October 2018

Legislative authority

Section 7 of the Act.
Sections 1(1), 7, 40, 44.1 and 58.3 of Regulation 134/98.

Audit requirements

Adequate documentation is on file to support the issuance of assistance to persons in interval and transition homes.

Decisions about the maintenance or reduction of assistance are documented on file.

Application of policy

In situations where an applicant or recipient enters an interval or transition home for victims of family violence, retains community accommodation, and has financial commitments related to that accommodation, the full amount of income assistance is issued for the first three full calendar months of residence in the interval or transition home.

In situations where the applicant or recipient enters an interval or transition home for victims of family violence and is not retaining community accommodation, the amount of assistance is set at or reduced to $149 for each member of the benefit unit residing in the interval or transition home, unless other income exceeds this amount.

If, during the stay in the interval or transition home, the recipient changes community accommodation (e.g., gives up accommodation, changes from a renter to boarder and lodger, etc.) the shelter allowance provided to the participant will reflect the change and an amount for basic needs will continue to be provided.

After three months of residence in an interval or transition home, the Administrator may reduce the amount of assistance to no less than $149 per month, but the Administrator is not required to do so.

There is no reduction in the amount of assistance provided for the month in which an applicant or recipient enters an interval and transition home.

Residents of interval and transition homes are not eligible for the Transition Child Benefit (TCB) if they are not maintaining their community accommodation or if their budgetary requirements have been reduced after staying in the home for more than three months, as their needs are met by the home.