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 d a t e d S e p t e m b e r 2 6 , 2 0 1 9 E m p l o y m e n t a n d A s s i s t a n c e P e r s o n s w i t h D i s a b i l i t i t o r e c e i v e m o r e t h a n $ 3 7 5 f o r s h e l t e r a l l o w a n c e . T h 2 ( 1 ) o f S c h e d u l e A o f t h e E A P W D R , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s s u p p o rt a l l o w a n c e . 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 b 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 b S c h e d u l e A s e c t i o n s 2 a n d 4 .I A P P E A L N U M B E R D e v e l o p m e n t a n d P o v e r t y R e d u c t i o n ( m i n i s t r y ) w h i c h h e l d t h a t , p u r s u a n t t o S e c t i o n 4 ( 2 ) o f t h e e s R e g u l a t i o n ( E A P W D R ) , 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 e m i n i s t r y a l s o d e t e r m i n e d t h a t , p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n n o t e l i g i b l e t o r e c e i v e m o r e t h a n $ 8 0 8 . 4 2 fo r a i l i t i e s A c t ( E A P W D A ) s e c t i o n s 5 a n d 1 1 i l i t i e s R e g u l a t i o n ( E A P W D R ) s e c t i o n s 2 9 a n d
I APPEAL NUMBER PART E -SUMMARY OF FACTS The evidence before the ministry at the time of reconsideration consisted of: Request for Reconsideration (RFR), signed and dated September 18, 2019, in which the appellant described their marital history and challenge with an inter-cultural marriage; described their spouse's health challenges; described the impact their spouse's death has had both emotionally and financially; described their own health challenges; and argued for additional funding to pay rent. Evidence at Appeal Notice of Appeal (NOA), signed and dated October 9, 2019, in which the appellant described the unexpected nature of their spouse's death; that they face a rent increase; described the ways in which they had made financial reductions; argued that they should be entitled to some of their spouse's income assistance benefits. Evidence at the Hearing At the hearing the appellant stated, in part, the following: • Shares the rental home with their adult children, who are also on assistance and the living expenditures are divided equally. • Does not have plans to move as they feel safe where they are however the landlord has increased the rent. They need help to meet the costs of the rent. • Are grieving the loss of their spouse and dealing with financial and administrative issues relating to his passing and in due course they plan to look for a part time job. • Did not expect their spouse's support allowance for August 2019 to be canceled and was not prepared for this financially or emotionally. • Could not afford the funeral they wanted for their spouse and had no family to turn to for help. • Out of principle, justice and compassion they think that they should receive the last support cheque. • Was told by the MLA's office that the 'deceased spouse adjustment' payments would be renewed for another 3 months upon application but the ministry worker told them otherwise. At the hearing the ministry relied on its reconsideration decision and added that the administration of the 'deceased spouse adjustment' payments is not governed by legislation but through policy. The policy allows the ministry to pay a widowed recipient up to 3 months of additional shelter costs and this case that would be $195 per month. The 'deceased spouse adjustment' cannot be renewed or continued beyond 3 months.
I APPEAL NUMBER PART F -REASONS FOR PANEL DECISION The issue at appeal is whether the ministry's decision, which found that the appellant is ineligible to receive more than $375 for shelter allowance and ineligible to receive more than $808.42 for a support allowance, was reasonably supported by the evidence or was a reasonable application of the applicable enactment in the circumstances of the appellant. The relevant legislation sets out the following: EAPWDA Disability assistance and supplements 5 Subject to the regulations, the minister may provide disability assistance or a supplement to or for a family unit that is eligible for it. Reporting obligations 11 (1) For a family unit to be eligible for disability assistance, a recipient, in the manner and within the time specified by regulation, must (a) submit to the minister a report that (i) is in the form prescribed by the minister, and (ii) contains the prescribed information, and (b) notify the minister of any change in circumstances or information that (i) may affect the eligibility of the family unit, and (ii) was previously provided to the minister. (2) A report under subsection (1) (a) is deemed not to have been submitted unless the accuracy of the information provided