Appeal

Effective: June 1, 2010

A person who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a request for reconsideration may appeal to the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal. [For more information on reconsideration decisions, see Related Links – Reconsideration.]

An appeal panel of the Tribunal has jurisdiction to determine appealability.

The following categories of supplements may not be appealed to the Tribunal:

• reconsideration and appeal supplement [see Policy – Appeal Supplement or Related Links – Reconsideration – Policy – Reconsideration Supplement; see EA Regulation, section 54, or EAPWD Regulation, section 52]

• supplements related to Employment Plans [see Related Links – Employment Plan; see EA Regulation, section 56, or EAPWD Regulation, section 54]    

• access to a program established or funded under the Employment and Assistance Act  or the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act

• confirmed job supplement [see Related Links – Confirmed Job Supplement; see EA Act, see EA Regulation, section 56.1, or EAPWD Regulation section 54.1]

• repayable warrant supplement due to hardship [see Related Links – Warrants; see EA Act or EAPWD Act, see EA Regulation, section 77.4, or EAPWD Regulation section 70.3]

• repayable warrant transportation supplement [see Related Links – Warrants; see EA Act or EAPWD Act, see EA Regulation, section 77.5, or EAPWD Regulation section 70.4]

Persons may not appeal a decision to refuse to provide income assistance, disability assistance, hardship assistance, or a supplement, when they are awaiting reconsideration or the decision of the appeal panel on an earlier request for reconsideration or an appeal they brought on the same matter.

The right of appeal is subject to the time limits and other requirements set out in the Employment and Assistance Act and the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act and the regulations under the acts.

The majority decision of the appeal panel is deemed to be the decision of the Tribunal, but the decision of the chair of the panel governs in the case of a tie. The Tribunal decision is final. Tribunal decisions may be appealed through the courts (judicial review), but the courts will consider the Tribunal to be an expert Tribunal in relation to all matters over which it has exclusive jurisdiction.

Employment Plans

A client can request reconsideration and appeal of a decision that concerns the discontinuance of assistance due to non-compliance with a condition of an Employment Plan.  However, a decision relating to any of the following is final and may not be appealed or reviewed by a court on any ground:

• requiring a client to enter into an Employment Plan

• amending, suspending, or cancelling an Employment Plan

• specifying the conditions of an Employment Plan

[For more information, see Related Links – Employment Plan.]

Overpayments

If income assistance, disability assistance, hardship assistance or a supplement is provided to or for a family unit that is not eligible for it, recipients who are members of the family unit during the period for which the overpayment is provided must repay to the government the amount or value of the overpayment provided for that period. The decision about the amount a client is liable to repay may not be appealed.

No Change of Circumstances

If a person reapplies for income assistance, disability assistance, hardship assistance, or a supplement and a right of appeal has been exercised after the eligibility of the person’s family unit has been determined and the Tribunal’s decision on the appeal has been implemented, no right of appeal exists for a second or a subsequent application unless the circumstances relating to the determination of the eligibility have changed.

Effective: January 1, 2020

[see also Related Links – Reconsideration – Policy – Reconsideration Supplement.]

[Section 56.6 of the Employment and Assistance Regulation and section 54.7 of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation reference the “Reconsideration or Appeal Supplement.” In addition to the supplement’s full name, for the purposes of this topic, the term “appeal supplement” is referenced to reflect the stage the client is at in the reconsideration and appeal process at the time the supplement has been requested.]

To be eligible to receive the supplement, the recipient must agree in writing to repay the amount paid if the Tribunal’s final decision denies the recipient’s request. In the case of a couple, both the key player and spouse must sign the Promise to Repay - Benefit While Awaiting Reconsideration/Appeal Decision form (HR2737). However, if circumstances beyond the control of either recipient prevent both from signing the HR2737, the supplement may be issued on the basis of a single signature from either the key player or spouse. [For more information see Procedures – Appeal Supplement.] If the final decision approves the recipient’s request, the appeal supplement received during the appeal period does not have to be repaid as the amount received is considered to have been paid in place of income or disability assistance or a supplement.  (The Tribunal will make the final decision—to either confirm or rescind the ministry decision.)

[For more information on Promise to Repay, see Related Links – Recoveries – Policy – Promise to Repay – Recovery of Repayable Benefits at a Future Date.]

