Forms to appeal income assistance decisions not available online, Nunavut legislature hears

A form required to appeal the Nunavut government’s decisions on income assistance is not available online, says Arviat North–Whale Cove MLA John Main.

“I checked the website before we came into session here, and the information on the appeal process still isn’t on the website. So when will this information be provided to the public on the department’s website?” Main asked Elisapee Sheutiapik, minister of family services, during question period on Oct. 21.

Sheutiapik said the department has not had the staff to get the form online until now.

“Unfortunately we just got a communications person recently but we do have a fact sheet. I’m sure they’re watching, it will be on the website sooner than later,” Sheutiapik said in response.

During the same round of questioning, Main cited the 2018-2019 annual report from Nunavut’s Representative for Children and Youth.

The report notes a case reported to the representative’s office where a child in Nunavut was experiencing food insecurity because of the new policy, which suspended the food allowance of income assistance recipients for a period of two months.

“These circumstances included a client quitting their job without cause or being fired for just cause,” the report states.

Shortly after the child’s situation was resolved, changes were made to the department’s social assistance suspension policy in July 2018.

“Under the new policy, clients receive 50 per cent of their basic allowance for two calendar months, with full benefits in the third month,” the report states.

“Does this new policy apply to all income assistance recipients or just those with children?” Main asked Sheutiapik.

Sheutiapik did not directly answer the question, but said applications for income assistance are usually from parents anyway.

“Every application obviously is by the parent coming for income support. So yes when there’s a suspension it would include children,” Sheutiapik said.

Main repeated that he hoped the form to appeal a department decision on income assistance would be made available on the Family Services’ website.

“My understanding is that an income recipient has to ask the worker that just denied them their income assistance, ‘Oh do you have the form where I can appeal your decision?’ So that sounds like a very awkward conversation and maybe one that could be made easier,” Main said.

Main also questioned the minister on whether she thought the timeline to make a decision on an appeal, 16 days, was too long.

Sheutiapik said the committee that reviews the appeals meets every two weeks.