Social Security Tribunal for CPP Disability

Are you representing yourself with a Canada Pension Plan Disability appeal to the Social Security Tribunal? Are you a community worker who helps people  who are in this situation? If so, you’ll want to make sure you check out the Society Security Tribunal self-help guide from the BC Coalition of People with Disabilities.

This guide, updated in May 2014, is written for people who are representing themselves on a CPP Disability appeal at the Social Security Tribunal. Peter, a legal advocate at the Coalition, reports that they’ve heard from a number of people who have used the guide and found it very helpful. He describes this updated plain language guide is the only online resource that provides a comprehensive overview of how the Social Security Tribunal works. The guide includes sections on:

  • how to assess the merits of your case,
  • the decision making process,
  • starting your appeal
  • the hearing file
  • preparing your case
  • your written submission
  • at the hearing
  • after the hearing

It also includes definitions, and provides tips on using case law. This guide and other resources on Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits can be found through the Clicklaw website.

Refugee Hearing Preparation: A Guide for Refugee Claimants

kinbrace-refugeehearingpreparationKinbrace is a community-based organization that provides refugees with housing and support. They’ve recently updated their guide, Refugee Hearing Preparation: A Guide for Refugee Claimants. This resource is now available in 4 languages: English, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified) and Arabic.

“I went through the Guide again and again before my refugee hearing. The step-by-step instructions, timeline, and recommendations were so useful for me. It’s friendly and relieved my stress.”
— Ioann, Convention Refugee in Canada

The guide can be used to:

  • learn key refugee legal issues
  • track your refugee claim on the right timeline
  • learn strategies to help prepare for your refugee hearing
  • complete the hearing preparation checklist
  • get answers to frequently asked questions
  • find legal and community resources in Metro Vancouver

The guide, updated in 2014, now includes more detail. Fran from Kinbrace describes it as “…interactive. Claimants can track the fast paced timelines that are in place under the new refugee claim process with their own due dates, take note of the evidence that they have on each issue and use the checklists for submitting the refugee application form and for submitting evidence to the Immigration and Refugee Board.”

This guide and other resources for refugees in BC can be found through the Clicklaw website.