I PART C -DECISION UNDER APPEAL The decision under appeal is the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction {the "Ministry") reconsideration decision dated Nov 6, 2018 which held that the appellant was not eligible to receive a moving supplement because he did not meet any of the legislated reasons for his move as set out in s.55(2) EAPWDR and because he did not demonstrate that he had no other resources available to him pursuant to s.55(3)(a) EAPWDR. PART D -RELEVANT LEGISLATION s. 55 Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation ("EAPWDR") s.22(4) Employment and Assistance Act ("EM")
P A R T E S U M M A R Y O F F A C T S T h e e v i d e n c e b e fo r e t h e M i n i s t r y a t r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n w a s T h e a p p e l l a n t i s a s o l e r e c i p i e n t o f d i s a b i l i t y a s s i O n S e p t e m b e r 5 , 2 0 1 8 t h e a p p e l l a n t p r o v i d e d a a c c o m m o d a t i o n e ff e c t i v e S e p t e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 8 . T p a rt o f t h e a p p e a l r e c o r d ) r e f l e c t e d t h a t t h e n e w O n S e p t e m b e r 2 4 , 2 0 1 8 t h e a p p e l l a n t p r o v i d e d a p a i d $ 5 0 0 t o a m o v i n g c o m p a n y t o m o v e a 1 b e d a p p e l l a n t r e q u e s t e d t o b e r e i m b u r s e d h i s m o v i n g T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s 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 s t a t e s : H e w a s l i v i n g i n a c c o m m o d a t i o n u n d e r a n a ff o r d t h e l o c a t i o n t h a t h e w a s l i v i n g i n a n d d e c i d e d t o H e a p p l i e d t o m o v e t o a n e w c o m m u n i t y 1 . 5 y e a O n A u g u s t 1 8 , 2 0 1 8 h e w a s o ff e r e d a n o t h e r a f f o c o m m u n i t y . W h e n h e w a s g i v e n t h e o ff e r , h e w a p a c k h i s t h i n g s f o r a S e p t e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 8 m o v i n g T h e a p p e l l a n t h a d a f r i e n d t h a t h a d a U h a u l a n d b a c k e d o u t a t t h e l a s t m i n u t e a n d t h e a p p e l l a n t o $ 5 0 0 . A f r i e n d l e n t h i m $ 5 0 0 b e c a u s e o f t h e l a s t m i n u t o f f e r e d t o h e l p b a c k e d o u t o n h i m . H e w a s a d m i t t e d t o t h e h o s p i t a l t h r e e t i m e s b e c a o n l y o p p o rt u n i t y t o c h a n g e h i s l i f e fo r t h e b e t t e r . T h e p r o c e s s h a s c a u s e d h i m a l o t o f s t r e s s b e c a t o s u p p l e m e n t t h e c o s t s h e h a s i n c u r r e d . T h e d o c u m e n t a r y e v i d e n c e a v a i l a b l e i n c l u d e d a r e c e i p t d c o m p a n y f o r $ 5 0 0 . T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s n o t i c e o f a p p e a l s t a t e s : " p l e a s e c o n s i d e r o t h e r i n c o m e t o p a y o f f m y d e b t . " A t t h e h e a r i n g , t h e a p p e l l a n t w a s n o t p r e s e n t f o r t h e f i r s t h e a r i n g w a s d e l i v e r e d t o t h e a p p e l l a n t o n N o v e m b e r 3 0 , w i t h t h e h e a r i n g i n t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e a p p e l l a n t . W h e n t h e a r i n g f r o m t h e b e g i n n i n g . A t t h e h e a r i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e d t h a t h e w a s s u f f e r i n