Ottawa, Ontario, April 1, 2013—The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced the launch of the new Social Security Tribunal (SST), an initiative created through Canada’s Economic Action Plan that makes the appeal process simpler and easier for Canadians for government decisions on Employment Insurance (EI), the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS).
The new Social Security Tribunal is a single decision-making body that consolidates the work previously done by four separate HRSDC tribunals. By offering one point of contact for submitting an appeal, it eliminates confusion about the appeal process, while ensuring continued access to administrative justice for appellants and providing greater value for Canadians.
“Canadians want it to be easier to access government services and the new Social Security Tribunal will simplify the appeals process while continuing to ensure that it remains fair and accessible,” said Minister Finley.
As an additional measure to further improve efficiencies for EI decision, an enhanced reconsideration process is being introduced. This process, which already existed for CPP and OAS appeals, will now allow EI appellants to submit new or additional information to the EI Commission before filing an appeal with the SST.
To date, 34 members have been appointed from all regions of the country, in order to ensure regional representation and fairness of decisions.
To effectively manage the transfer of all appeals to the SST, the first year will be a transition period. During this time, the SST will hear all new appeals while the four tribunals finalize cases already in their system. As of April 1, 2013, all appeals for EI, CPP and OAS must be submitted to the SST.
For more information on the SST, please visit: canada.gc.ca/sst-tss
- 30 -
This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Alyson Queen
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Follow us on Twitter
IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.
Announced in Canada’s Economic Action Plan 2012, the new Social Security Tribunal (SST) will replace the four, separate tribunals for social security appeals. It is an administrative tribunal with quasi-judicial powers and provides an independent appeal process for government decisions on Employment Insurance (EI), the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS).
The new tribunal system simplifies and streamlines the process for appellants by providing them with a single decision-making body for EI, CPP and OAS appeals. The SST is led by a chairperson and three vice-chairpersons appointed by Governor in Council. The SST comprises two levels of appeal. For the first level of appeal, a vice-chairperson heads each of the EI and Income Security (CPP and OAS) sections of the General Division. The third vice-chairperson heads the Appeal Division, which is the second level of appeal. The Appeal Division decides appeals of decisions made by the General Division.
The first year of operations for the SST will be a transition period during which it will hear all new appeals while the four tribunals finalize and render decisions on cases already heard. More specifically, the EI Boards of Referees will continue to hear appeals filed (and not decided) before April 2013. These decisions must be issued no later than October 31, 2013. The CPP/OAS Review Tribunals, the Pension Appeals Board (PAB) and the EI Umpire will no longer hear any appeals but will render decision on all cases heard up to March 31, 2013. Their decisions must be issued no later than March 31, 2014.
Appeals filed with the Office of the Commissioner of the Review Tribunals (OCRT), the PAB and the EI Umpire that have not been heard by April 1, 2013, will be transferred to the SST. The SST will notify appellants whose files have been transferred and provide them with additional information about the appeal process.
The transition period will be complete by April 1, 2014, at which time the SST will be the only body hearing and deciding appeals for EI, CPP and OAS. If any of the four tribunals is unable to meet the deadlines for issuing decisions, the SST will be responsible for outstanding cases.
In addition to the chairperson and vice-chairpersons, the legislation provides for up to 70 full time members to render decisions on appeals. Members are expected to maintain the public trust and avoid any conflicts of interest. These members are also supported by advisors with legal and medical expertise and have access to professional training.
On March 12, 2013, Ms. Murielle Brazeau was appointed to the role of chairperson of the SST along with 34 full-time members, by the Governor-in-Council. Members are being appointed from all regions of the country to ensure fairness and regional distribution.
Key SST Milestones:
• March 29, 2012 – SST announced in Economic Action Plan 2012
• June 21, 2012 – SST receives Royal Assent
• March 12, 2013 – Announcement of SST Chairperson
• March 31, 2013 – Last day for the CPP/OAS Review Tribunals, the PAB and the EI Umpire to hear new cases. The Boards of Referees will continue to hear appeals filed up to this date.
• April 1, 2013 – SST begins operations
• April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 – Four tribunals finalize cases and wind down operations; SST receives all new appeals
o October 2013 – The EI Boards of Referees must have issued all decisions on cases filed before March 31, 2013
o March 31, 2014 – The CPP/OAS Review Tribunals, PAB and EI Umpire will have issued their decisions on all appeals heard before March 31, 2013
• April 1, 2014 – SST becomes the only decision-making body
For more information on the SST please visit: canada.gc.ca/sst-tss.
