3-7 Repudiation of Employment

PURPOSE

1. To review the eligibility for Social Assistance of individuals who have placed themselves in a position of “need” by wilfully and voluntarily terminating or refusing employment or training.

PRINCIPLE

2. Persons should not readily terminate or refuse employment/training without some other means of self-support.

3. Persons should not expect to draw on public funds to support what may be an irresponsible and/or voluntary action to leave/refuse employment/training without just cause.

4. The effects of the applicant’s decision on his/her dependants shall be considered when reviewing options available to the worker.

POLICY

5. Benefits shall not be provided to the applicant if the decision to leave employment was made to qualify for assistance, or was made without regard for his/her ability to be self-supporting.

6. In situations where the motive or reasons may not be entirely clear, or where there are other obvious considerations such as alcoholism, mental health, etc., the worker shall use discretion in applying Regulation 6(5).

7. Where the application of Regulation 6(5) would clearly aggravate an already precarious personal/family situation, assistance may be provided to other members of the applicant’s family.

8. As in Paragraph 5, benefits shall not be provided to employable former “dependants” who have voluntarily terminated employment/training, thus returning to a status of dependency on the family. Circumstances described in Paragraph 6 may also be consideration with respect to such persons.

PROCEDURE

9. Where the applicant is refused assistance, the decision shall be reviewed by the designated authority and the reasons clearly documented.