g , m a n a g e r , a n d h i s d o c t o r e n c o u r a g e d h i m t o m o v e t o a n o m o v e , b u t w h e n h e f i n a l l y g o t t h e c a l l f r o m t h e a ff o r d a b l e t i m e l i n e . H e a s k e d f o r h e l p a n d p h o n e d m o v e r s . H e h a m o n e y . H e a p p l i e d t o t h e M i n i s t r y t o s e e i f h e c o u l d g e t M i n i s t r y s a i d h e w a s s u p p o s e d t o a s k t h e M i n i s t r y a h e a d h u m a n i t a r i a n h e l p . N e w e vid e n c e b v t h e a p p e ll a n t a t t h e h e a ri n g : A t t h e h e a r i n g t h e a p p e l l a n t a l s o s t a t e d t h a t h e h a d a n i n h e w a s g e n e r a l l y v e r y a f r a i d o f h i s n e i g h b o r s . H e s t a t e d t o l d h i m t h a t h e w a s n o t w e l c o m e t h e r e . H e i n d i c a t e d t h : s t a n c e . t e n a n c y a g r e e m e n t i n d i c a t i n g h e h a d s e c u r e d n e w h e t e n a n c y a g r e e m e n t r e v i e w e d b y t h e M i n i s t r y ( b u t n o t a r e n t p a y a b l e w a s $ 8 6 5 p e r m o n t h . m o v i n g r e c e i p t d a t e d S e p t e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 8 i n d i c a t i n g h e r o o m a p a rt m e n t f r o m o n e c o m m u n i t y t o a n o t h e r . T h e c o s t s . a b l e h o u s i n g p r o g r a m s i n c e 2 0 1 4 b u t h e w a s i s o l a t e d i n m o v e t o a n o t h e r c o m m u n i t y . r s a g o t h r o u g h t h e a ff o r d a b l e h o u s i n g p r o g r a m . r d a b l e h o u s i n g p l a c e m e n t t o a l o c a t i o n i n a m o r e s u i t a b l e s a w a y a t t h e t i m e a n d r u s h e d b a c k o n A u g u s t 2 1 , 2 0 1 8 t o d a t e . w a s a v a i l a b l e t o a s s i s t t h e a p p e l l a n t m o v e . T h e f r i e n d b t a i n e d t w o m o v i n g q u o t e s : o n e f o r $ 7 0 0 a n d o n e f o r e n a t u r e o f t h e m o v e a n d b e c a u s e a n o t h e r f r i e n d w h o u s e o f h i s m e n t a l h e a l t h a n d f e l t t h a t t h i s m o v e w a s h i s u s e h e i s u n a b l e t o w o r k d u e t o h i s d i s a b i l i t y a n d i s u n a b l e a t e d S e p t e m b e r 1 , 2 0 1 8 m a r k e d a s p a i d f r o m t h e m o v i n g t h a t I l i v e o n P W D i n a v e r y t i g h t b u d g e t a n d I h a v e n o 1 5 m i n u t e s . T h e p a n e l c o n f i r m e d t h a t t h e n o t i c e o f 2 0 1 8 a n d P u r s u a n t t o s . 8 6 ( b ) E A R t h e p a n e l p r o c e e d e d h e a p p e l l a n t j o i n e d t h e c a l l , t h e p a n e l r e c o m m e n c e d t h e a n d h e w a s s i c k f o r a l o n g t i m e . H i s p s y c h i a t r i s t , h i s c a s e t h e r c o m m u n i t y . H e a p p l i e d f o r o v e r o n e y e a r a g o f o r t h i s h o u s i n g s o c i e t y , t h e m o v e h a d t o h a p p e n w i t h i n a s h o r t d t o b o r r o w t h e m o n e y t o m o v e b e c a u s e h e d i d n ' t h a v e a n y t h e $ 5 0 0 t h a t h e b o r r o w e d t o m o v e r e i m b u r s e d a n d t h e o f t i m e fo r t h e m o n e y . H e s t a t e s t h a t h e i s a s k i n g f o r c i d e n t w h e r e a n e i g h b o r h i t h i s b o o t o n h i s d o o r a n d t h a t h e w a s a l s o v e ry a f r a i d o f h i s m a n a g e r a n d h i s m a n a g e r a t h e m a d e a p o l i c e r e p o r t .
The appellant also stated that his rent was not actually $865 per month but that ii was actually $334 per month because it was subsidized, and his rental amount includes heat and hot water and cable. The appellant therefore stated that his new rent was in fact less than his rent at his old location. The panel considers the infor mation about the appellant's fear of his manager and his neighbors to be new evidence as it was not before the Ministry at the time of reconsideration. The evidence was also available to the appellant at the time of reconsiderati on and even at that time that he initially asked for the moving supplement (he was aware of the fear of his neighbors and his rent subsidy at that time). The appellant however, never provided this information to the Ministry until the hear ing. The panel therefore finds that this information is inadmissible pursuant to s.22(4) EAA. It was not before the Ministry at reconsideration and it is not in support of information that was before the Ministry at the lime of reconsideration. At the hearing the Ministry relied on their reconsideration decision. The Ministry also argued that the new evidence should not be accepted because it was not before them at the time of reconsideration.
I PART F -REASONS FOR PANEL DECISION I The issue on appeal is whether the Ministry's decision to deny the appellant a moving supplement by reason that the appellant did not meet any of the legislated reasons for his move set out in s.55(2) EAPWDR and that he did not demonstrate that he had no other resources available pursuant to s.55(3)(a) EAPWDR is reasonably supported by the evidence or a reasonable application of the applicable legislation in the circumstances of the appellant. The legislation provides: Supplements for moving, transportation and living costs -EAPWDR 55 (1) In this section: "living cost" means the cost of accommodation and meals; "moving cost" means the cost of moving a family unit and its personal effects from one place to another; "transportation cost" means the cost of travelling from one place to another. (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), the minister may provide a supplement to or for a family unit that is eligible for disability assistance or hardship assistance to assist with one or more of the following: (a) moving costs required to move anywhere in Canada, if a recipient in the family unit is not working but has arranged confirmed employment that would significantly promote the financial independence of the family unit and the recipient is required to move to begin that employment; (b) moving costs required to move to another province or country, if the family unit is required to move to improve its living circumstances; (c) moving costs required to move within a municipality or unincorporated area or to an adjacent municipality or unincorporated area because the family unit's rented residential accommodation is being sold or demolished and a notice to vacate has been given, or has been condemned; (d) moving costs required to move within a municipality or unincorporated area or to an adjacent municipality or unincorporated area if the family unit's shelter costs would be significantly reduced as a result of the move; (e) moving costs required to move to another area in British Columbia to avoid an imminent threat to the physical safety of any person in the family unit; (f)transportation costs and living costs required to attend a hearing relating to a child protection proceeding under the Child, Family and Community Service Act, if a recipient is given notice of the hearing and is a party to the proceeding; (g) transportation costs, living costs, child care costs and fees resulting from (i)the required attendance of a recipient in the family unit at a hearing, or (ii) other requirements a recipient in the family unit must fulfil in connection with the exercise of a maintenance right assigned to the minister under section 17 [assignment of maintenance rights]. (3)A family unit is eligible for a supplement under this section only if (a)there are no resources available to the family unit to cover the costs for which the supplement may be provided, and
