After you apply – approved or denied

Once your application is approved, an Income Assistance Officer will determine the amount of financial support you will receive each month. The amount you receive in Income Assistance will depend on a number of factors including:

• Your living expenses
• Which zone you live in
• The number of people in your family, including dependent children

Categories of the Basic Allowance

The amount you receive from Income Assistance will be categorized based on categories that are included in the basic allowance. You can receive:

• A food allowance
• $50 in miscellaneous allowance if you or your dependent are staying in a medical or treatment facility
• Room and board allowance
• Accommodation allowance
• Fuel allowance
• Utilities allowance

To see a full list of allowances and amounts you could receive, you can see Schedule A on page 24 of the Income Assistance Act: Consolidation of Income Assistance Regulations.

Employment Expectations

When you are approved for Income Assistance, you are typically expected to participate in activities that could help you find employment. If you meet the criteria to qualify as a person with a disability, you will be exempt from participating in these activities.

These activities can include:

• Wage employment
• Education or training
• Parenting or caring for family members
• Counselling or treatment
• Community Service

Productive Choices

Productive Choices is a program designed to help individuals gain financial independence. Productive Choices can include participating in career or wellness activities.

Career activities include:

• Upgrading
• Career support
• Employment
• Training
• Harvesting
• Community work/volunteer activities
• Parenting

Wellness activities include:

• Alcohol and drug counselling
• Mental health counselling
• Family support
• Medical Assistance
• Community justice

Other supplemental benefits you may receive

In addition to the basic allowance you will receive each month, you may also be eligible to receive other extended benefits.

Some examples of supplemental benefits include the following:

• Clothing allowance
• Incidental allowance of $250 for a person who is disabled permanently or temporarily for more than a year
• Incidental allowance of $175 for a person who has attained the age of 60 years
• An allowance of $125 for a person who is disabled temporarily for at least six months
• Allowance for expenses related to education and training such as:
  • Transportation
  • Text books and supplies
  • Special clothing
  • Activity fees
  • Tuition
• Household furnishings and equipment allowance
• Damage deposits
• Emergency Assistance
• Day care subsidy allowance

To Keep Your Information Up-to-Date and Avoid Overpayments

While you are receiving Income Assistance, you must inform your Income Assistance worker of any changes to your situation that could impact your eligibility to receive Income Assistance or may change the amount of Income Assistance you are eligible for. This could include:

• Changes in your number of dependents
• Changes in your income
• Changes in your assets
• Changes in your place of residence

Overpayments

If you do not inform your Income Assistance worker of the changes in your situation, you may receive an overpayment. An overpayment means you received more money than you are eligible to receive. If you receive an overpayment, you will need to pay the amount back.

Typically, a portion of the overpayment amount you owe will be deducted from your monthly Income Assistance until you have paid back the total overpayment amount you received. If you are no longer receiving Income Assistance but owe money due to an overpayment, you will need to make a payment plan arrangement to pay back the full amount you owe.

Filing An Appeal

If your application is denied you have the option of filing an appeal. You can file an appeal within seven days of receiving a decision on your application for Income Assistance.

How to File an Appeal

To file an appeal, you must provide written notification to the chairperson of the Appeal Committee and the Director that describes the reason(s) you are filing the appeal and the solution you are looking for.

Seeking Assistance Filing Your Appeal

If you are not able to provide a written notification, someone can assist you. If nobody else is able to, the Income Assistance Officer can assist you. If someone helps you provide the written notification, they must only include the information you request and must act in an impartial manner.

Meeting with the Appeal Committee

Within 30 days of the day they receive your notification to request an appeal, the chairperson of the Appeal Committee will hold a meeting with the Appeal Committee, you (the applicant), and/or your representative.

You and the Appeal Committee will receive at least three days notice before the hearing of the appeal. During the appeal, the Appeal Committee may request you and the Income Assistance Officer to provide documents or other information.

Outcome of the Appeal

After reviewing the documents and any other information you and/or the Income Assistance Officer supply, the Appeal Committee will decide on the outcome of the appeal, which they will provide in writing.

Appeals to the Appeal Board

If you have reason to appeal the Appeal Committee’s decision, you can file an appeal with the Appeal Board within seven days of the day you received written notification of the Appeal Committee’s decision.

Before the Appeal

To file this appeal you will need to send written notification to the chairperson of the Appeal Board describing the reason(s) you are appealing the decision and the solution you are looking for.

Once the chairperson of the Appeal Board receives the notification of your appeal, they will be provided a copy of the ruling being appealed, any documents that are necessary to determine your eligibility, and the reasons for the appeal. The chairperson of the Appeal Board will then designate three to five members of the Appeal Board to sit on a panel of the Appeal Board to hear the appeal.

During the Appeal

Within 30 days of the day they receive your notification to request an appeal, the chairperson of the Appeal Board will hold a meeting with the panel they appointed, the Director, you (the applicant), and/or your representative. You and the Appeal Committee will receive at least three days notice before the hearing of the appeal.

During the appeal, the panel may request that you, the Income Assistance Officer, the chairperson of the Appeal Committee, or the Director provide documents or other information.

After the Appeal

After reviewing the documents and any other information provided, the panel will decide on the outcome of the appeal, which they will provide in writing. Copies of this decision will be provided to you, the Income Assistance Officer, the Director, and the chairperson of the Appeal Committee.

Choosing the best option if you are denied

Here are some common reasons that people are denied with advice on the next step to take: