Income Assistance Handbook

Transcription

1 Income Assistance Handbook Information for Applicants Effective: March 2016

2 Table of Contents Our Vision...2 Our Programs...2 Before You Apply...3 What is Income Assistance (IA)?...5 Determining Eligibility for IA...6 How to Apply for IA...6 Decision Tree for Application Process...8 Things to Bring to Your Meeting...9 How is IA Calculated? How Do the Income Exemptions Work? Types of Assistance Productive Choice a Choice for You What if Your Application is Not Approved? Appeals Referral Services Persons with Disabilities Decision Tree for Disability Benefits How to Contact Your CSO Need Help with Your Career? Still Have Questions? Other Income Security Programs That May be Available Additional Information Index For the most current information 1

3 Our Vision Income Security Programs help Northern residents to become as self-reliant as their individual ability allows, to participate fully in community life, and to share in the opportunities available to them. Our Programs We provide financial support to students, adults, seniors and parents with children through the following Income Security Programs: Income Assistance (IA); Student Financial Assistance (SFA); Northwest Territories Child Benefit/Territorial Workers Supplement (NWTCB/TWS); Senior Home Heating Subsidy (SHHS); and Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit (SCSB). As a client, you have a right to: receive courteous, quality service and answers to all of your questions; be treated with dignity and respect; have your personal information protected, and corrected if there has been an error or omission; 2 Still have questions? Call us at: or

4 have your personal information used only for the purpose of determining program eligibility; bring a friend, family member, or advocate to meetings with you; have Income Security Programs work with you towards reaching self-reliance; receive assistance with filing an appeal if you do not agree with a decision; and complete periodic customer satisfaction surveys to ensure optimal service. Before You Apply read this handbook to learn about benefits available to you; refer to the Income Assistance Appointment Checklist on page 9 of this handbook to make sure your application for assistance is processed in a timely manner; and ask questions when you do not understand something. For the most current information 3

5 This handbook will focus on assisting with an Income Assistance application. You can help to improve our service when you: give complete and accurate information when applying for Income Assistance. report all changes in your situation to your Client Services Officer (CSO) immediately (examples: getting work, moving, number of people in your house, change in marital status, change in income, etc.). maintain contact with your CSO for continued service. ensure you provide all necessary identification (examples: Social Insurance Number and Birth Certificate) for you and your family members. file your personal income tax annually. This requirement may provide you with additional income, such as quarterly GST or Canada Child Tax Benefits. explore all financial resources that may be available to you (examples: Employment Insurance and Child Maintenance). 4 Still have questions? Call us at: or

6 be involved in working on a plan that will help you become as self-reliant as your individual capacity allows. This will include signing an agreement and participating in a Productive Choice. You can discuss options with your CSO. repay any overpayment of Income Assistance you received. What is Income Assistance (IA)? The IA Program provides financial assistance to northern residents to help meet basic and enhanced needs. The program encourages and supports greater self-reliance to improve the quality of life for NWT residents. IA provides for the basic needs of food, shelter and utilities, as well as the enhanced needs of childcare, clothing, furniture and educational allowances. There are also allowances and incidentals for seniors and persons with disabilities. These benefits are based on the community you live in, the size of your family and your household income. For the most current information 5

7 Determining Eligibility for IA You need financial support and cannot pay for your basic needs. The CSO will ask for your Social Insurance Number, bank account records and any documents that show your expenses are higher than your income. IA recognizes the importance of participating fully in the community and becoming selfreliant. By participating in a Productive Choice program, you work with your CSO to develop an action plan for becoming self-sufficient while maintaining your eligibility for IA. How to Apply for IA You can apply for IA by completing an application and making an appointment to meet with a CSO. See page 9 of this handbook for a list of items to bring to your appointment. Application forms can be found online at, or at your local ECE Service Centre. The Statement and Authorization included in your application is a legal document that you are required to sign in order to receive financial assistance. Do not sign this form until you are sure it is complete and true and your CSO has explained its purpose to you. 6 Still have questions? Call us at: or

8 By signing the Statement and Authorization, you agree that the information on the application form may be shared with other government ministries or agencies to verify information. You and your spouse, if applicable, must sign the Statement and Authorization in order to qualify for assistance. Upon completion of the intake package, your eligibility and level of support are determined. The intake package includes: a document checklist; the Application for Income Assistance; Direct Deposit Information form; Rent Report form; and Bank Account Status Verification form. Other forms may be required based on your circumstance. Providing all the necessary information when you apply for assistance will help prevent delays. When you have an emergency where you or your family may be experiencing family violence, the CSO can make referrals to appropriate support networks. Transitional shelter and other emergency financial assistance may be available. For the most current information 7

