y h e a d i n g . F o r P W D ' s u n d e r t h e a g e o f 6 5 , s u b s e c t i t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r D A . A p e r s o n d e s i g n a t e d a s P W c e a s e d t o b e e l i g i b l e f o r D A a s a r e s u l t o f h a v i n g o ( i ) t o ( i v ) o f s u b s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 ( a ) . W h e t h e r t h e p e r s o t h e s e c t i o n . B o t h t h e M i n i s t r y a n d t h e A p p e l l a n t a g r e e t h a t t h e r e c e i v i n g M S O s i n c e A u g u s t 2 0 1 3 ; a n d t h a t h e n e d e s i g n a t e d a s P W D . T h e A p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t E c i r c u m s t a n c e s b e c a u s e h e w a s n e v e r f o u n d e l i g i b b e f o u n d i n e l i g i b l e . H e f u r t h e r a r g u e d t h a t h e w a s T h e i s s u e t h e M i n i s t r y w a s d e t e r m i n i n g i n i t s r e c o n e l i g i b i l i t y f o r M S O s t a t u s , a n d n o t w h e t h e r h e w a s t h e A p p e l l a n t w a s f o u n d e l i g i b l e f o r M S O p u r s u a n a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t i t d i d n o t g r a n t t h e A p p e l l a n t M q u e s t i o n t h e n i s w h e t h e r t h e A p p e l l a n t c e a s e d t o b t y p e s l i s t e d i n s u b s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 ( a ) . W i t h r e g a r d t o t h i n t h e a m o u n t o f $ 6 9 7 . 3 6 p e r m o n t h . T h e M i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t d i d n o t " c e a f o u n d e l i g i b l e f o r D A i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e . H e w a s d e s e i t h e r t h e s u p p o r t o r t h e s h e l t e r p o r t i o n o f D A . E v r e n t e x p e n s e , t h e M i n i s t r y h e l d o ff o n f i n d i n g h i m e l i q u i d a t e t h e s h a r e . T h e p a n e l f i n d s t h a t t h e e v i d e n r e a s o n a b l y s u p p o r t s t h e M i n i s t r y ' s p o s i t i o n t h a t h e T h e A p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t h e w a s e l i g i b l e f o r D A e H e a r g u e d t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y f o u n d h i m e l i g i b l e f o r D h e h a d a s h a r e , t h e M i n i s t h e l d o ff o n a i n h i m E AA T 0 0 3 ( 1 0 / 0 6 / 0 1 )I A P P E A L . p p e l l a n t ' s f i l e o p e n a n d c h a n g e d i t o v e r t o M S O t o b e c a u s e i t f o u n d h i m e l i g i b l e f o r D A . T h e M i n i s t r y v e n m o n t h s b e c a u s e t h e A p p e l l a n t w a s m a k i n g u l y 2 0 1 4 w h e n h e d i d n o t p r o v i d e t h e o a r d m i n u t e s ) . p e l l a n t e l i g i b l e f o r D A o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e s h e l t e r l e f o r t h e s h e l t e r a l l o w a n c e a t t h e t i m e o f h i s r e n t a t t h a t t i m e . T h e M i n i s t r y a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 3 b u t i t h e l d o ff o n p r o c e s s i n g h i s l w a i t i n g f o r d o c u m e n t a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e s a l e o f i g i b l e f o r D A . f o r M S O a s s e t o u t i n t h e t i t l e o f t h e s e c t i o n o n 6 1 . 1 ( a ) c o n n e c t s e l i g i b i l i t y f o r M S O t o c e a s i n g D m a y b e e l i g i b l e f o r M S O o n l y i f t h e p e r s o n n e o f t h e t y p e s o f i n c o m e t h a t a r e l i s t e d i n c l a u s e s n h a s " e x c e s s a s s e t s " i s n o t a c o n s i d e r a t i o n u n d e r A p p e l l a n t i s d e s i g n a t e d a s P W D ; t h a t h e w a s v e r r e c e i v e d a n y D A p a y m e n t s e v e n t h o u g h h e w a s A P W D R s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 d o e s n o t a p p l y t o h i s l e f o r M S O u n d e r t h e s e c t i o n . H e t h e r e f o r e c a n n o t e l i g i b l e f o r D A p u r s u a n t t o E A P W D R s e c t i o n 1 2 . 