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Part of Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD)

FSCD – Appeal a decision

Find out how to appeal a decision about your eligibility for the FSCD program and services.

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Appeal a decision

What is an appeal

An appeal is when you ask the Citizen’s Appeal Panel (CAP) to review a decision the Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program has made about your child or family’s eligibility or services. The CAP:

  • is made up of private citizens who are not Government of Alberta employees
  • has the authority and training to hear your appeal
  • may agree with, change or cancel the FSCD program’s decision

Who can appeal

You can appeal to the CAP if you are the child’s guardian.

What can be appealed

Under the Family Support for Children with Disabilities Act (FSCD Act) you have the right to appeal most decisions the FSCD program makes.

  • Decisions that CAP may review

    The CAP may review decisions about:

    • your family's or child’s eligibility for the program
    • a service you requested that was denied
    • the extent of services or the amount of funding provided for a requested service

  • Decisions that CAP may not review

    The CAP may not review decisions about:

    • a change in your child's FSCD worker
    • your child’s diagnosis or the results of any assessments
    • a court decision about your child 

Appeals timelines

Make sure to appeal within the 45-day deadline from the date you:

  • got the decision in person, by phone, email or letter
  • were told about your right to appeal

The 45-day time limit will be affected if you choose to try mediation to resolve the concern. Mediation is when a person who does not work for the FSCD program assists you and the FSCD program to reach a decision that is agreeable to everyone involved. Your FSCD worker will help arrange mediation.

If you choose mediation before filing an appeal, the 45-day appeal time limit count will:

  • start from the day you were told about the FSCD decision until the day before mediation starts
  • restart the day after the mediation ends

If you file an appeal within the 45-day time limit and then request mediation, your appeal hearing will not be scheduled until after the mediation is complete. No extension to appeal timelines are allowed.

Steps to file an appeal

Fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and web browsers. See the step-by-step guide or contact PDF form technical support.

  • Step 1. Fill out an appeal form

    • Download: open the FSCD Notice of Appeal form in Adobe Reader, read the instructions, fill it in, save it, then print it. Alternatively, you can print a paper copy and fill it in by hand.
    • Paper copy: contact the Appeals Secretariat to pick up a form or have it sent to you by email, fax or mail. When you get it, read the instructions and fill it in.
    • Make sure the form is signed.
    • Keep copies for your files.

    If you want to give another person authority to act on your behalf throughout the appeal process, include an Authorization form.

  • Step 2. File your notice of appeal

    Make sure to:

    • include your signed Notice of Appeal form and the Authorization form if someone will be acting on your behalf
    • include a copy of the letter with the FSCD decision you are appealing, if you received one
    • keep copies of all documents for your own files

    Submit your documents by:

After you file an appeal

You will get a letter from the Appeals Secretariat saying they received your appeal.

The Appeals Secretariat will start setting up your appeal hearing.

Once your appeal has been scheduled, the Appeals Secretariat will send you a document from the Child intervention program explaining the reason their decision will not change, along with copies of the documents they used to make the decision you are appealing.

Let Appeals Secretariat know if you:

  • need an interpreter since all hearings are in English
  • want to get information about organizations that may be able to help you with your appeal
  • are waiting for any new information related to the appeal
  • choose to try mediation to resolve the concern
  • have moved or changed your phone number or email so they can reach you to give you the hearing date – if you do not take part when the hearing is scheduled, it may happen without you and your right to appeal will end

Withdrawing an appeal

You can withdraw your appeal at any time. This means it is stopped, and you no longer want to appeal the FSCD program’s decision.

Tell the Appeals Secretariat as soon as you choose to withdraw your appeal.

Contact

Appeals Secretariat offices

Related

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