Change in Circumstances

3-14 Change in Circumstances

PURPOSE

1. To ensure an applicant’s eligibility remains consistent with his/her changing circumstances.

PRINCIPLE

2. Applicants should receive no more or less than entitled to by Regulation and approved policy.

3. Workers should not make assumptions as to an applicant’s income, assets or expenses based on previous knowledge that may no longer apply.

4. Applicants should be informed of the possible consequences of overpayment recovery that will occur if changes in circumstances are not reported.

POLICY

5. Applicants are required to report any change in circumstance that is likely to affect eligibility or the amount of assistance to which they are entitled.

6. The worker should try to anticipate possible changes to income, assets or expenses.

7. It is not uncommon for an applicant to misunderstand questions related to changes in income or expense. Therefore, at the time of each new application or review, the worker shall ask the applicant about each specific type of income (wages, employment insurance, pension, national child benefit supplement, etc.).

PROCEDURE

8. Review dates should be set in anticipation of possible future changes in the financial circumstances of the applicant.

9. It is not necessary to adjust indexed pension incomes until the next scheduled review or at the time of other income/expense adjustment, whichever occurs first.