in it is confirmed by a signed statement of each recipient. EAPWDR Reporting requirement 29 For the purposes of section 11 (1) (a)[reporting obligations] of the Act, (a) the report must be submitted by the 5th day of the calendar month following the calendar month in which one or more of the following occur: (i) a change that is listed in paragraph (b) (i) to (v); (ii) a family unit receives earned income as set out in paragraph (b) (vi); (iii) a family unit receives unearned income that is compensation paid under section 29 or 30 of the Workers Compensation Act as set out in paragraph (b) (vii), and (b) the information required is all of the following, as requested in the monthly report form prescribed under the Forms Regulation, B.C. Reg. 87/2018: (i) change in the family unit's assets; (ii) change in income received by the family unit and the source of that income;
( i i i ) c h a n g e i n t h e r e c i p i e n t s i n t h e f ( i v ) c h a n g e i n f a m r e c i p i e n t ; ( v ) a n y w a r r a n t s ( v i ) t h e a m o u n t o c a l e n d a r m o n t h a ( v i i ) t h e a m o u n t o s e c t i o n 2 9 o r 3 0 f a m i l y u n i t i n t h e S c h e d u l e A M o n t h l y s u p p o rt a l l o w a n c e 2 ( 1 ) A m o n t h l y s u p p o r t a l l o w a n c e ( a ) t h e a m o u n t s e t o u t i n d e s c r i b e d i n C o l u m n 1 o p l u s ( a . 1 ) R e p e a l e d . [ B . C . R e ( b ) t h e a m o u n t c a l c u l a t e d e p e n d e n t c h i l d i n t h e f a I t e m C o l u m n 1 F a m i l y u n i t c o m p o s i t i o n A g e o 1 S o l e a p p l i c a n t / r e c i p i e n t a n d A p p l i c a n t / r e c n o d e p e n d e n t c h i l d r e n 3 T w o a p p l i c a n t s / r e c i p i e n t s O n e a p p l i c a n t a n d n o d e p e n d e n t c h i l d r e n o t h e r i s n o t a y e a r s o f a g e 4 T w o a p p l i c a n t s / r e c i p i e n t s B o t h a p p l i c a n a n d n o d e p e n d e n t c h i l d r e n 5 T w o a p p l i c a n t s / r e c i p i e n t s O n e a p p l i c a n t a n d n o d e p e n d e n t c h i l d r e n o t h e r i s n o t a y e a r s o f a g e 6 T w o a p p l i c a n t s / r e c i p i e n t s O n e a p p l i c a n t a n d o n e o r m o r e d e p e n d e n t o t h e r i s n o t a c h i l d r e n y e a r s o f a g e 7 T w o a p p l i c a n t s / r e c i p i e n t s B o t h a p p l i c a n t a n d o n e o r m o r e d e p e n d e n t c h i l d r e n 8 T w o a p p l i c a n t s / r e c i p i e n t s O n e a p p l i c a n t a n d o n e o r m o r e d e p e n d e n t o t h e r i s n o t a I A P P E A L N U M B E R e m p l o y m e n t a n d e d u c a t i o n a l c i r c u m s t a n c e s o f a m i l y u n i t ; i l y u n i t m e m b e r s h i p o r t h e m a r i t a l s t a t u s o f a a s d e s c r i b e d i n s e c t i o n 1 4 . 2 ( 1 ) o f t h e A c t ; f e a r n e d i n c o m e r e c e i v e d b y t h e f a m i l y u n i t i n t h e n d t h e s o u r c e o f t h a t i n c o m e ; f u n e a r n e d i n c o m e t h a t i s c o m p e n s a t i o n p a i d u n d e r o f t h e W o r k e r s C o m p e n s a t i o n A c t r e c e i v e d b y t h e c a l e n d a r m o n t h . f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f s e c t i o n 1 ( a ) i s t h e s u m o f C o l u m n 3 o f t h e f o l l o w i n g t a b l e fo r a f a m i l y u n i t f a n a p p l i c a n t o r a r e c i p i e n t d e s c r i b e d i n C o l u m n 2 , g . 1 9 3 / 2 0 1 7 , s . 9 ( a ) . ] d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h s u b s e c t i o n s ( 2 ) t o ( 4 ) f o r e a c h m i l y u n i t . C o l u m n 2 C o l u m n r s t a t u s o f a p p l i c a n t o r r e c i p i e n t 3 A m o u n t ( $ ) i p i e n t 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 8 0 8 . 4 2 / r e c i p i e n t 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 , t h e 1 0 2 7 . 5 6 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 i s u n d e r 6 5 t s / r e c i p i e n t s a r e p e r s o n s w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s 1 5 0 3 . 0 6 / r e c i p i e n t 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 , t h e 1 2 7 6 . 0 6 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 i s 6 5 o r m o r e / r e c i p i e n t 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 , t h e 1 1 2 1 .5 6 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 i s u n d e r 6 5 s / r e c i p i e n t s a r e p e r s o n s w i t h d i s a b i l i t i e s 1 5 9 7 . 0 6 / r e c i p i e n t 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 , t h e 1 3 7 0 . 0 6 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 i s 6 5 o r m o r e
