AUTHORITY

Income and Employment Supports Act, Schedule, section 10
Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation, section 2(3)(e) and Schedule 4, section 6
Ministerial Order 2018-19, Appendix D: Schedule 4 - Supplementary Income Support Rates

INTENT

To assist with unusual travel-related expenses incurred when clients are required to travel in specific situations.

POLICY

A benefit may be provided to cover the costs of return transportation, accommodation, and/or food when an applicant, recipient or members of the household unit have to travel for any of the following reasons:

• To reach a place of safety
• To receive treatment for a health-related matter (e.g., addictions, medical, etc.),
• To comply with Child Support Services (CSS) requirements, or
• To make a mandatory appearance in a criminal court proceeding within Alberta.

This benefit is issued only to the person(s) who is/are required to travel. If another member of the household unit has to accompany that person because of that person’s age or health, a benefit for the accompanying person can also be issued.

NOTE

Core Essential is intended to be used for the cost of basic transportation, such as regular public transportation or vehicle registration costs. The Special Transportation and Travel Payment should only be issued for eligible unusual travel-related expenses, where basic transportation, as intended by Core Essential, is not a reasonable option.

Substantiation

To substantiate the need for the Special Transportation and Travel Payment:

• Reaching a Place of Safety:
  • The client's verbal statement; or
  • Workers knowledge of the need for safety (e.g., fleeing abuse); or
  • If there is any significant doubt, evidence from another professional source (e.g., physician, nurse practitioner, police, woman's shelter).
    
    
• Receiving Treatment for a health related matter:
  • For frequent treatment, a letter from a physician, nurse practitioner, the treatment facility or another professional (e.g., addictions counsellor, Children and Family Services Worker) outlining the frequency of treatment; or
  • For one-off situations where it is impractical to obtain documentation, a client’s verbal statement.
    
    
• Complying with CSS:
  • If the worker has knowledge of the client’s situation, the client’s verbal statement; or
  • Confirmation from CSS; or
  • A copy of a court document.
    
    
• Appearing in Criminal Court:
  • If the worker has knowledge of the client’s situation, the client's verbal statement; or
  • The worker's knowledge of the need to appear in court; or
  • A copy of the court document.

To substantiate the cost:

• Client’s verbal statement. Quotes may be requested at the worker’s discretion.
  
  

Special Transportation and Travel Payment Rates

• Rate for Transportation
• The most economic and reasonable means of travel:
  • Actual cost of public transportation, or
  • Private vehicle – same as the per kilometre rate for Transportation to Day or Employment Programs, or
  • Actual cost of a taxi
    

Need Code
1828  Non-Emergency Travel
1844  Emergency Transportation (when travel is provided in conjunction with the Emergency Allowance policy)
1848  Emergency Shelter Safety (when travel is provided in conjunction with the Emergency Allowance policy to access a shelter)

• Rate for Accommodation
  Actual cost of reasonable hotel, motel or other accommodation for each member of the family unit required to travel as approved by the worker.
  
  Need Code
  1863 Non-Emergency Accommodation
  
• Rate for Food
  When the member or members of the household unit are required to travel outside the community where they reside for more than 24 hours.
  • Adult: Same as the daily food rate in the Emergency Allowance policy
  • Child: Same as the daily food rate in the Emergency Allowance policy
    

Need Code 
1864  Non-Emergency Food
1850  Emergency Food Travel (when food is provided in conjunction with the Emergency Allowance policy).

• Rate for Child Care
  Actual cost of reasonable childcare (babysitting, licensed or approved child care) as approved by the worker.
  
  Need Code 
  1866  Other Non-Continuous Needs (Non-Emergency-Child Care)
  1840  Emergency Child Care (when child care is being provided in conjunction with the Emergency Allowance policy).
  
  
• Child Care
  See the Child Care policy if child care is required in conjunction with the special transportation and travel payment.