Income and Employment Support Appeal Board

Responsible For:

Ensuring that recipients of the Income Support and Employment and Career Services Programs receive fair treatment from the Department by reviewing individual cases, upon request, to ensure that not only the letter of the policy is followed but also the spirit.

How is this done?

The Board achieves this by meeting via telephone to discuss the individual issue with both client and the Departmental worker. This list of issues commonly appealed include the granting, refusal, suspension, discontinuance, or reduction of services and/or Income Support allowance.

The Board will conduct a telephone hearing within 30 days of receiving an Application for Appeal. The Board will notify a client of their decision in writing within five days business days after a decision is made.

Structure:

The Board is comprised of a chair, vice-chair and member, one of whom is a current or former recipient of Income and Employment Support. Government will also appoint up to three alternate members, to act in the absence of one of the aforementioned. One alternate member shall also be a current or former recipient of Income and Employment Support.

The Board is independent of the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development therefore, none of the members are Government employees. Each member and alternate member may be appointed for up to three years by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and are eligible for reappointment.

Boundaries:

The Income and Employment Support Appeal Board has the flexibility to interpret Departmental policy and make reasonable variations in the spirit of the Income Support and Career, Employment and Youth Services Programs. However, it must always follow the legislation which governs the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development, such as the Income and Employment Support Act and Regulations.