9 Decision Tree for Application Process Are Are you you an NWT an Resident? Yes No Yes Are you 19 years of age? No You must apply in your province/ territory of residence Do your needs outweigh your income? Referral to Health and Social Services Yes No Referrals to other government and community services Are you ready for a Productive Choice? No Yes Transitional Benefits Adult Benefits 8 Still have questions? Call us at: or

10 Things to Bring to Your Meeting When you come for an appointment with a CSO, please bring the items below that apply to you, your spouse and/or your dependant(s). The CSO must collect all of this information to evaluate your application. Income Assistance Appointment Checklist Does this apply to you? Are there any family members (including yourself) who are 19 years old or older living in your household? Do you have children? Were you born outside of Canada? If yes please bring 3 pieces of identification for each family member 2 pieces of identification for each child Proof of Canadian Citizenship or original proof of identity documents Examples/Notes Social Insurance Number Birth Certificate Passport Treaty Card NWT Health Card Birth Certificate Treaty Card Citizenship Card or papers Immigration form IMM 1000 Permanent Resident Card Claim for refugee status Sponsorship papers For the most current information 9

11 Income Assistance Appointment Checklist Does this apply to you? Do you have a bank account? Are you employed now, or have you been employed in the last 30 days? Are you self-employed? Have you recently ended your employment? Are you receiving EI benefits? If yes please bring Bank statements for the last 30 days All pay stubs Business records Record of Employment Written confirmation that you have applied for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits Copies of benefit payment information Examples/Notes Statements can be requested from the bank or printed at the ECE Service Centre Hunting, trapping, crafting, babysitting, or any self-run business that provides you income 10 Still have questions? Call us at: or

12 Income Assistance Appointment Checklist Does this apply to you? Are you unemployed because of a medical disability? Are you receiving Workers Compensation payments? If yes please bring Permanent/Long Term Disability Assessment form Medical Assessment for Employability Short Term form Copies of benefit payment information Examples/Notes Short term disability (less than one year) Long term disability (one year or more) Permanent disability Are you receiving federal Child Care benefits? Are you receiving spousal or child support from a former spouse? Most recent child benefit statement (issued July each year) Copy of Maintenance Order For the most current information 11

13 Income Assistance Appointment Checklist Does this apply to you? Have you received any other money in the last 30 days? Do you pay rent? Do you pay utilities? Do you receive financial assistance for your children? If yes please bring Details of money received Rent Report form Rent receipts Copies of current utility bills Child Tax Benefit Notice of Assessment Maintenance Enforcement Order Confirmation of Legal Aid Application form Examples/Notes Babysitting money Income tax refund Power bill Water bill Fuel bill Maintenance payments National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) 12 Still have questions? Call us at: or

14 How is IA Calculated? The Amount of Your Assistance The amount of money you receive from IA is based on your financial need. It is calculated by adding your total needs of food, shelter and utilities, and deducting your income. Additional needs may be included in the assessment based on your circumstance (see page 18 for types of assistance). Amounts for benefits such as food and clothing are set out in the Income Assistance Regulations. Expenses not included in the IA assessment include such things as credit card payments, phone bills, car/truck payments and debts made before applying for IA. For the most current information 13

15 Income The Income Assistance Regulations describe the financial resources that are included in the assessment for IA benefits as: Earned Income - income received from working; and Unearned Income - money you received without having to work (examples: gifts, National Child Benefit Supplement). Your CSO must confirm all of your sources of income to determine what type of resource it is. Any money you receive must be used towards meeting your basic needs. While you are receiving IA: Handy Hint To access a list of what income is included in the assessment, please refer to Section 20.(1) to 20.(4) of the Income Assistance Regulations at: All monies you receive must be reported to the CSO; Income you receive during the month is used to calculate next month s assessment; and You must actively look for work. 14 Still have questions? Call us at: or

16 Maintenance/Child Support If you are a single parent, you are required to apply for child support for your child/children. The CSO will discuss this with you. If you do not have a child support arrangement with the non-custodial parent and are not willing to seek enforcement through the Department of Justice, you will not qualify for IA. The Maintenance Enforcement Office at the Department of Justice collects maintenance payments when an order or agreement is registered. The Maintenance Enforcement office does not need legal documents to enforce collection. A letter with a clear statement of arrangements, dates and signatures of both parties is acceptable. If you require more information on this process, you can go to for a list of Frequently Asked Questions. Overpayments If you previously received more assistance than you were entitled to, an overpayment is created. The Director of Income Security Programs is required to recover this debt. The minimum For the most current information 15

17 amount a CSO can collect from you is $25 each month. This amount will automatically be deducted from your approved assistance. It is important to submit all required documentation before the end of the month as payments are generally issued at the beginning of the following month. Payments can be directly deposited in to your bank account, issued directly to suppliers, or made by cheque. If you received an overpayment in the past, talk to your CSO about completing an Overpayment Recovery Agreement form. How Do the Income Exemptions Work? Earned Income Exemption All of the income you earn is reduced by an amount called the Earned Income Exemption when calculating income for your IA assessment. The Earned Income Exemption is: $200 if you are single (do not have any dependants); or $400 if you have one or more dependants; an additional 15% for earned income above 200/$ Still have questions? Call us at: or

18 Example: Bobby earned $800 last month. He has 4 dependants. The amount of income that will be included in his IA assessment is: Earned Income $800 Less Earned Income Exemption: Base Exemption: -$400 Additional 15% on remaining $400: -$60 Earned Income included in IA assessment: $340 Unearned Income Exemption You can exempt up to a maximum of $1,200 in a 12-month period of unearned income (eg. GST, child tax, income tax return). This exemption can be used all at once or can be split into smaller amounts that do not exceed $1,200 over the 12-month period. This exemption is applied at your discretion. Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA), Treaty or Land Claim Payments IA recipients can exempt up to $500 per person per year of any IBA, treaty, or land claim payment they received. For the most current information 17

19 Types of Assistance There are two categories of Income Assistance benefits: Basic Benefits: Food Room and Board Rent or Mortgage Fuel Utilities Handy Hint To access more information about these benefits, please refer to Schedule A and Schedule B of the Income Assistance Regulations at: Enhanced Benefits: Clothing Disability Age Incidental Education Furniture Security/Utility Deposits Emergency Child Care Record Suspension Applications Fees 18 Still have questions? Call us at: or

20 Productive Choice a Choice for You Productive Choices are programs or activities for you to participate in with the goal of achieving individual self-reliance. The CSO will work with you to determine the Productive Choice program that most suits your personal circumstances. The CSO has access to many community resources and services that you may need to achieve your goals. Who Participates in a Productive Choice? Productive Choices are mandatory for all adults 19 years of age and older in your household, unless exempt. Who is Exempt from Participating in a Productive Choice? You are exempt from participating in a Productive Choice program if you: are 60 years of age or older; submit a completed Permanent/Long Term Disability Assessment form from a health care professional verifying you are a person with a long term or permanent disability; submit proof of eligibility for Canada Pension Plan Disability; or For the most current information 19

21 submit a completed Medical Assessment for Employability Short Term form from a health care professional that states you cannot work, attend school, or volunteer as a result of your medical condition. If you are disabled or 60 years of age or over, you may participate in Productive Choices if you wish. If you are unable to obtain daycare for your children during holidays, March Break or summer break, you can also be exempt from participating in a Productive Choice during those time-periods. There are eight (8) Productive Choice options to choose from. A CSO may also recommend other activities or programs that best suit you. CARE OF ADULT FAMILY MEMBER WAGE EMPLOYMENT TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES CAREER PLANNING PARENTING WELLNESS UNPAID COMMUNITY WORK EDUCATION AND TRAINING 20 Still have questions? Call us at: or

22 What if Your Application is not Approved? You will receive a Notice of Refusal of Income Assistance telling you that your application is denied. The Notice will explain the reason for denial based on the Regulations or policy and detail the steps to appeal the decision. You can ask your CSO to give you a copy of the Regulation or policy that was used to make the decision. There are circumstances where IA benefits may be terminated or denied. If this happens you will not be able to apply for IA for a period of 60 or 90 days depending on the reason. Some reasons your IA benefits may have been terminated or denied include: not participating in, or completing, a Productive Choice; not searching for work if you are employable; refusing employment or not making use of the resources available to you that would prepare you for employment; not making use of all financial resources available to you; For the most current information 21

23 not disclosing adequate information about your income and circumstances; having sufficient income to meet your financial needs; making a false or misleading statement during your application; leaving employment without just cause; or being terminated from a job with just cause. 22 Still have questions? Call us at: or

