After you apply – approved or denied

If your application is approved, you will be assigned to work with an Assured Income Specialist, and you will begin receiving SAID benefits. If you were receiving temporary SAID benefits, this will be replaced by the full SAID benefits. The SAID benefits can include:

• Between $805 - $1,064 for a living income benefit, depending on where in Saskatchewan you live
• Up to $114 for specific utilities
• $93 for energy or home heating
• $50 for water and sewer

How is income determined?

If your application has been approved, you have already provided details about your income. This will be used to determine the benefits you will receive. If your income changes, make sure to complete the Change in income form and email the completed form to income.supportss@gov.sk.ca.

Remember, if you are employed, you have a total Income Exemption of up to $6,000 per calendar year if you are a single person without dependents. If you reach your income exemption for the year and you make over your allotted SAID benefits two months in a row, you will be taken off of SAID benefits and can reapply again in January. When you reapply, they will ensure you are financially eligible, but you do not have to complete the Disability Impact Assessment again.

Participation Planning

Participation planning is a voluntary activity your Assured Income Specialist will ask you if you want to do. This activity is a way to set personal goals and may help find other programs or services that will help you. If you choose not to participate, it will not impact the benefits you receive.

Individual Employment Plan

If you have a spouse who is able to work full-time, they may be required to find a job and sign an Individual Employment Plan. Your Assured Income Specialist will help you and your spouse develop the Individual Employment Plan and can also help find employment programs in your community or make referrals to help find a job or job training.

Referral Services

Your Assured Income Specialist can also make referrals to other services that can help you access additional support. This includes:

• Budgeting services
• Canada Pension Plan
• Counselling services
• Education
• Home care services
• Housing
• Legal Aid
• Mental Health Services
• Parenting skills
• Training and employment services.

Other supplemental benefits you may receive

In addition to the typical benefits included in the SAID benefits, you may be eligible for some of the following supplements. For more details about these benefits, you can see the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability Rates (SAID).

Child Care

You can receive $10 for half a day of childcare for one child, or $20 for a full day of childcare. This amount changes with additional children.

Disability Income Benefit

You can receive $295 per month if you receive the Living Income Benefit or the Modified Living Benefit.

Northern Living Supplement Benefits

Food costs can be higher in northern Saskatchewan. An addition $50 per family member per month may be provided if you live north of the 54th parallel and in the communities of Barthel, Cumberland House and Pemmican Portage.

Household Disability Support Benefit

You can receive $25 per month to pay for someone do household tasks you are unable to perform due to your disability.

Exceptional Needs Activity Benefit

If you live in an approved private-service home that is licensed through the Mental Health Services Act or the Residential Services Act or a home that is licensed through the Person Care Homes Act, you can receive $25 per month.

Personal Living Benefit

You can receive $295 per month if you are an adult who lives in one of the following:

• A residential care facility
• A hotel room where restaurant meals are required
• A long-term residence that provides partial personal supports
• A temporary residential facility or treatment centre
• Another arrangement where you do not receive the Living Income benefit.

Children who live in one of the living arrangements described above are eligible for $55 per month.

Advances

You can request advances for adult clothing and/or household needs. This advance will be part of your benefit from future months and will be taken off your monthly payment until the full amount has been paid back.

Exceptional Needs Benefits

This benefit is extra money that does not need to be paid back. You can discuss your needs with your Assured Income Specialist to determine if they are applicable. Some examples that may be eligible are:

• Clothing that is not for day-to-day use, such as maternity clothing
• Travel for activities such as medical appointments or a job interview
• Household task benefit to cover services that are necessary to maintain your home such as snow removal
• Special telephone equipment
• Household items
• Education expenses for children
• Job and training start-up costs such as work boots or fees/permits
• Payment for home care services
• Babysitting
• Laundry costs due to a medical condition
• Moving costs (must be pre-approved)
• Visiting children benefit (applicable when the children stay with the parent for more than 24 hours)
• Transition benefit for children (applicable for the month the children are added to the file until the federal child benefits are paid).

Supplementary health coverage

You may be eligible for supplementary health coverage through the Ministry of Health. In most cases, this will happen automatically, but if you have questions you can ask your Assured Income Specialist. If you are Status First Nations or Inuit, your health coverage will be through Health Canada instead.

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

Overpayments can happen if there has been a change in your financial situation that was not reported before your monthly benefit was determined by the Ministry. To compensate for the overpayment, a certain amount will be deducted from your monthly benefit until the amount that was overpaid is covered.

If you received an overpayment and are no longer receiving benefits, you will be contacted by the Ministry’s Accounts Receivable Unit to make a payment arrangement.

If you do not make arrangements to correct the overpayment, the amount of the overpayment can be taken away from your income tax refund or other income sources such as GST rebates.

