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Q: How will I know if my application for assistance is
denied, or my benefits have been reduced or suspended ?
| A: |
You will receive an
official letter of these decisions from the Welfare Office. The letter must
tell you why the decision was made and that you have the right to launch a
formal Appeal. |
Q: How do I launch an Appeal?
| A: |
Fill out a Notice of Appeal form (copies are available
from your local Welfare Office and from the Social Services Advisory Committee
office). Your Appeal can also be written on a plain piece of paper. Mail or
deliver it to:
Social Services Advisory Committee
7th Floor, 175
Hargrave St.
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3R8
Phone: (204) 945-3003 or 945-3005;
toll free: 1-800-282-8069; TTY: 948-2037
Fax: (204) 945-1736
Once the Committee receives your notice of appeal, the
Appeal Board will schedule a hearing, usually within about fifteen
days. |
Q: How do I prepare for my Appeal hearing?
| A: |
You will receive an Appeal Guide from the Committee
explaining the Appeals process in detail. The Appeals Guide can also be picked
up from your local Welfare Office. Read it before your Appeal hearing.
It is important that you are well prepared for your
Appeal. Organize any documents that you think will help you with your case (see
Keeping Records - Advocacy section). These may include letters to and from
Welfare, notes from conversations with your case worker, receipts of money you
have spent, letters from your doctor, and pay stubs from work you might have
done. |
Q: Can I have someone help me present my Appeal?
| A: |
You have the right to be represented by a lawyer or anyone
else at this meeting. Your representative can speak on your behalf, or they may
just offer you moral support.
If there are any witnesses that you think might help your
case, you can invite them to the meeting. Make sure you let the Social Services
Advisory Committee know that you have invited witnesses. If your witness(es)
cannot attend the hearing, they may write and sign a statement that supports
your case. |
Q: Who hears my Appeal?
| A: |
Your Appeal hearing
will be heard by 3 members of the Social Services Advisory Committee. These
committee members are independent and are not government employees. A secretary
will take notes at the meeting. Your case worker or another welfare
representative will also be there to present their side of the story. Welfare
will sometimes bring their own lawyer. |
Q: Where is the hearing held?
| A: |
Appeal meetings are
held in your home community. Committee members will travel to your town or city
to meet with you. Video conferences are set up for people who live in the North
(Thompson, Flin Flon, The Pas and Lynn Lake). Transportation costs will be
covered for people who live outside of these northern centres. |
Q: What happens at the Appeal Hearing?
| A: |
Appeal hearings are informal. You will be asked to present
your case, and then the people from Welfare will present their argument. You
may be asked questions by the Committee. You may also be asked to give the
Committee copies of any documents you have presented. Do not give any
original documents away - only copies.
The entire Appeals process usually takes less than an
hour, but can go longer if you need more time. No decision will be made until
after the hearing. You will receive a written copy of the decision, usually
within one week of the hearing. |
Q: What if I lose my Appeal?
| A: |
If you lose your
appeal you will be sent a letter from the Social Services Advisory Committee
stating the reasons. You have the right to take this decision to the next
level, The Court of Appeals. These Appeals must be handled by a lawyer and must
take place within 30 days from the date on the letter. |
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