Benefits Mix-up Hangs Over Dying Woman’s Last Christmas :CRA SOTW
Jeremy Warren, Canwest News Service
SASKATOON -- An error at Canada Revenue Agency has led a Saskatoon
family through a protracted fight for money owed and the postponement
of a dying mother's last family Christmas this year.
The agency ended Dorothy Jones' monthly child benefits in October
because officials wrongly believed she married her brother.
Ms. Jones, 36, has cervical cancer and is in palliative care in St.
Paul's Hospital. She could die at any moment. She wanted the money to
fund a special Christmas for her three children.
Ms. Jones received the federal Child and Family Benefits and Credits
-- about $600 every month -- to supplement her social assistance.
The cheques stopped arriving three months ago when the Canada Revenue
Agency "determined that [Jones had] a spouse or common-law partner for
tax purposes," according to an agency letter sent on Oct. 2.
The letter was addressed to Ms. Jones' brother, Jason Langan, 35, who
the agency "determined" was Ms. Jones' spouse or common-law partner.
The siblings briefly lived together with Ms. Jones' children almost
three years ago.
In late December, the agency reversed itself and said benefits would
be restored.
Canada Revenue said it is working to "re-establish the status-quo" for
Ms. Jones, but couldn't confirm when a cheque might arrive.
Mr. Langan said an agency official told him this month that the family
could wait four weeks at the minimum.
That's not soon enough for a woman who could die before she can give
her children one last Christmas, said Mr. Langan.
The three months of missing cheques add up to about $1,800, according
to the family.
"All [Dorothy] could give was a little bit from her welfare money,"
said her mother, Connie Langan.
Ms. Jones has three children, aged 21, 17 and 12, and a three-year-old
grandson.
Canwest News Service
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