From: AlanBaggett@volcanomail.com   
      
   Canada Child Benefit eligibility reviews causing hardship for single moms,   
   Indigenous families, says lawyer :CRA SOTW   
      
   By Amy Hadley, CBC News Posted: Jan 21, 2018 2:39 PM ET   
      
   Eligibility reviews conducted by the Canada Revenue Agency on recipients of   
   the Canada Child Benefit are causing hardship for low income families in   
   northwestern Ontario, and in particular, Indigenous single mothers on social   
   assistance, says the co-   
   ordinator of a legal clinic in Thunder Bay, Ont.    
      
   Since the Canada Child Benefit was introduced in 2016, it's become a crucial   
   source of income for many families, said Sally Colquhoun, co-ordinator of   
   legal services at the Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic.   
      
   Losing it can leave low-income families without the means to pay for basic   
   necessities.    
      
   But that's just what's happening to a many recipients who are being asked to   
   prove they still have custody of their children, and are still eligible, she   
   said.   
      
   "There are serious problems with how this benefit is being reviewed," said   
   Colquhoun.   
      
   Colquhoun said when parents are selected for review, they receive a complex   
   letter, asking for detailed information and documentation such as birth   
   certificates, utility bills, school documents and a doctor's letter.   
   'Onerous' process   
   Many families don't have easy access to the records, or professionals, such as   
   doctors or lawyers, who can provide necessary verification, she said. Some   
   can't even afford copies of their children's birth certificates.   
      
   And fulfilling the requirements can be even more challenging for people living   
   in remote northern communities.   
      
   "So I think often people just kind of give up, and they're not getting the   
   benefit. I think there are lots and lots of people who should be getting these   
   benefits who aren't."    
      
   Colquhoun said in her experience, the reviews disproportionately affect   
   Indigenous single mothers.   
      
   Affecting Indigenous single moms, families on social assistance   
   "That's anecdotal, but that's who we see coming into our office for help," she   
   said, adding that clients subject to the reviews also often have larger   
   families.   
      
   "And because it's an onerous review process," people are often unable to   
   provide the requested documents by the deadline, and are being cut off from   
   benefits.    
      
   Colquhoun said that's what happened to one mother with six children who was   
   reviewed twice in a single year.    
      
   "She didn't have enough money to pay her rent. And that's what brought her   
   into our office in the first place, was she was being evicted."    
      
   Colquhoun said at the very least, she would like for clients to be supplied   
   with contact information for an agency representative who can be contacted for   
   help, when they're selected for review.   
      
   But if clients pass the initial application process, Colquhoun said she   
   doesn't see the need for them to be later subjected to random eligibility   
   reviews at all.    
      
   Eligibility reviews are needed to ensure the fairness of its benefit programs,   
   Etienne Biram, a spokesperson for the Canada Revenue Agency said in an emailed   
   statement, adding that file selection does not target any specific   
   demographic, as it is    
   sometimes random and sometimes triggered by a life-change.   
      
   But the agency says it recognizes the review process can be challenging.    
      
   The agency has reduced the number of documents people are required to submit,   
   and "enhanced proactive efforts," to contact recipients who don't respond on   
   time, the statement said.   
      
   "The CRA hopes that with some of the changes, individuals will find it faster,   
   easier and less onerous to validate their eligibility benefits."   
      
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