Appeal Supplement for Income and Disability Assistance Recipients

An appeal supplement may be provided to a family unit for whom the ministry has made a reconsideration decision to reduce or discontinue income assistance, disability assistance, or a supplement if the family unit delivers a Notice of Appeal to the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal (EAAT001) to either the Tribunal office or an Employment and Assistance Office relating to that reconsideration decision. 

Appeal Supplement for Hardship Assistance Recipients

An appeal supplement may be provided to a hardship assistance recipient for whom the ministry has made a decision to reduce or discontinue a supplement if the family unit delivers a Notice of Appeal to the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal (EAAT001) to the Tribunal office, a Service BC office, or an Employment and Assistance Office relating to that reconsideration decision. The appeal supplement is not available for hardship assistance, including comforts and user charges for special care facilities. NOTE: If the client has delivered the EAAT001 to the ministry, the EAAT001 should be immediately forwarded to the Tribunal.

Limitation

The appeal supplement, as applicable, is limited to the amount of the discontinued income assistance or disability assistance or supplement, or the amount reduced in respect of income assistance or disability assistance or a supplement. The intention of the supplement is to continue the level of income assistance or disability assistance or supplement that existed prior to discontinuation or reduction, and not place the client in a better or worse position. In addition, all rules of eligibility apply to provision of the supplement, and the supplement may be reduced or discontinued as appropriate if affected by factors that may not be related to the original reason for discontinuation or reduction.

Duration

The appeal supplement may be provided for the shorter of the following:

• the period between the date that the Notice of Appeal Form (EAAT001) is delivered and the date that the appeal is determined, and
• the period between the date that the income assistance, disability assistance, or supplement was reduced or discontinued and the date that the appeal is determined

Determination

An appeal is determined either:

• when the Tribunal has made a decision on the appeal, if the decision can be implemented without a further decision on the amount, or
• if the Tribunal’s decision requires a further decision on the amount, when the amount has been decided

If the determination of the appeal rescinds the decision being appealed and did not require a further decision on the amount, the amount of the appeal supplement does not have to be repaid and must be considered to have been paid in place of either of the following:

• the discontinued income or disability assistance or supplement, or
• the amount by which the income or disability assistance or supplement was reduced

If the determination of the appeal rescinds the decision being appealed and did require a further decision on the amount, the recipient must repay the difference between the following: 

• the total amount of appeal supplement paid to the recipient, and
• the total amount of any adjustment in favour of the recipient for the same period in which the total amount of the appeal supplement was paid.

Effective: October 1, 2005

The duty to act fairly is the most basic component of administrative law. For the appeal process to meet the principles of fairness, it is essential that:

• both parties (the ministry and the appellant) have the same information available to them about the case being appealed
• both parties have the opportunity to present their case and hear the case against them
• the person deciding the matter is not a party to the original decision being appealed
• the person hearing the case must be impartial and independent of the outcome
• clients are informed of all reasons a decision was made
• clients are informed of their right to have their case heard

Effective: November 9, 2012

A client will receive the Employment and Assistance Reconsideration Decision (HR0101) along with a package containing copies of all other submissions, information, and records that were before the ministry when the decision being reconsidered was made.  This package constitutes the appeal record. The appeal record will be severed in accordance with Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation.

[For more information on the appeal record, see Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal – Appeal Record.]

[For more information on Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy see Related Links – Information Privacy and Security (FOIPPA).]

Where the reconsideration decision denies a client's request, the package will include an Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal brochure, which provides information about appeal rights, and a Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001).

Effective: May 13, 2024

If a client is dissatisfied with the outcome of a reconsideration decision, they can appeal that decision. A client who wishes to appeal a reconsideration decision must deliver a completed and signed Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) to the Tribunal within 20 business days after the date the client was notified of the reconsideration decision.

The Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) is provided with the reconsideration decision. A client can also access this form online at www.eaat.ca, at an Employment and Assistance office, or a Service BC office. A separate Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) is completed for each decision being appealed.

If a Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) is not received by the Tribunal within 20 business days after the client was notified of the reconsideration decision, the reconsideration decision is deemed to be accepted. If a client needs more time to deliver the Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001), they may ask the Tribunal for an extension if special circumstances exist.

The client may request the assistance of an advocate in completing the Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001), and will be provided with names and addresses of local support agencies or non-governmental organizations that may be able to assist.

The client completes the Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) and either mails, faxes or emails the form directly to the Tribunal office.  If it is delivered to the ministry or Service BC office to be faxed to the Tribunal office, the fax number can be found on the Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) or under Contacts. Once the documents are faxed to the Tribunal office, return the originals to the client.

