Income in Excess
Last updated on June 22, 2023Overview
Hardship assistance is provided to meet the essential needs of families with dependent children who meet all eligibility criteria except they have received income in excess of the maximum rate for their family unit, where the excess income could not have been reasonably expected to meet basic needs. This category of hardship assistance is called Income in Excess.
Hardship assistance is provided on a temporary basis, for only one month. If further hardship assistance is required, eligibility must be re-established each month.
Hardship assistance in this category is limited to three consecutive months during which recipients are expected to resolve their situation. Once a family unit has received hardship assistance for three consecutive months without having resolved their situation, they are not eligible for any additional hardship assistance in any of the duration limited categories for a period of three consecutive months.
Income in Excess is available to applicants and recipients under the Employment and Assistance Regulation and Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Regulation.
Policy
Eligibility
Effective: January 1, 2020
Hardship assistance is available under Income in Excess to applicants and recipients with dependent children who have received income in excess of Employment and Assistance or Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities rates, where the excess income could not have been reasonably expected to meet basic needs. [see Rate Table: Income Assistance Rates and Rate Table: Disability Assistance Rates]
Hardship assistance in this category is limited to three consecutive months during which recipients are expected to resolve their situation. Once a family unit has received hardship assistance for three consecutive months without having resolved their situation, they are not eligible for any additional hardship assistance in any of the duration limited categories for a period of three consecutive months.
Hardship assistance is provided for one month and if further hardship assistance is required, eligibility must be re-established each month. All cheques will be automatically directed to the local office for a monthly review of eligibility.
The Supervisor may approve hardship assistance beyond the three months in exceptional situations only. These cases should be monitored closely and issued one month at a time.
Applicants with income in excess must be advised upon application of the duration limits.
Hardship assistance issued under this category is repayable except when provided for special care facility user charges and comforts [see Related Links – Recoveries].
Where it is reasonable to expect that clients could have used excess income for basic food and shelter, they are not eligible for hardship assistance. When determined ineligible for hardship assistance, clients should be encouraged to make arrangements with landlords, banks, or other creditors.
[For an overview of eligibility for hardship or the hierarchy of hardship categories, see Related Links - Eligibility for Hardship Assistance.]
Once the hardship reason no longer exists, cases must be re-assessed to determine if the family unit meets the eligibility criteria for income assistance or disability assistance.
Procedures
Issuing Hardship Assistance
Effective: December 1, 2003
For information on how to determine hardship assistance rates, see Related Links – Eligibility for Hardship Assistance – Policy – Amount of Hardship Assistance.
Applicants
Effective: December 1, 2003
A Promise to Pay (HR2664) is to be completed each time hardship assistance is issued.
A Repayment Agreement Acknowledgement of Debt (Repayable) (HR2663A) [see Forms and Letters] is to be completed when clients start receiving income assistance or disability assistance instead of hardship assistance, or when they stop receiving assistance [For more information, see Related Links – Recoveries.]
Recipients
Effective: April 16, 2004
A Repayment Agreement Acknowledgement of Debt (Repayable) (HR2663A) is to be completed when hardship assistance is issued to recipients.
A Supervisor must approve hardship assistance under this category that is issued beyond the three-month duration.
Authorities and Responsibilities
Responsibilities
Effective: April 19, 2004
| Hardship – Income in Excess (Code G) | |
|---|---|
| Supervisor | Approving hardship assistance issued under this category for more than three months |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question What is the procedure when the hardship reason no longer exists?
Answer Once the hardship reason no longer exists, cases must be re-assessed to determine if the family unit meets the eligibility criteria for income assistance or disability assistance.
Question Should recipients of income assistance or disability assistance, who have income in excess of the rates, be switched to hardship assistance?
Answer Clients are expected to use all other income to meet their basic needs. A recipient of income assistance or disability assistance who has income in excess of the maximum rate for their family unit size would be ineligible for assistance. Hardship assistance under this category may be considered if the family unit includes a dependant child and the family unit could not have been reasonably expected to use the excess income to meet their needs.