24 Appeals You are entitled to a fair and reasonable assessment of your needs and to appropriate assistance. If you believe the CSO incorrectly applied the Social Assistance Act, Income Assistance Regulations or policies when determining your eligibility for benefits, please contact your ECE Service Centre and ask to have your application reassessed. If you are still not satisfied, you can appeal the decision through two levels of appeal: The first level of appeal is heard through the Social Assistance Appeal Committee (SAAC) and must be submitted in writing within 7 days from the date of the Notice of Refusal of Income Assistance to the nearest ECE Service Centre. The Registrar of Appeals will arrange for the local appeal committee to hear your appeal within 30 days from the date your appeal was received. The second level of appeal is heard through the Social Assistance Appeal Board (SAAB). This route is taken if the SAAC s decision is unsatisfactory to either you or the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. The SAAB must hold a hearing within 45 days after the filing of an application to appeal the ruling of the SAAC. For the most current information 23

25 The CSO is required to provide you with clear instructions regarding the appeal process and assistance in preparing an appeal, or direct you to someone else who can help with your appeal. Handy Hint You can bring additional information to support your appeal, as well as someone to speak on your behalf during the appeal hearing. Referral Services When you are in need, there are many places you can turn to for help. Your CSO can provide you with a list of the services that are available in your community, including: Federal and territorial government supports; Community organizations; Health organizations; Band councils; 24 Still have questions? Call us at: or

26 Local governments; Churches; Women s/men s organizations; and Youth organizations. For the most current information 25

27 Persons with Disabilities In order to qualify for the Disability and Incidental Allowances, you must meet criteria set out in the Income Assistance Regulations. If you are a person with either physical or mental impairments that significantly restrict your ability to perform daily living activities, either permanently or periodically for extended timeframes, you may qualify for these allowances. These impairments would not be removed or healed with medical treatments and you require assistance with daily living activities due to these restrictions. The decision tree on the following page can help you determine if you are considered a person with a disability by the IA program. 26 Still have questions? Call us at: or

28 Decision Tree for Disability Benefits Are you a person with a disability? No Short Term less than 12 continuous months (e.g. broken hip) You may be exempt from participating in a Productive Choice but will not receive the additional benefits. Yes Long Term or Permanent 12 continuous months or more (e.g. mental health, multiple sclerosis or hearing impairment) Do you receive Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPPD) benefits? Not eligible for additional benefits. Yes No We will verify and process additional enefits. You will need to complete a Permanent/Long Term Disability Assessment form and an application for CPPD benefits. You may qualify for a monthly Disability Allowance of $300 and an Incidental Allowance based on the community you live in. You will not have to participate in a Productive Choice program unless you choose to. For the most current information 27

29 How to Contact Your CSO Regional ECE Service Centres Beaufort Delta ECE Service Centre 106 Veterans Way Bag Service #1 Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0 Tel: Toll-Free Tel: Fax: North Slave ECE Service Centre Tel: Toll-Free Tel: Fax: South Slave ECE Service Centres Fort Smith ECE Service Centre Sweetgrass Building 177 McDougal Road Box 1406 Fort Smith, NT X0E 0P0 Tel: Fax: Deh Cho ECE Service Centre Deh Cho Regional Education Centre Avenue Box 740 Fort Simpson, NT X0E 0N0 Tel: Fax: Sahtu ECE Service Centre Edward G. Hodgson Building 1A Raven Road Box 147 Norman Wells, NT X0E 0V0 Tel: Toll-Free Tel: Fax: Hay River ECE Service Centre Court House Building 8 Capital Drive Hay River, NT X0E 1G2 Tel: Fax: All of the ECE Service Centres accept collect phone calls. You can also contact the headquarters office toll-free at Still have questions? Call us at: or

30 Need Help with Your Career? The career development staff at your Regional ECE Service Centre are ready to help you with your career. Speak with them to learn more about programs for workplace skills development and training. Find out about programs that support training, training on-the-job, self-employment, persons with disabilities and older workers. See more program information here: /advanced-education/careerand-employment/programs-and-services Still Have Questions? I have an emergency, can I get help? Yes, a CSO may be able to start you on IA right away. They will give you extra time to bring in the rest of the information they need. Some examples of emergencies are: loss of a home due to a disaster flood, fire, windstorm, landslide, or earthquake; or family violence. For the most current information 29

31 How and when are IA benefits issued? IA benefits can be distributed to you by mail or sent through direct deposit. Payments can also be made directly to suppliers such as utility companies or property owners, like landlords. I am looking for the telephone number of an ECE employee. How can I find this number? The contact information for the ECE Service Centre in your community is listed on page 28 of this handbook, or visit /ece-service-centres. I did not receive my payment. Who should I call? For missing cheques, contact your CSO at your Regional ECE Service Centre using the information on page 28 of this handbook. My IA benefit amount has changed. Why? IA benefit amounts can change because of adjustments to your needs or income. For an explanation of any change to benefits, speak with your CSO at your local ECE Service Centre. The monthly Financial Case Report (FCR) explains how your benefits were calculated. 30 Still have questions? Call us at: or