Effective May 13, 2024

The Tribunal is an independent and arms-length body that is responsible for the overall management and operation of the appeal process. The Tribunal consists of a Chair, Vice-Chair, staff, and panel members located throughout the province. Cases are heard in a timely fashion throughout the province by trained and impartial appeal panel members.  The Tribunal Chair chooses a panel consisting of up to three members to hear each client-initiated appeal. These people must be impartial and independent in their decision-making, and none are a party to the original decision.

Once an appeal has been commenced, the Tribunal obtains a copy of the appeal record from the ministry, and will forward a copy to the client. The appeal record includes the Employment and Assistance Reconsideration Decision (HR0101) and all other submissions, information, and records that were before the ministry when the reconsideration decision was made. This ensures that both parties (the ministry and the appellant) have the same information available to them about the case being heard, and are aware of the full case against the client. Where the person requesting the appeal is an advocate or person other than the client, proper authorization by the client will be required prior to release of the appeal record. 

The Tribunal is responsible for setting the date, time, and place of the panel hearing and for notifying all parties involved. Both parties have the opportunity at the hearing to present their case and hear the case against them. The Tribunal also allows ministry employees and other witnesses to attend a hearing on behalf of either party to clarify or expand on evidence.  Either party introducing written information or records should provide additional copies to the appeal panel and the other party.

The appeal panel may admit information to a hearing that it considers relevant, necessary and appropriate. It may also consider evidence that is not part of the appeal record, if it considers the evidence is reasonably required for a full and fair disclosure of all matters related to the decision under appeal. The appeal panel may exclude anything unduly repetitious and any evidence that would be inadmissible in court because of a privilege under the law of evidence.

The appeal panel will hear and decide the appeal. The appeal panel will determine whether the ministry reasonably applied the relevant acts and regulations or whether the ministry’s decision was reasonably supported by the evidence. The decision of the Tribunal appeal panel either confirms or rescinds the ministry’s decision.

Determining Appealability

Upon receiving the completed Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001), the Tribunal will first determine whether the outcome of the request for reconsideration is an appealable decision under any of the following:

• section 17 (3) of the Employment and Assistance Act
• section 16 (3) of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act

An appeal panel of the Tribunal has jurisdiction to determine appealability.

Appeal Panel

The Tribunal Chair appoints a panel consisting of up to three members of the Tribunal to hear and determine the appeal and designates one member as the panel chair. If a panel consists of one member, that member is the chair of the panel.

The Tribunal Chair may consolidate two or more appeals involving the same parties and direct that two or more appeals involving different parties will be heard together only if both of the following apply:

• the appeals involve substantially similar facts
• each of the parties to each of the appeals agrees to the appeals being consolidated or heard together

The appeal hearing is held within 15 business days of receiving the Notice of Appeal (EAAT001), unless the Tribunal Chair and the parties consent to a later date.

Appeal Record

The appeal record is required if a person commences an appeal. The appeal record must be assembled and retained in a secure manner. The appeal record will be severed in accordance with Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation.

[For more information on Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy see Related Links – Information Privacy and Security (FOIPPA).]

The appeal record is to be kept at the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit. A copy of the appeal record is sent to the Tribunal when a client initiates an appeal. The Tribunal will provide a copy of the appeal record to the client initiating the appeal. Where this is an advocate or person other than the client, the Tribunal requires proper authorization from the client prior to releasing the appeal record.

Method of Appeal

On the Notice of Appeal (EAAT001), a person initiating the appeal can request that the hearing occur using one of the following methods:

Oral: in person, by telephone or video-conference

In writing: (if both parties consent)

Either party to a hearing may request to attend by telephone. A request to attend an oral, in-person hearing by telephone will only be considered by the Tribunal in exceptional circumstances. To do this, a Request to Attend by Telephone form (EAAT007 – available on the Tribunal website) must be completed. This form can be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Tribunal. If the ministry is requesting to attend an in person hearing by telephone, the request must be made by the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit. The decision whether to approve the request will be made by the Tribunal Chair and the Tribunal will notify both parties in writing.  

[see also Additional Resources – Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal]

The Tribunal sets the date, time, and place of the hearing and notifies all parties involved at least two business days prior to the hearing.

Oral in-person hearings are usually held in the community nearest the appellant, or close to it. Both parties have an opportunity to appear before the appeal panel, and both ministry employees and/or other witnesses are allowed to attend the hearing to clarify or expand on evidence. An advocate may appear with the client, or may assist with written information for the appellant.

