How much is enough?

**This featured case is one example of the concerns people have brought to us. Names have been changed to protect the identity of the people involved.

Myron contacted us because he thought his Transitional Employment Allowance (TEA) benefits had been discontinued unfairly.

He was living in a northern community, a 45-minute drive from the nearest Social Services office. He had no wood for heat and was out of groceries. He said the reason he was given for his TEA benefits being cut off was that Social Services had not received his job search report and that to stay in the program, he had to submit 30 resumés per month. He told us he had phoned in his last job search report and thought that was sufficient. There were very few jobs in his community, so he was faxing his resumés to communities quite far from home. The nearest fax machine was at the Social Services office. He said it was not easy to travel in and fax out 30 resumés each month.

We called Social Services and spoke with a supervisor. She said the realities of life in the north are often different than in the south and these circumstances should be considered. She said she was familiar with the area and knew of additional resources that may be helpful to Myron. She reviewed the file and told us that Myron was doing what was required to stay in the TEA program. She contacted him to discuss his situation further, reinstated his benefits, and included funds for wood.

Status: Resolved