APPEAL NUMBER I ---· . . -•�e ~�e•--• ---children years of age 9 Sole applicant/ recipient and Applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities and a 849.08 one or more dependent warrant has been issued for the applicant/ recipient children 10 Two applicants / recipients One applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities, and 858.42 and no dependent children the other is under 65 years of age, and a warrant has been issued for one 11 Two applicants/ recipients One applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities, and 858.42 and no dependent children the other is 65 or more years of age and a warrant has been issued for that applicant / recipient 12 Two applicants / recipients One applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities and 858.42 and no dependent children a warrant has been issued for that applicant/ recipient, and the other is 65 or more years of age 13 Two applicants/ recipients Both applicants/ recipients are persons with disabilities 1 085.42 ' i and no dependent children and a warrant has been issued for one 14 Two applicants / recipients One applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities, and 1 021.56 and one or more dependent the other is under 65 years of age and a warrant has children been issued for that applicant/ recipient ' 15 Two applicants/ recipients One applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities and 1 021.56 i and one or more dependent a warrant has been issued for that applicant/ recipient, children and the other is under 65 years of age 16 Two applicants/ recipients One applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities and 971.56 and one or more dependent the other is under 65 years of age, and a warrant has children been issued for both 17 Two applicants / recipients One applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities, and 1 270.06 and one or more dependent the other is 65 or more years of age and a warrant has ' 1 children been issued f o r that applicant/ recipient 18 Two applicants/ recipients One applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities and 1 270.06 and one or more dependent a warrant has been issued for that applicant / recipient, children and the other is 65 or more years of age 1 Two applicants/ recipients One applicant/ recipient is a person with disabilities and 1 220.06 and one or more dependent the other is 65 or more years of age, and a warrant has I 9 children been issued f o r both 20 Two applicants/ recipients Both applicants/ recipients are persons with disabilities 1 497.06 and one or more dependent and a warrant has been issued for one children 21 Two applicants/ recipients Both applicants / recipients are persons with disabilities 1 447.06 and one or more dependent and a warrant has been issued for both children Monthly shelter allowance 4 (2) The monthly shelter allowance for a family unit to which section 14.2 of the Act does not annlv is the smaller of
( a ) t h e f a m i l y u n i t ' s a c t u ( b ) t h e m a x i m u m s e t o u t I t e m C o l u m n 1 F a m i l y U n i t S i z e M 1 1 p e r s o n 2 2 p e r s o n s 3 3 p e r s o n s 4 4 p e r s o n s 5 5 p e r s o n s 6 6 p e r s o n s 7 7 p e r s o n s I 8 8 p e r s o n s 9 9 p e r s o n s 1 0 1 0 p e r s o n s Th e A p p e ll a n t ' s P o s i t i o n T h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t t h e y n e e d t h e i r s p o u s e ' s m e e t a n d p a y t h e r e n t u n t i l t h e y a r e a b l e t o w o r k p a a l l o w a n c e a m o u n t o n c o m p a s s i o n a t e g r o u n d s . Th e M i n i s t ry ' s P o s i t i o n T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t s i n c e t h e a p p e l l a n t ' s s p o u a t w o p e r s o n s h e l t e r a l l o w a n c e o r a t w o p e r s o n s u p S e c t i o n 4 ( 2 ) 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 P e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t e l i g i b l e t o r e c e i v e m o r e t h a n $ 3 7 5 f S c h e d u l e A o f t h e E A P W D R , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o t e l a l l o w a n c e . T h e m i n i s t r y f u rt h e r a r g u e d t h a t i t d o e s t h e r e a r e n o p r o v i s i o n s i n t h e l e g i s l a t i o n t h a t a l l o w f b a s e d o 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 . T h e P a n e l ' s D e c i s i o n T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t o n A u g u s t 1 , 2 0 1 9 , t h e a p p e l l a i n t h e a m o u n t s e t o u t f o r a t w o p e r s o n f a m i l y u n i t . T T h e p a n e l n o t e s t h a t t h e a p p e l l a n t a r g u e d t h a t t h e y p a y m e n t s c o u l d b e r e n e w e d f o r a n a d d i t i o n a l 3 m o n t h e i r l o s s , t h e y n e e d t h e e x t r a f u n d s . T h e p a n e l n o t