32 Does IA pay for prescription medication? No, however a number of options are available through the Government of Canada and the Department of Health and Social Services to ensure prescription medications are available for all residents of the NWT. For information about medical expenses, please contact the Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Social Services, toll-free at , or by mail at Bag #9, Inuvik, NT X0E 0T0. If you receive IA in the month that you are prescribed medications, bring your Financial Case Report (FCR) to the pharmacy when requesting prescription medications. Does IA pay dental benefits? No, IA does not cover dental benefits. The authority to pay for basic dental benefits resides with the Department of Health & Social Services under Indigent Health Benefits. Contact the Health Services Administration office at For the most current information 31

33 Does IA pay tuition costs for post-secondary students? ECE provides funding to eligible Northerners to assist with post-secondary studies through the Student Financial Assistance (SFA) program. Please refer to page 33 of this handbook for contact information. If I am not working full-time, can I still apply for child care benefits? If you are in receipt of IA funding and are employed full-time, part-time or are enrolled in an educational or wellness program, you may be eligible for the child care benefit. Do I have to apply for child support if I am a single parent? Yes, all single parents or parents in blended families who receive IA must apply for, or be receiving, child support. In order to continue receiving IA, you are required to use all the resources available to you to help with your expenses. Child support is one of these resources. I am under 19, am I eligible for Income Assistance? IA is only available to adults who are at least 19 years old. Program staff will direct you to 32 Still have questions? Call us at: or

34 community resources that will help you deal with concerns if you are under the age of 19. You may be eligible for benefits with the Department of Health and Social Services if you are between the ages of 16 to 18, if: your home is not safe for you to live in; you and your parent(s) or guardian(s) have conflicts that mean you cannot come back to live in your home; or you have no parent(s) or guardian(s). Other Income Security Programs that may be available Senior Home Heating Subsidy The SHHS Program provides financial assistance to NWT seniors to help with the cost of heating their homes. Proof of age, net household income for the applicant and spouse, and proof of homeownership must be provided. You can get an application and more information at your local ECE Service Centre or by visiting /income-security/seniorhome-heating-subsidy-shhs. For the most current information 33

35 Student Financial Assistance The SFA Program provides financial assistance to northern students to help with the cost of getting a post-secondary education. You can get an application and more information at your local ECE Service Centre, by visiting or by calling NWT Child Benefit/ Territorial Workers' Supplement The NWT Child Benefit/Territorial Workers Supplement provides low-income families with monthly payments under the NWT Child Benefit program to assist with the costs of raising children. This also includes a benefit called the Territorial Workers Supplement. Monthly benefits for eligible families are automatically added to the National Child Benefit cheque received from the Federal Government. NWT Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit The NWT Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit provides financial assistance to help NWT seniors pay for living costs. The program provides a monthly payment to low-income seniors. 34 Still have questions? Call us at: or

36 The program is automatically available to eligible NWT seniors who are receiving Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance from the Federal Government. Additional Information If you have a concern, talk to your CSO. If you feel uneasy doing so, or if you are not happy with the result, you can talk with the Regional Manager. If you feel the situation remains unresolved, please follow up with the ECE Regional Superintendent who will work with you to address your concerns. For the most current information 35

37 Index Alphabetical Listing...Page Appeals Application Approval Basic Benefits Before You Apply...3 Calculation of Assistance Career Planning Contact Information Earned Income Exemption Eligibility for IA...5 Enhanced Benefits Frequently Asked Questions How to Apply for IA...6 Impact Benefit Agreement, Treaty and Land Claim Payments Income Maintenance/Child Support Other Income Security Programs Our Programs...2 Our Vision...2 Persons with Disabilities Productive Choice a Choice for You Referral Services Things to Bring to Your Meeting...9 Unearned Income Exemption What is Income Assistance? Still have questions? Call us at: or

38 For the most current information 37

39 The information contained in the Handbook was accurate at the time of printing. For the most up to date information about the programs and services offered by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, please contact your local ECE Service Centre. Where there are differences between the information contained in this Handbook and the Acts, Regulations, Policies and Guidelines governing Income Security Programs, the government legislation will prevail. Income Security Division Government of the Northwest Territories Department of Education, Culture and Employment Income Security Programs P.O. Box 1320 Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9 Phone: (Toll-Free) Fax: ISBN Regional Contacts