The ministry representative makes submissions to the appeal panel and does not attend the hearing in a decision-making capacity.

The appeal panel may hear an appeal in the absence of a party if the party was notified of the hearing.

If both parties agree to conduct a written hearing, the ministry is asked to present a written response in reply to the appellant’s written response. The response provided by the person initiating the appeal (or advocate) is given to the ministry, and the ministry’s response is provided to the person initiating the appeal (subject to proper authorization as outlined above, if not the client). The panel is then provided with both submissions for review. In a written hearing, the parties do not appear before the panel.

The panel chair is responsible for deciding any question of practice or procedure that arises during a hearing that is not provided for in the regulations or in the practices and procedures of the Tribunal Chair. For more information, see the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal Internet site. [see Additional Resources]

Evidence Submitted to the Appeal Panel

The appeal panel may:

• receive and accept information that it considers relevant, necessary and appropriate, whether or not the information would be admissible in a court of law,
• consider evidence that is not part of the appeal record but that the panel considers reasonably required for a full and fair disclosure of all matters related to the decision under appeal,
• exclude anything unduly repetitious, and
• exclude evidence that would be inadmissible in court because of a privilege under the law of evidence.

The appellant or the ministry may submit new evidence to the appeal panel. The authority to determine whether or not new evidence may be admitted resides with the panel chair. [For more information, see Procedures - Ministry Representative at Tribunal - New Evidence.]

Appeal Dismissals

An appellant who has delivered a completed Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) to the Tribunal has the right to withdraw the appeal at any time before the appeal panel of the Tribunal makes a decision. The appellant may inform the Tribunal they wish to have their appeal dismissed orally (before or during a hearing), by phone call, or in writing by email, mail, or fax. When the Tribunal receives the notice, the appeal is deemed to have been dismissed. The Tribunal will mark the file as dismissed and will send a letter confirming the date to the appellant and ministry. No decision will be made for a dismissed appeal. 

Appeal Panel Decision

After hearing the submissions of both parties or considering the written submissions, the panel makes its decision to either confirm or rescind the ministry decision. The panel does not have the power to replace the ministry decision with one of its own, nor to gather evidence on its own.

The decision of the majority of the appeal panel members is deemed to be the Tribunal’s decision, but the decision of the panel chair governs in the case of a tie. The decision will be completed in writing by the panel within five business days of the hearing.

The Tribunal Chair may extend this time limit for the panel to render its decision by no more than 10 additional business days if the Tribunal Chair is satisfied that the panel is making all reasonable efforts to provide the determination in a timely manner, and the best interests of the parties are served by the extension.

The Tribunal sends the parties a copy of the written decision within five business days of it being received by the Tribunal.  Decisions are communicated to clients in clear, understandable terms.

The Tribunal decision is final. Tribunal decisions may be appealed to the British Columbia Supreme Court (judicial review), but the courts will consider the Tribunal to be an expert tribunal in relation to all matters over which it has exclusive jurisdiction.  An application for judicial review of a final decision of the Tribunal must be commenced within 60 days of the Tribunal decision date. (There may be circumstances when the courts may extend the time for making an application.)

[For information on implementing a Tribunal decision, see Procedures – Implementing the Tribunal Decision.]

Effective: May 13, 2024

[see also Additional Resources – Effective Date of Eligibility Workflow Chart]

When the Tribunal rescinds the ministry’s reconsideration decision, the effective date of eligibility is dependent on the type of assistance applied for.

• New applicants for income assistance are eligible for income assistance retroactive to the date of their application. 
• Applicants for disability assistance, who were already designated as a person with disabilities and are re-applying for disability assistance are eligible for disability assistance retroactive to the date of their application for disability assistance. 
• Recipients who have had income assistance or disability assistance discontinued or reduced are eligible for assistance retroactive to the date of the reduction or discontinuance. If an appeal supplement has been issued, this is not repayable and must be considered to have been paid in place of the discontinued assistance or the amount by which the assistance was reduced.
• Applicants who qualify as a person who has persistent multiple barriers to employment (PPMB) are eligible to receive income assistance at the PPMB rate on the first day of the month after the date of the reconsideration decision.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made after the due date, staff will determine eligibility as of the first day of the month after the date the reconsideration decision was due.
• Recipients who have their PPMB status rescinded are eligible to receive income assistance at the PPMB rate on the first day of the month after the date of the reconsideration decision.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made after the due date, staff will determine eligibility as of the first day of the month after the date the reconsideration decision was due.
• Applicants for persons with disabilities designation are eligible to receive disability assistance on the first day of the month after the date of the reconsideration decision.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made after the due date, staff will determine eligibility as of the first day of the month after the date the reconsideration decision was due.
• New applicants for a supplement are eligible for the supplement retroactive to the date of the reconsideration decision.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made after the due date, staff will determine eligibility as of the date the reconsideration decision was due.
• Recipients who have had a supplement discontinued or reduced are eligible for the supplement retroactive to the date of the reconsideration decision. If an appeal supplement has been issued, this is not repayable and must be considered to have been paid in place of the discontinued supplement or the amount by which the supplement was reduced.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made after the due date, staff will determine eligibility as of the date the reconsideration decision was due.