t h e r e fo r e i t c a n n o t m a k e a f i n d i n g o n t h i s p o i n t I n a l l a p p e a l s , t h e p a n e l ' s j u r i s d i c t i o n i s t o r e v i e w w h l e g i s l a t i o n a n d w h e t h e r t h e m i n i s t r y ' s d e c i s i o n w a s c a n n o t o v e r t u r n a d e c i s i o n m a d e b y t h e m i n i s t r y s o l j u s t i c e .I A P P E A L N U M B E R a l s h e l t e r c o s t s , a n d i n t h e fo l l o w i n g t a b l e f o r t h e a p p l i c a b l e f a m i l y s i z e : C o l u m n 2 I a x i m u m M o n t h l y S h e l t e r $ 3 7 5 $ 5 7 0 $ 6 6 0 $ 7 0 0 $ 7 5 0 $ 7 8 5 $ 8 2 0 $ 8 5 5 $ 8 9 0 $ 9 2 5 s u p p o r t a n d s h e l t e r a l l o w a n c e a m o u n t t o m a k e e n d s rt t i m e a n d t h a t t h e y s h o u l d r e c e i v e t h e a d d i t i o n a l s e i s d e c e a s e d , t h e a p p e l l a n t i s n o l o n g e r e l i g i b l e fo r p o r t a l l o w a n c e . T h e m i n i s t r y a r g u e d t h a t p u r s u a n t t o 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 ) , t h e o r s h e l t e r a l l o w a n c e a n d , p u r s u a n t t o s e c t i o n 2 ( 1 ) o f i g i b l e t o r e c e i v e m o r e t h a n $ 8 0 8 . 4 2 f o r a s u p p o rt n o t h a v e t h e a u t h o r i t y t o o v e r t u r n l e g i s l a t i o n a n d o r a d d i t i o n a l s h e l t e r o r s u p p o rt a l l o w a n c e t o b e p a i d n t r e q u e s t e d o n g o i n g s u p p o r t a n d s h e l t e r a l l o w a n c e s h i s i s t h e o n l y i s s u e b e f o r e t h e p a n e l . w e r e t o l d t h a t t h e ' d e c e a s e d s p o u s e a d j u s t m e n t ' t h s a n d t h a t s i n c e t h e a p p e l l a n t n e e d s t i m e t o g r i e v e e s t h a t t h i s i s s u e i s n o t b e f o r e t h i s p a n e l a n d e t h e r o r n o t t h e m i n i s t r y h a d a p p l i e d t h e a p p l i c a b l e s u p p o r t e d b y t h e e v i d e n c e i n t h e c a s e . T h e p a n e l e l y b a s e d o n c o m p a s s i o n , p r i n c i p l e o r a s e n s e o f
I APPEAL NUMBER Support Schedule A, section 2(1) of the EAPWDR sets out that the support allowance for a sole recipient of disability assistance who does not have dependents is $808.42. In this case the evidence indicates that with the passing of the appellant's spouse, the appellant is a sole recipient of disability assistance and therefore is entitled to $808.42 per month for support. The evidence also indicates that there is no provision in the legislation that would allow the ministry to make an exception on compassionate grounds. Allowance Schedule A, section 4(2) of the EAPWDR sets out that shelter allowance for a sole recipient of disability assistance who does not have dependents is $375. In this case the evidence indicates that with the passing of the appellant's spouse, the appellant is a sole recipient of disability assistance and therefore is entitled only to $375 per month for shelter. The evidence also indicates that there is no provision in the legislation that would allow the ministry to make an exception on compassionate grounds. Conclusion: The panel finds that the ministry's reconsideration decision, which determined that the appellant was ineligible for additional support and shelter allowance, was reasonably supported by the evidence, and therefore confirms the decision. The appellant is not successful on appeal.
A P P E A L N U M B E R I P A R T G O R D E R T H E P A N E L D E C I S I O N I S : ( C h e c k o n e ) [Z] U N A N I M O U S â–¡ B Y M A J O R I T Y T H E P A N E L [Z] C O N F I R M S T H E M I N I S T R Y D E C I S I O N â–¡ R E S C I N D S T H E M I N I S T R Y D E C I S I O N I f t h e m i n i s t r y d e c i s i o n i s r e s c i n d e d , i s t h e p a n e l d e c i s i o n r e f e r r e d b a c k t o t h e M i n i s t e r f o r a d e c i s i o n a s t o a m o u n t ? â–¡ Y e s â–¡ N o L E G I S L A T I V E A U T H O R I T Y F O R T H E D E C I S 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 S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 1 ) ( a ) [Z] o r S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 1 ) ( b ) [Z] a n d S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 2 ) ( a ) [Z] o r S e c t i o n 2 4 ( 2 ) ( b ) D P A R T H S I G N A T U R E S P R I N T N A M E N e e n a K e r a m S I G N A T U R E O F C H A I R D A T E ( Y E A R / M O N T H / D A Y ) 2 0 1 9 / 1 0 / 3 0 P R I N T N A M E K u l w a n t B a l S I G N A T U R E O F M E M B E R D A T E { Y E A R/ M O N T H / D A Y ) 2 0 1 9 / 1 0 / 3 0 P R I N T N A M E S i m o n C l e w s S I G N AT U R E O F M E M B E R D A T E ( Y E A R / M O N T H / D A Y ) 2 0 1 9 / 1 0 / 3 0
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.