( b ) a r e c i p i e n t i n t h e f a m i l y u n i t r e c e i v e s t h e m i n i s t e r ' s a p ( 4 ) A s u p p l e m e n t m a y b e p r o v i d e d u n d e r t h i s s e c t i o n o n ( a ) t h e c o s t o f t h e l e a s t e x p e n s i v e a p p r o p r i a t e m o d e o f m ( b ) i n t h e c a s e o f a s u p p l e m e n t u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( 2 ) ( f ) o [ a m . B . C . R e g . 2 7 5 / 2 0 0 4 , s . 2 . ] P a n e l s o f t h e t r i b u n a l t o c o n d u c t a p p e a l s E A A 2 2 ( 1 ) I f a p e r s o n c o m m e n c e s a n a p p e a l i n a c c o r d a n c e c o n s i s t i n g o f u p t o 3 m e m b e r s o f t h e t r i b u n a l t o h e a r a n d ( 2 ) I f a p a n e l c o n s i s t s o f m o r e t h a n o n e m e m b e r , t h e c h a m e m b e r s o f t h e p a n e l , a n d i f a p a n e l c o n s i s t s o f o n e m e ( 3 ) A p a n e l m u s t c o n d u c t a h e a r i n g i n t o t h e d e c i s i o n b e i n ( a ) o r a l l y , o r ( b ) w i t h t h e c o n s e n t o f t h e p a rt i e s , i n w r i t i n g . ( 4 ) I n a h e a r i n g r e f e r r e d t o i n s u b s e c t i o n ( 3 ) , a p a n e l m a ( a ) t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d r e c o r d s t h a t w e r e b e f o r e t h e m i n i ( b ) o r a l o r w r i t t e n t e s t i m o n y i n s u p p o r t o f t h e i n fo r m a t i o n ( 5 ) E v i d e n c e r e f e r r e d t o i n s u b s e c t i o n ( 4 ) m a y b e a d m i t t e c o u rt o f l a w . ( 6 ) T h e p a n e l c h a i r i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r d e c i d i n g a n y q u e s t a n d i s n o t p r o v i d e d f o r i n t h e r e g u l a t i o n s o r i n t h e p r a c t i c [ p o w e r s a n d d u t i e s o f t h e c h a i r ] . Th e p a n e l fi n d s : T h e M i n i s t r y m a y p r o v i d e a m o v i n g s u p p l e m e n t t o t h e a p e n u m e r a t e d g r o u n d s s e t o u t i n s . 5 5 ( 2 ) a n d o n l y i f t h e a p s . 5 5 ( 3 ) a n d ( 4 ) o f E A P W D R . T h e a p p e l l a n t m o v e d s o t h a t h e c o u l d i m p r o v e h i s m e n t a c o m m u n i t y . H e s t a t e s t h a t h e n e e d e d t o m o v e f o r h i s o w s u ff e r s f r o m b e i n g i s o l a t e d f r o m h i s f r i e n d s a n d c o m m u n m o v e f o r h i s s a f e t y . W i t h r e s p e c t t o h i s m e n t a l h e a l t h , h w o r k e r a l l a g r e e d t h a t h e s h o u l d m o v e . T h e a p p e l l a n t d i o t h e r l e g i s l a t e d r e a s o n s s e t o u t i n s . 5 5 ( 2 ) ( a ) -( d ) , ( f ) , o r ( g s . 5 5 ( 2 ) ( e ) E A P W D R s t a t e s t h a t t h e M i n i s t r y m a y a s s i s t w B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a t o a v o i d a n i m m i n e n t t h r e a t t o t h e p h y s n o t e d t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t d i d s t a y i n t h e c o m m u n i t y h e w a c o m m u n i t i e s a l s o t o o k 1 . 5 y e a r s b e f o r e i t w a s g r a n t e d b T h e M i n i s t rv f o u n d t h a t s t a v i n a i n t h e c o m m u n i t v f o r 1 . 5 p r o v a l b e f o r e i n c u r r i n g t h o s e c o s t s . l y t o a s s i s t w i t h o v i n g o r t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , a n d r ( g ) , t h e l e a s t e x p e n s i v e a p p r o p r i a t e l i v i n g c o s t s . w i t h s e c t i o n 2 1 ( 1 ) , t h e c h a i r m u s t a p p o i n t a p a n e l d e t e r m i n e t h e a p p e a l . i r m u s t d e s i g n a t e a c h a i r o f t h e p a n e l f r o m a m o n g t h e m b e r , t h a t m e m b e r i s t h e c h a i r o f t h e p a n e l . g a p p e a l e d w i t h i n t h e p r e s c r i b e d p e r i o d e i t h e r y a d m i t a s e v i d e n c e o n l y s t e r w h e n t h e d e c i s i o n b e i n g a p p e a l e d w a s m a d e , a n d a n d r e c o r d s r e f e r r e d t o i n p a r a g r a p h ( a ) . d w h e t h e r o r n o t i t w o u l d b e a d m i s s i b l e a s e v i d e n c e i n a i o n o f p r a c t i c e o r p r o c e d u r e t h a t a r i s e s d u r i n g a h e a r i n g e s a n d p r o c e d u r e s o f t h e c h a i r u n d e r s e c t i o n 2 0 ( 2 ) ( a ) p e l l a n t o n l y i f t h e s u p p l e m e n t i s fo r o n e o f t h e s e v e n p e l l a n t a l s o c o m p l i e s w i t h a l l t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s s e t o u t i n l h e a l t h a n d n o t b e s o i s o l a t e d f r o m h i s f r i e n d s a n d n m e n t a l h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y . T h e a p p e l l a n t s t a t e s t h a t h e i t y . H e d i d n o t p r o v i d e d e t a i l s a b o