If additional information is provided after making the request for reconsideration and before the reconsideration decision is sent, the Reconsideration Officer may have one additional business day to review the information and write and send the reconsideration decision. If this additional business day is taken, it will not impact the effective date of eligibility if the appeal decision is an approval. 

Effective: October 1, 2005

Timelines for Delivering a Notice of Appeal

A person who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a request for reconsideration and wishes to appeal that decision must commence an appeal to the Tribunal within 20 business days of being notified of the reconsideration decision. The deadline to request an appeal may be extended if the Tribunal Chair is satisfied special circumstances exist.

Effective: June 15, 2009

To commence an appeal a person must complete a Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) and provide it to the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal. This form is provided with the reconsideration decision. A person can also obtain this form online at www.eaat.ca, at a local Employment and Assistance Office, or Service BC office. A separate Notice of Appeal is completed for each decision being appealed.

The ministry may provide the person with the names and addresses of local support agencies or non-governmental organizations that may be able to assist the person with completing the EAAT001.

Effective: July 29, 2013

The person completes the Notice of Appeal (EAAT001) and either mails, faxes or emails the form directly to the Tribunal.  If the Notice of Appeal (EAAT001) is delivered to the ministry or Service BC office, it must be immediately faxed to the Tribunal office. The fax number can be found on the Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) or under Contacts. To ensure that appeal timelines are met, the Notice of Appeal (EAAT001) and any accompanying documentation must be date stamped when received.

A note should be made on the reconsideration service request in ICM to document the date the Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) (and any accompanying documentation, if included) was received and the date it was faxed to the Tribunal Office. An appeal service request will be created by the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit. A person who delivers the EAAT001 to the ministry, or Service BC office should be advised that the Tribunal will schedule the appeal panel hearing and contact both the appellant and the ministry with details about the hearing.

Effective: July 29, 2013

The Tribunal will notify the ministry of the appeal and will request a copy of the appeal record from the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit who will create an appeal service request in ICM. [For more information on the appeal record, see Policy – Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal – Appeal Record.]

A note must be made on the appeal service request in ICM to confirm that the appeal record was forwarded to the Tribunal and the date sent. The Tribunal request should also be saved on the appeal service request. 

Effective: November 9, 2012

If a client pursues appeal of an eligibility decision involving a trust, the ministry’s submission to the Tribunal must be submitted to Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit prior to being filed with the Tribunal. This will allow Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit the opportunity to review the submission to ensure that it clearly explains the legal basis of the ministry’s decision and the underlying trust law supporting the decision.

If a Tribunal panel rescinds a ministry eligibility decision involving a trust, the Tribunal decision must be submitted to the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit so that the ministry determine if the decision should be judicially reviewed.

[For more information on trusts see Related Links – Trusts.]

Effective: May 3, 2011

If the ministry becomes aware of a potential safety concern that relates to a client who has commenced an appeal, the ministry must release this information to the Tribunal.  The Tribunal will review the potential safety concern and take appropriate measures as it deems necessary for the safety of the participants at a panel hearing.

To report a potential safety concern to the Tribunal, contact the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit at 778-698-7750 or by email at RB@gov.bc.ca with the following information:

• appellant's name
• reconsideration service request, or appeal number (if known)
• nature of potential safety concern
• any other relevant details related to the potential safety concern

The ministry may request to attend a hearing by telephone or video conference due to a potential safety concern. The ministry office with knowledge of the potential safety concern should complete the Request to Attend by Telephone form (EAAT007 – available on the Tribunal website) with the details of the potential safety concern and send it to the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit in a timely manner. The Tribunal will use the information provided to make an informed decision about the most appropriate mode of hearing.

