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Expected to Work/Barriers to Full Employment Policy & Procedures

Published Date: August 01, 2018
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05 Limited/Ineligible Groups

Children Involved with/or Supported by Children and Family Services (CFS), Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and/or Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL)

AUTHORITY
Income and Employment Supports Act, Schedule, Tables 1, 2 and 3
Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation, section 1(2)(b); Schedule 2, section 1(1)(i)


INTENT

To ensure Income Support (IS) benefits are not duplicated while a child is in the care and/or responsibility of Children and Family Services (CFS) and/or under an agreement with Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and/or receiving services provided by Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL).

Note
FSCD provides individualized supports and services that are related to the child’s disability, not including medical equipment and supplies.

Basic medical equipment and supplies for children under 18 years may be available through AADL. Essential items not covered by AADL may be covered under the IS program for eligible clients.

POLICY

Child(ren) Living Out of the Home

When CFS determines a client’s child should live outside the home or a child who is provided services through a FSCD agreement, leaves the parents’ home to access specialized treatment education, training or residential services, the following policy applies:

Core Essential Benefit
The Core Essential benefit is reduced for the period the child is out of the home. If the child is removed or leaves the home during a month for which benefits were already received, the Core Essential benefit is not recovered as the client was entitled to that amount at the beginning of that benefit period. If the child returns to the home on a part time basis for visits, the IS worker issues pro-rated Core Essential benefits for the days the child is in the home.

If/when the child is returned full-time after the first day of the benefit period, the Core Essential benefit is prorated based on the number of days remaining to month end. In situations where the child was removed by CFS, the client must apply for reinstatement of the Canada Child Benefit and IS program staff issue the Child Supplement Allowance (NCBS Temporary Replacement Benefit).

Core Shelter Benefit
If a child is:

  • Absent for three months or less, the Core Shelter benefit is not reduced; if more than three months, the Core Shelter benefit is reduced proportionately.
  • Removed from the home by CFS, the child is deleted from the IS file at the time the Core Shelter benefit is reduced.
  • Out of the home because of an agreement under FSCD, the children remains on the budget to ensure health benefits are covered, but shelter benefits are not issued if out of the home for more than three months.
  • Returning home after having been outside of the home for more than three months, the worker may issue the Core Shelter benefit up to three months prior to the child’s return to reflect the family size and to allow the parent(s) to prepare for their return.

    Note
    In situations where the Core Shelter benefit has been reduced because the child who is under an FSCD agreement is out of the home for more than three months, to ensure the child’s shelter portion is not issued, the worker should enter a Task in Mobius on a monthly basis and manually adjust the shelter allowance after rollover each month.

Health Benefits Coverage
If the child is:

  • Removed from the home by CFS, health benefits coverage for the child is deleted on the IS file, as CFS provides health coverage for the period the child is out of the home. IS covers health benefits for the month in which the child is removed; CFS provides health coverage for the months the child is “in care”. IS will recommence health benefits coverage the day the child is returned (full time).
  • Out of the home because of an agreement under FSCD health benefits, coverage for the child continues on the IS file.


Any support services addressed in the CFS case plan is CFS's responsibility.

Child(ren) Living in the Home

Children who are:

  • Adopted through either the adoption or private guardianship process and receiving a daily maintenance rate through the Supports for Permanency program
  • A foster child/a child in Kinship Care 
  • A child receiving income support from the Child and Youth Support Program through a Child and Family Services Authority (CFSA)

are not eligible to receive IS benefits as a dependant of a household unit and should not be added to the household unit's file.

Foster Children/Children in Kinship Care 
CFS meets the financial needs of foster children and children in Kinship Care. These children therefore are not eligible for IS and are not included in the household unit for purposes of determining IS benefits, as foster parents and Kinship Caregivers receive financial compensation, including a basic maintenance allowance and medical coverage, for the needs of the child.

Note
Kinship Care is a family home that is approved to care for a child in need because of a family connection or significant relationship to the child, (e.g. grandparent, aunt, close family friend or cultural community). It is similar to foster care in the types of supports that are provided to the child and caregivers. More information about the Kinship Care program can be found on the CFS website.

Supports for Permanency Program
Families who adopt or who assume private guardianship of children who were in permanent care of CFS may be eligible for support through the Supports for Permanency program. Support consists of a flat daily maintenance rate based on the age of the child to help the parents/private guardians maintain the child in their home and reimbursement for services.

In addition to the daily maintenance rate, services under the Supports for Permanency Agreement may include:

  • The cost of respite for the parents/private guardians for up to 567 hours annually.
  • In the case of a child who is of First Nation status, the cost of transportation of the child to and from the child’s band for the purpose of maintaining cultural ties.
  • Help to address the child’s emotional or behavioural problems, the cost of up to 10 counselling sessions annually and the cost of treatment of the child in a residential facility.
  • Additional Needs Funds of up to $70 per week to purchase services to address the child’s emotional or behavioural problems based on the child’s documented needs.

A list of these additional benefits are available by contacting the nearest CFSA.

IS workers must:

  • Verify with adoptive parents/private guardians whether the child is eligible for supports under the Supports for Permanency Program before granting any benefits and,
  • Provide no benefits (Core, Supplementary or Health) for these children.


Child and Youth Support Program

If an adult of a household unit is a guardian of a child who is receiving benefits from the Child and Youth Support program through a CFSA, the child is not considered part of the household unit and is not eligible for IS. They should not be added to the household's file.