Appeals

Community Income Support Workers try their best to make sure you receive all of the benefits to which you are entitled.  Sometimes, you may not agree with their decision.  If you do not agree, you have the right to have your application reviewed through the Income Support Program’s appeal process. The appeal process is set out in Nunavut’s Social Assistance Act and Social Assistance Regulations.

Your Income Support Worker will help you with all levels of your appeal.  To begin an appeal, tell your Worker that you wish to appeal, the reason you disagree with the Worker’s decision, and what you want.

You must file your appeal within 7 days of the decision. Your Worker can help you complete the Request for Appeal form.  You may be asked to give additional information about your income, assets, or needs at any stage of during the appeal process.

The appeal process can take up to three steps.  They are:

Step 1 – The Regional Supervisor
The Worker’s supervisor reviews your appeal.  You should expect a decision within 7 days of giving the Income Support Worker your reason for appealing.  If you are not satisfied with the decision of the supervisor, you may advise your worker that you wish to proceed to Step 2.

Step 2 – The Community Income Support Appeal Committee
Some communities have Income Support Appeal Committees that are established to hear appeals from you.  If there is not one in your community, every effort will be made to find one in a nearby community.  You can expect your appeal to be heard within 30 days of you filing your appeal and that a decision will be made within 7 days.

You need to be aware that the Appeal Committee must follow the same rules and policies that the Worker used during the initial assessment.  The Appeal Committee’s role is to determine if all the procedures for assessing your situation were followed according to the Regulations.  The committee’s decision will be given to you in the form of a formal letter outlining the reasons for either supporting or denying your appeal, as well as any direction they wish to provide. If you remain unsatisfied with the decision of the committee, you may proceed to Step 3.

Step 3 – The Nunavut Social Assistance Appeal Board
As with the community appeal committees, the Board must apply the rules and policies in place for the program to reach its decision.  It has up to 45 days to hear your appeal and to give its decision.