[See also Additional Resources – Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal]

The release of personal information to the Tribunal when it relates to a potential safety concern is in accordance with Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy legislation.  The ministry is not required to notify the appellant of the disclosure if the information is necessary to protect the participants at a panel hearing.

Effective: January 1, 2020

The ministry’s representative at a Tribunal hearing should be someone other than the ministry official who made the original ministry decision or the reconsideration decision. Often this is the supervisor of the office where the appellant’s file is located.

Roles

A ministry representative attends the hearing to present the ministry’s position and submissions. The ministry representative presents the facts and evidence in the case and explains how the ministry's reconsideration decision was a reasonable application of the legislation.

The ministry representative must review the ministry’s entire case and be familiar with the facts and evidence, the relevant legislation, and ministry’s position before the Tribunal hearing. The ministry representative should have all submissions prepared before the hearing and address all submissions to the panel. In most cases the reconsideration decision will suffice as the ministry’s submission. In cases where the reconsideration decision is not sufficient, clarification is required, or the appellant provides substantive new information, ministry representatives should seek the assistance of the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit by emailing RB Help at RB@gov.bc.ca.

If a client pursues appeal of an eligibility decision involving a trust, the ministry’s submission to the Tribunal must be submitted to the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit prior to being filed with the Tribunal. [For more information, see Appeal of Eligibility Decisions Involving Trusts.]

The appellant or the ministry may submit new evidence. The authority to determine whether or not the new evidence may be admitted resides with the panel chair. [For more information, see New Evidence.]

If the ministry representative cannot attend the hearing, they must inform the supervisor immediately so that alternate arrangements can be made.

Only the designated ministry representative makes submissions to the panel on behalf of the ministry. Ministry observers are permitted to attend hearings for training purposes only with the consent of the appellant and are not permitted to make any statements during hearings.

If a ministry representative would like to bring an observer to a Tribunal hearing, the representative should send the request to the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit  who will contact the Tribunal to arrange for the observer to attend.

New Evidence

The appeal panel may:

• receive and accept information that it considers relevant, necessary and appropriate, whether or not the information would be admissible in a court of law,
• consider evidence that is not part of the appeal record but that the panel considers reasonably required for a full and fair disclosure of all matters related to the decision under appeal,
• exclude anything unduly repetitious, and
• exclude evidence that would be inadmissible in court because of a privilege under the law of evidence.

The appellant or the ministry may submit new evidence. The authority to determine whether or not new evidence may be admitted resides with the panel chair. [For more information, see Policy – Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal - Evidence Submitted to the Appeal Panel.]

Evidence must be relevant, necessary and appropriate. Relevant evidence means it relates to the issues, tends to prove or disprove facts, and clarifies disputed points. Evidence must also be reasonably required for a full and fair disclosure of matters related to the decision under appeal. 

For example, a medical diagnosis is a matter related to whether a client is eligible for the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) designation. If a new medical diagnosis is provided and could lead to approving the PWD designation, the appeal panel may determine it is reasonably required for a full and fair disclosure of matters related to the decision under appeal and, therefore, may admit it as evidence.   

If an appellant submits new evidence, the ministry representative must review it in conjunction with the evidence in the appeal record, to decide whether the appellant meets the eligibility criteria for the decision under appeal. The ministry representative should seek the assistance of the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit to complete this review (by emailing RB Help at RB@gov.bc.ca). If new evidence is submitted at the hearing, the ministry representative may request an adjournment to take the time to make this determination, particularly if there is a lot to review. [For more information, see Adjournments].     

Adjournments

A ministry representative may request an adjournment if more time is required to review information or obtain requested information. An adjournment should only be requested when it is necessary for the hearing to be considered fair. The authority to grant an adjournment always rests with the panel chair. Adjournments are not automatically granted upon request.

When requesting an adjournment, the ministry representative should address the panel, identify the reasons why they are requesting an adjournment, and the estimated time required. The appellant then has the opportunity to oppose the request. The panel chair will determine if an adjournment will be permitted and the length of the adjournment. Tribunal hearings may be adjourned to a later time, a fixed future date or for an indefinite period.

When an appellant requests an adjournment, the ministry representative should decide whether or not to oppose the request. They should consider whether the appellant can fully present their case or if the case would be prejudiced if the appellant is not given more time. The ministry representative should not oppose an appellant’s request for adjournment if the reason is legitimate.

Example 1: Questions from panel members

If the ministry representative cannot answer the question because they do not have the information (but someone else in the ministry does), they should request an adjournment to get the information needed.

