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Sponsorship Undertaking Default
Policy
Persons with Disability: August 3, 2008
Sponsor Unable/Unwilling to Pay: August 3, 2008
Health and/or Safety Concerns (Abuse): January 12, 2010
Eligibility: August 3, 2008
August 3, 2008Hardship assistance is provided on a temporary basis, for only one month at a time. If further hardship assistance is required, eligibility must be re-established each month.
Hardship assistance may be issued under Sponsorship Undertaking Default (Code L) to an applicant who meets all other eligibility criteria, but ministry staff have been unable to contact the sponsor to verify that the sponsor is unable or unwilling to support the applicant. As long as all other eligibility criteria are met, the applicant continues to be eligible for hardship assistance under Code L until the sponsor has been contacted.
Hardship assistance (Code L) is not repayable, except by the sponsor in cases where there is a debt due to default of a Sponsorship Undertaking.
Once the hardship reason no longer exists, cases must be reassessed to determine if the family unit meets the eligibility criteria for income assistance or disability assistance.
Note: In these cases, debt collection will occur despite the fact that a repayment agreement was not taken, because the debt rests with the sponsor, not the client. Debt collection will occur regardless of whether the debt relates to income assistance, disability assistance, or hardship assistance.
Persons with Disability: August 3, 2008
August 3, 2008Applicants with the Persons with Disabilities designation will receive the same procedure as applicants for Code L. The only difference is that these applicants get disability assistance instead of hardship assistance (Code L).
Sponsor Unable/Unwilling to Pay: August 3, 2008
August 3, 2008Where the sponsor confirms that he or she is unable or unwilling to provide for the essential needs (including food, lodging, and clothing) of the sponsored family members listed in the Sponsorship Undertaking, the family unit may be eligible for income assistance or disability assistance if all other eligibility requirements are met.
Where an applicant resides with the sponsor, the shelter allowance must not be issued, unless the sponsor is also receiving assistance.
When a sponsor becomes a recipient of assistance and is residing with the sponsored person, the usual practice for shared rent will be followed.
For more information see Related Links – Pursuing Income – Procedures – Sponsorship Undertaking Default.
Health and/or Safety Concerns (Abuse): January 12, 2010
January 12, 2010Where there are possibly any health and/or safety concerns, no contact is to be made with the sponsor, including by letter. Income assistance or disability assistance may be issued if all other eligibility criteria are met.
In cases where the sponsored relative indicates a health and/or safety threat exists due to abuse or other concerns, hardship assistance may be issued under Sponsorship Undertaking Default (Code L) while the applicant is gathering documentation that substantiates the health and or safety threat. Ministry staff will refer the case to their supervisor after completing the interview with the applicant and together will make a decision based on the merits of the case. If a decision cannot be determined, the supervisor will contact the Community Relations and Service Quality Manager who will arrange a panel review. The supervisor will also contact the Sponsorship Default Recovery Program before and after the panel review to explain the situation and how the decision was determined. [For policy and procedure on assessing health and/or safety threat and contacting the sponsor see, Pursuing Income – Sponsorship Undertaking Default, Policy and Procedure]. If it is determined that the sponsor should not be contacted because it could pose a health and/or safety threat, and documentation is on file that substantiates the risk, the hardship reasons no longer exists.
If the hardship reason no longer exists, cases must be re-assessed to determine if the family unit meets the eligibility criteria for income assistance or disability assistance.
