Slaw: The launch of the new Social Security Tribunal

April 4, 2013 Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor Employee Relations, Human Resources, Payroll, Pensions and Benefits, Source Deductions and Reporting

On April 1, 2013, the federal government launched the new Social Security Tribunal, which aims to simplify the process of appealing government decisions related to benefits under the Employment Insurance Act, Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Act.

This initiative was created through the Jobs, Growth and Long-term Prosperity Act, which received royal assent on June 29, 2012. The Act amended Part 5 of the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development Act to establish the Social Security Tribunal (SST). The SST is an administrative tribunal with quasi-judicial powers that provides an independent appeal process and replaces the four separate tribunals that currently hear social security appeals:

The Board of Referees: Employment Insurance (EI) client first level of appeal
The Employment Insurance Umpires: EI client second level of appeal
The Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security Review Tribunals: Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) client first level of appeal
The Pension Appeals Board (PAB): CPP client second level of appeal

For more, read my latest post on Slaw.

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Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B. Managing Editor

Managing Editor at First Reference Inc.

Yosie Saint-Cyr, LL.B., is a trained lawyer called to the Quebec bar in 1988 and is still a member in good standing. She practiced business, employment and labour law until 1999. For over 18 years, Yosie has been the Managing Editor of the following publications, Human Resources Advisor, Human Resources PolicyPro, HRinfodesk and Accessibility Standards PolicyPro from First Reference. Yosie is one of Canada’s best known and most respected HR authors, with an extensive background in employment and labour across the country. Read more