Example 2: Unexpected circumstances (e.g., new evidence, such as a significantly revised or new PWD designation application)

The ministry representative must review the new evidence and the evidence in the appeal record to decide whether the appellant meets the eligibility criteria for the decision under appeal. The ministry representative may request adjournment to take the time to make this determination. If the adjournment is approved, the ministry representative should seek the assistance of the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit by emailing RB Help at RB@gov.bc.ca. When the hearing reconvenes, the ministry representative would make a submission to the appeal panel indicating the reconsideration may have been approved if the ministry had the information at the time of the reconsideration decision. 

Example 3: Unexpected argument from the appellant with no new evidence introduced

Do not request an adjournment. The ministry representative must be prepared to respond to anything raised that relates to evidence they have seen.

Effective: January 1, 2020

[Section 56.6 of the Employment and Assistance Regulation and section 54.7 of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation reference the “Reconsideration or Appeal Supplement.” In addition to the supplement’s full name, for the purposes of this topic, the term “appeal supplement” is referenced to reflect the stage the client is at in the reconsideration and appeal process at the time the supplement has been requested.]

An appeal supplement may be provided to a family unit for whom the ministry has made a reconsideration decision to reduce or discontinue income assistance, disability assistance, or a supplement if the family unit delivers a Notice of Appeal (EAAT001) to either the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal or the ministry. The Notice of Appeal must relate to a reconsideration decision that resulted in discontinuation or reduction of income assistance, disability assistance or a supplement.  The appeal supplement is not available when assistance has been denied. For recipients of hardship assistance, the appeal supplement is only available for the reduction or discontinuance of supplements.

The supplement enables a recipient to continue to receive assistance on the same basis as before it was discontinued or reduced while the decision is being appealed. The appeal supplement can be issued up to the time that the appeal is determined. The purpose of providing the supplement is to put a recipient in the same position that the recipient would have been in had it not been for the decision to discontinue or reduce assistance.  The amount of the supplement is limited to the amount of the assistance that was discontinued or the amount by which it was reduced.An appeal supplement may be provided to a family unit for whom the ministry has made a reconsideration decision to reduce or discontinue income assistance, disability assistance, or a supplement if the family unit delivers a Notice of Appeal (EAAT001) to either the Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal or an Employment and Assistance office. The Notice of Appeal must relate to a reconsideration decision that resulted in discontinuation or reduction of income assistance, disability assistance or a supplement.  The appeal supplement is not available when assistance has been denied. For recipients of hardship assistance, the appeal supplement is only available for the reduction or discontinuance of supplements.

Before issuing the supplement, ensure the recipient has submitted the Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) to the Tribunal or to the ministry. If the client has sent the EAAT001 directly to the Tribunal, this can be confirmed by contacting the Reconsideration and Administration Fairness Unit at RB@gov.bc.ca or by reviewing the client’s file to confirm there is a related appeal service request. Ministry staff should not contact the Tribunal directly.  If the client has delivered the Notice of Appeal form (EAAT001) to the ministry, or a Service BC office, the EAAT001 should be immediately forwarded to the Tribunal.

The recipient must also sign and submit a Promise to Repay form (HR2737) [see Forms and Letters] prior to the supplement being issued. In the case of a couple, both the key player and spouse must sign the Promise to Repay - Benefit While Awaiting Reconsideration/Appeal Decision form (HR2737). However, if circumstances beyond the control of either recipient prevent both from signing the HR2737, the supplement may be issued on the basis of a single signature from either the key player or spouse. The Promise to Repay form must be signed every time the supplement is issued before it is issued.

If the Tribunal decision confirms the ministry decision, the recipient must agree to repay the amount issued as a reconsideration or appeal supplement during the reconsideration and appeal processes. The recipient is required to sign a Repayment Agreement Appeal Benefit form (HR2749) [see Letters and Forms], whereby the recipient acknowledges the debt and agrees to begin immediate repayment of the debt by deduction from the recipient’s monthly assistance. In the case of a couple, both the key player and spouse must sign the Repayment Agreement Appeal Benefit form (HR2749). However, if circumstances beyond the control of either recipient prevent both recipients from signing the HR2749, one signature from either the key player or spouse is sufficient to complete the form.  

If the Tribunal confirms the ministry decision and, as a result, the recipient is no longer in receipt of income assistance or disability assistance, the ministry may recover the amount issued as a reconsideration or appeal supplement through other methods.