1 . s i d e r a t i o n d e c i s i o n i s t h e A p p e l l a n t ' s c u r r e n t e l i g i b l e f o r i t p r e v i o u s l y . T h e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e t h a t t t o E A P W D R s e c t i o n 6 1 . 1 a n d t h e M i n i s t r y S O s t a t u s u n d e r a n y s t a t u t o r y a u t h o r i t y . T h e e e l i g i b l e f o r D A a s a r e s u l t o f o n e o f t h e i n c o m e e i n c o m e t y p e s l i s t e d , t h e A p p e l l a n t r e c e i v e s C P P s e t o b e e l i g i b l e " f o r D A b e c a u s e h e w a s n e v e r i g n a t e d a s P W D b u t h e w a s n o t f o u n d e l i g i b l e f o r e n a f t e r h e p r e s e n t e d d o c u m e n t a t i o n r e g a r d i n g a l i g i b l e f o r t h e s h e l t e r a l l o w a n c e t o g i v e h i m t i m e t o c e t h a t t h e A p p e l l a n t w a s n o t p a i d D A a t a n y t i m e w a s n o t e l i g i b l e f o r D A . v e n t h o u g h h e n e v e r r e c e i v e d a n y D A p a y m e n t s , A p u r s u a n t t o E A P W D R s e c t i o n 1 2 . 1 , b u t b e c a u s e D A a n d i n s t e a d a v e h i m a n e x e m t i o n e r i o d t o
sel l t h e a sset or p lace it i n a trust. T h e panel notes that EAPWDR section 12.1 perta ex e mption o f as sets f o r person with disabilit ies or provides t h at an asset received by a person with dis if the minister is sat isf ied that the recip i ent intends to contrib S ubsect i on 12.1 (3) presc ribes an exemption period of three months unless the minister extends it to a specified date . The panel finds that th ere is nothin g in EAPWDR section 12.1 that c Ministry's evidence was that it relied on this section to gr init ially three months pursuant to s ubsection 12.1 (3), to give him time to esta pursuant to subsection 12.1 (2 ) (a). The Adv o c ate eligib le for DA in order to grant him a temporary exemption fo provision in EA PWDR section 12.1 and the Minis tr period for assets while t h e Appellant's eligibility for DA was being determined. Give n th at E APW DR section 12.1 do es n ot grant e reasonabl y de termined that th e Appe l lant did no t ce s u bsec tion 61.1( a) . There i s no ev idence to ind icate D A. T he p an e l t herefo re finds t hat t he Ministry re a eli gib le for cont in ue d MSO st at u s . Conc l us ion T he pan e l finds that t he M inis t r y 's det ermin at i o n th sec tion 61 .1 of t he E AP WDR wa s reasonabl y s u ppor a ppl ication of t he ap plic able l e g islation i n the circumstances of M ini stry's reconsider ation d eci sion. EAAT 003( 10/06/01) I APPEAL ins to tem porary perso n r e ceiving sp e ci al car e. The s ectio n abili ties is exemp t for the purpose of ass et limits ute t he a sset to a n RDSP or trust. on fers elig i bility f o r DA. The ant the Appellant a n exem p tion period, blish an RDSP or trust argued t h a t t he Min ist r y "deemed" the Appe l lant r assets. However, there is no deeming y 's eviden ce was that it applied the exemption li gibi lit y for DA, th e panel fi n d s that the M in ist ry ase to be el i gib l e for DA p ur s ua nt to EAPWDR th e Min istr y eve r found t he Ap pe l lant eli g ib le fo r s on ably det ermi ned th at th e Appel lant i s not at t he Appel lant i s not eligible for M SO pursuant t o ted by the evide n c e a n d a r eas onable the ap pell an t . Th e pan e l c onf ir m s th e
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.