INTENT

To describe how Income Support notifies an individual of a decision made.

POLICY

Community and Social Services must inform an applicant or recipient (individual) when making a decision that affects their eligibility and/or other benefits. Specifically, workers must:

• Provide relevant details of the decision and rationale, explaining why the decision was made;
• (If applicable) advise the individual of their right to appeal the decision to the appeal panel within 30 days of receiving notice of the Department’s decision;
• (If applicable) explain the appeal process to the individual;
• (If applicable) inform the individual that they must initiate the appeal process by submitting a written Notice of Appeal to the Alberta Supports Centre or to the Appeals Secretariat; and
• Document all eligibility decisions in Mobius Notes.
  
  

Notification:

A Community and Social Services staff member (the worker) makes a decision regarding eligibility for assistance under Part 2 of the Income and Employment Supports Act (IESA), based on information contained in the Income Support Application. After determining eligibility for assistance, the worker is required to notify the individual of:

• The details of a decision (with supporting rationale) that affect eligibility for assistance under Part 2 of IESA,
• The individual’s right to appeal this decision (as applicable); and
• The process and the 30-day time limit to appeal the decision to the appeal panel.
  
  

An individual receives notification when a worker notifies them:

• Verbally, on the date that the conversation with the worker takes place; or,
• In writing, on the date that the notice is presented to the individual by the worker; or,
• As outlined in IESA, section 45(3).
  
  

If the worker verbally notifies the individual, the worker must enter in Mobius Notes:

• The date the conversation took place,
• The decision that the individual was informed of, and
• (if applicable) Verification that the worker notified the individual of their right to appeal the decision within 30 days of the date when the conversation took place.
  
  

If the worker provides the decision in writing, the worker must file a copy of the letter. The content of this letter should inform the individual of:

• The decision and rationale supporting why the decision was made, and
• The right to appeal the decision (in writing) within 30 days of first receiving notification from the Department.
  
  

NOTE: See Overview and Authority section to identify which decisions are subject to appeal.