u t w h y h e n e e d e d t o e s t a t e d t h a t h i s d o c t o r , p s y c h i a t r i s t , a n d m e n t a l h e a l t h d n o t d i s p u t e t h e f a c t t h a t h e w a s n o t m o v i n g f o r a n y o f t h e ) . i t h " m o v i n g c o s t s re q u i r e d t o m o v e t o a n o t h e r a re a i n i c a l s a f e t y o f a n y p e r s o n i n t h e fa m il y u n i f ' . T h e M i n i s t r y s l i v i n g i n f o r 4 y e a r s . T h e a p p e l l a n t ' s r e q u e s t t o t r a n s f e r y t h e a ff o r d a b l e h o u s i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n h e w a s w o r k i n g w i t h . v e a r s w a s i n d i c a t i v e t h a t t h e r e w a s n o i m m i n e n c e t o t h e
I need for the appellant to move. The Ministry therefore determined that the need to avoid threat to the appellant's physical safety was not imminent The panel finds that the appellant did not provide sufficient evidence about the imminence of his move or that there was in fact "imminent threat" to the appellant's "physical safety". The panel finds that this is a high standard to meet, and that it was reasonable for the Ministry to require more than just improving the appellant's mental health and feelings of isolation. The panel finds that the Ministry was reasonable in their determination that the appellant did not meet this standard. The Ministry found that, pursuant to s.55(3)(b) EAPWDR, the appellant could not obtain the Ministry's approval prior to incurring moving costs due to his mental health and since his friend that was going to assist him cancelled on short notice. The Ministry accepted the appellant's evidence on this point and relied on his statements that his friend cancelled at the last minute. The Ministry also determined that pursuant to s.55(4)(a) the appellant used the least expensive mode to move his personal items given that he used the cheaper of the two quotes. The panel finds both the determination pursuant to s.55(3)(b) and s.55(4)(a) to be reasonable determinations by the Ministry. The Ministry found that although the appellant indicated he was required to pay back his friend $500 for the moving costs, there was no information to support this evidence, and the Ministry found that pursuant to s.55(3)(a) EAPWDR they could not determine that the appellant was unable to obtain the resources to cover his moving costs. The Ministry found that there was no documentation to support the fact that the appellant owed his friend $500. The panel finds that the appellant did provide a receipt for moving expenses of $500 showing that they were "paid". The appellant also stated that he owed his friend the $500 to pay for the moving costs. The panel finds, that it was not reasonable for the Ministry to require additional supporting information with respect to moving costs, when they relied on the appellant's testimony in its entirety for their analysis is s.55(3)(b) EAPWDR. Further, the Ministry gave no reasons for why they accepted his testimony about his inability to find a friend to assist with the move, but would not accept his testimony that he owed his friend $500 for the move, The panel finds that it was not reasonable for the Ministry to determine that the appellant had the resources to cover the moving costs pursuant to s.55(3)(b) EAPWDR. For these reasons the panel finds that because the appellant did not move for one of the legislated reasons set out in s.55(3)(a), it was reasonable for the Ministry to deny the appellant the moving supplement The panel finds the ministry's decision was reasonably supported by the evidence and confirms the decision.
I PART G -ORDER THE PANEL DECISION IS: (Check one) IZJUNANIMOUS □ BY MAJORITY THE PANEL fg!CONFIRMS THE MINISTRY DECISION □RESCINDS THE MINISTRY DECISION If the ministry decision is rescinded, is the panel decision referred back to the Minister for a decision as to amount? □ Yes □No LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY FOR THE DECISION: Employment and Assistance Act Section 24(1)(a) fgJ or Section 24(1)(b) D and Section 24(2)(a) IZI or Section 24(2){b) D PART H -SIGNATURES PR!NTNAME MEGHAN WALLACE (by telephone) SIGNATURE OF CHAIR DATE (YEAR/MONTHIDAY ) -19-Dec-18 PRINT NAME SARAH BIJL SIGNATURE OF MEMBER DATE(YEAR/MONTHIDAY) 19-Dec-18 PRINT NAME ROBERT KELLY SIGNATURE OF MEMBER DATE(YEAR/MONTH/DAY) 17-Dec-18 .
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.