The Ministry’s Accounts Receivable Unit can be contacted at:
Ministry of Social Services
Accounts Receivable Unit 1920 Broad Street, Regina, SK S4P 3V6
Telephone: 1-800-633-5326

If your application is denied you can have your application reconsidered. This is called an appeal. There are two different types of appeals: an appeal of the Disability Impact Assessment or an appeal about financial benefits. Both types of appeals will be described in detail below. Temporary benefits may be provided during the appeal process, but there are some exceptions.

You have the right to appeal your application if:

• You disagree with the decision made about your Disability Impact Assessment.
• Your application was denied because it was decided you had excess income or excess assets
• Your benefits were cancelled, changed, or held
• You were assessed for an amount that is considered an overpayment
• You disagree with a decision that impacts the amount of benefits you receive
• Your request to receive benefits or an increase in benefits was not handled within a reasonable time.

Appeal of Your Disability Impact Assessment

There are two steps involved with having an appeal of the Disability Impact Assessment.

Step 1: Reconsideration by the Service Delivery Manager or a Ministry Eligibility Review Team

You will need to write a request for an appeal. In your request for an appeal, you will need to state the reason(s) for your appeal and provide an explanation of the problem that needs to be fixed.

Your written request for an appeal must be submitted to the manager at your closest regional Social Services Office within 30 days from the date on the decision letter you received stating that you were denied SAID benefits.

The manager of the regional office will ask the Ministry Eligibility Review Team (MERT) to review your case. You will be contacted within 10 days to review the appeal you submitted. An official from the MERT will contact you by phone to ensure your Disability Impact Assessment provides an accurate description of your disability and to discuss any other concerns you have. An advocate such as a family member, friend, or someone else you know can help you during this phone call and may be able to receive a small fee.

If all the issues are able to be resolved at this point, you will not be required to continue with the appeal process. If the issues are not resolved, you can continue with the second step of the appeals process.

Step 2: Assessment Adjudicator

The appeal of your Disability Impact Assessment will be held with an expert in disability assessment who does not work for the Ministry. This person is called the assessment adjudicator.

The assessment adjudicator can ask you and/or the Ministry to provide any additional information to make their decision. They may also ask for a new Disability Impact Assessment.

The assessment adjudicator will make a decision about your case within 20 days from the day they received the notice of your appeal. You and the Ministry will receive a copy of the assessment adjudicator’s decision and the reasons for their decision.

The assessment adjudicator’s decision is the final decision.

Appeal of Your Financial Benefits

There are three steps in the appeal of your financial benefits. Each of these steps will be described below.

Step 1: The Service Delivery Manager

To start the appeal process, you will submit a request for an appeal to the service delivery manager. In your appeal request, you will need to state the reason(s) for your appeal and provide an explanation of the problem that needs to be fixed.

Your appeal must be submitted to the manager at your closest regional Social Services Office within 30 days from the date on the decision letter you received stating that you were denied SAID benefits. The manager of the regional office will ask senior officials to review your case. You will be contacted within 10 days to review the appeal you submitted.

If all the issues are resolved, you will not be required to continue with the appeal process. If the issues are not resolved, you can continue with the second step of the appeal process. The arrangements for your appeal will be made within 20 days from the date of the decision made by the Service Delivery manager.

Step 2: The Regional Appeal Committee

Your appeal will then be reviewed by the Regional Appeal Committee at an appeal hearing. The Regional Appeal Committee will be formed of members who are local citizens and who are not Ministry employees. You will receive a copy of the Ministry’s report at least three business days before your appeal.

You may bring information or documents to the appeal hearing to support your case. Your Assured Income Specialist and other staff employed by the Ministry will also be at the appeal hearing to answer any questions.

An advocate such as a family member, friend, or someone else you know can help you during this phone call and may be able to receive a small fee. Expenses for travel and meals may also be provided to you and/or your advocate if you are required to travel outside your community for the appeal process. If you do not have an advocate and would like one, your Assured Income Specialist can provide you with some suggestions.

The Regional Appeal Committee will hear your appeal and will later provide you with a letter with their decision. You or the Ministry can appeal this decision to the Social Services Appeal Board.

Step 3: The Social Services Appeal Board

If you decide that you want to appeal the Regional Appeal Committee’s decision, the Service Delivery Manager must receive you request to appeal within 20 days of the date on the Regional Appeal Committee’s letter. The Social Services Appeal Board will handle your request to appeal within 30 days from when the Service Delivery Manager receives your appeal request.

You are allowed to bring any information or documents to support your appeal. You may also bring an advocate with you to speak on your behalf. Remember, if you do not have an advocate and would like one, your Assured Income Specialist can make suggestions on people who could be your advocate.

You will get a letter with the Social Services Appeal Board’s decision. This is the final decision and cannot be appealed any further.

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: