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Know when you can appeal decisions the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program makes and how to file or withdraw an appeal.
An appeal is when you ask an appeal panel to review a Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program decision that affects you. The appeal panel:
You can appeal a decision the PDD program made if you are:
Under the Persons with Developmental Disabilities Services Act and Regulation (PDD Act and Regulation) you have the right to appeal most decisions the PDD program makes. These are general guidelines about decisions the appeal panel can and cannot review:
The appeal panel can review decisions about:
They may agree with, reverse or change the PDD program’s decision.
The appeal panel cannot review decisions to:
For more detailed information, review the PDD Act and Regulation or contact the Appeals Secretariat.
Make sure to appeal within the 45-day deadline from the date you:
The deadline to appeal will be different if you choose to try mediation to resolve the concern first. Mediation is when a person who does not work for the PDD program helps you and the PDD program reach a decision that is agreeable to everyone involved. Your PDD worker will help arrange mediation.
If you choose mediation first and are not happy with the outcome, you can file an appeal up to 30 days from the date mediation ends.
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Make sure to:
Submit your documents by:
The Appeals Secretariat will review your Notice of Appeal to see if:
They will contact you if they need to:
Once the Appeals Secretariat has all the information they need, they will decide whether to accept your appeal.
The Appeals Secretariat will send you a letter saying your appeal has been accepted. They will also contact the PDD program to see if you tried the PDD dispute resolution process to resolve your concern. The process includes 3 options:
If you have not tried the dispute resolution process before filing your appeal, the Appeals Secretariat will refer you to the PDD program. You will have 30 days to work with them and try one or more options to resolve your concern.
If you resolve your concern through the dispute resolution process, you can choose to withdraw your appeal. If you do not, the Appeals Secretariat will continue your appeal.
The Appeals Secretariat will start setting up your appeal hearing. Contact them, if you:
The Appeals Secretariat may decide your appeal cannot be accepted for these reasons:
When your appeal cannot be accepted, the Appeals Secretariat sends you a letter saying it cannot be accepted. Your appeal will be closed and not go to the appeal panel.
If you think the Appeals Secretariat’s decision is unfair, you cannot appeal their decision to the appeal panel. However, you have 2 options:
You can make a complaint to the Alberta Ombudsman’s office. They cannot reverse or change an Appeals Secretariat decision, but they can:
A judicial review happens through the Court of Queen’s Bench. The Court cannot reverse or change an Appeals Secretariat decision, however they can decide if the Appeals Secretariat:
When a judicial review happens, the Court:
If you wish to apply for a judicial review, you must:
Find out what happens before, during and after the appeal hearing.
You can withdraw your appeal at any time. This means it is stopped and you no longer want to appeal the PDD program’s decision. Tell the Appeals Secretariat as soon as you choose to withdraw your appeal.
The Appeals Secretariat is a neutral government office that runs separately from the PDD program.
Connect with the Appeals Secretariat:
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed noon to 1 pm and statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-2709
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Fax: 780-422-1088
Email: [email protected]
Address:
2nd floor, Agronomy Centre
6903 116 Street NW
Edmonton, Alberta T6H 5Z2
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