[For more information on other methods for recovery, see Related Links – Recoveries – Policy – Methods for Recovery of Assistance.]

Remember: if the recipient has received a reconsideration decision that discontinued or reduced assistance, the recipient should always be informed that an appeal supplement may be provided if the recipient proceeds to appeal.

[For more information on Promise to Repay, see Related Links – Recoveries – Policy – Promise to Repay – Recovery of Repayable Benefits at a Future Date.]

[For more information on Repayment Agreements, see Related Links – Recoveries – Policy – Repayment Agreements – Repayable Benefits by Deduction from Ongoing Assistance.]

Effective May 13, 2024

Tribunal decisions should be reviewed by a Reconsideration Officer in the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit to ensure that each decision has complied with the acts and regulations and does not exceed the appeal panel’s jurisdiction or contain an error of law.

The Tribunal decision is final.  Unless a court stays a decision of the Tribunal, the decision of a Tribunal must be implemented.

If the ministry makes an application for judicial review of a final decision of the Tribunal, it must be commenced within 60 days of the Tribunal decision date.  (There may be circumstances when the courts may extend the time for making an application.)

In response to a Tribunal rescind decision, a Reconsideration Officer in the Reconsideration and Administrative Fairness Unit will initiate the implementation of the Tribunal decision.

Effective Date of Eligibility – Tribunal Decision

[see also Additional Resources – Effective Date of Eligibility Workflow Chart]

Under the policy, when the Tribunal rescinds the ministry’s reconsideration decision, the effective date of eligibility is dependent on the type of assistance applied for.
 

• New applicants for income assistance are eligible for income assistance retroactive to the date of their application.  Staff will determine eligibility for income assistance as of the date of the application and may need to pro-rate assistance as set out in section 26 and Schedule A of the Employment and Assistance Regulation.
• Applicants for disability assistance, who were already designated as a person with disabilities and are re-applying for disability assistance, are eligible for disability assistance retroactive to the date of their application for disability assistance.  Staff will determine eligibility for disability assistance as of the date of the application and may need to pro-rate assistance as set out in section 23 and Schedule A of the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.
• Recipients who have had income assistance or disability assistance discontinued or reduced are eligible for assistance retroactive to the date of the reduction or discontinuance.  Staff will determine eligibility for income assistance or disability assistance as of the date of reduction or discontinuance.  If an appeal supplement has been issued, this is not repayable and must be considered to have been paid in place of the discontinued assistance or the amount by which the assistance was reduced.
• Applicants who qualify as a person who has persistent multiple barriers to employment (PPMB) are eligible to receive income assistance at the PPMB rate on the first day of the month after the date of the reconsideration decision.  Staff will determine eligibility as of the first day of the month after the date of the reconsideration decision.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made outside of timelines, staff will determine eligibility as of the first day of the month after the date the reconsideration decision was due.
• Recipients who have their PPMB status rescinded are eligible to receive income assistance at the PPMB rate on the first day of the month after the date of the reconsideration decision.  Staff will determine eligibility as of the first day of the month after the date of the reconsideration decision.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made outside of timelines, staff will determine eligibility as of the first day of the month after the date the reconsideration decision was due.
• Applicants for persons with disabilities designation are eligible to receive disability assistance on the first day of the month after the date of the reconsideration decision.  Staff will determine eligibility as of the first day of the month after the date of the reconsideration decision.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made outside of timelines, staff will determine eligibility as of the first day of the month after the date the reconsideration decision was due.
• New applicants for a supplement are eligible for the supplement retroactive to the date of the reconsideration decision.  Staff will determine eligibility for the supplement as of the date of the reconsideration decision.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made outside of timelines, staff will determine eligibility as of the date the reconsideration decision was due.
• Recipients who have had a supplement discontinued or reduced are eligible for the supplement retroactive to the date of the reconsideration decision.  Staff will determine eligibility for the supplement as of the date of the reconsideration decision.  If an appeal supplement has been issued, this is not repayable and must be considered to have been paid in place of the discontinued supplement or the amount by which the supplement was reduced.
  • In cases where the reconsideration decision has been made outside of timelines, staff will determine eligibility as of the date the reconsideration decision was due.

If additional information is provided after making the request for reconsideration and before the reconsideration decision is sent, the Reconsideration Officer may have one additional business day to review the information and write and send the reconsideration decision. If this additional business day is taken, it will not impact the effective date of eligibility if the appeal decision is an approval.