Organization Profile - Social Security Tribunal

Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages

Department of Employment and Social Development Act

The Social Security Tribunal consists of a General Division and an Appeal Division.

The General Division consists of the Income Security Section and the Employment Insurance Section.

The Tribunal consists of full-time members and part-time members to be appointed by the Governor in Council.

The Governor in Council designates one of the full-time members to hold office as the Chairperson and three full-time members to hold office as Vice-chairpersons, one of whom is responsible for the Appeal Division, one of whom is responsible for the Income Security Section and one of whom is responsible for the Employment Insurance Section.

Each full-time member of the Tribunal is to be appointed for a term of not more than five years, and each part-time member is to be appointed for a term of not more than two years. A member may be reappointed for one or more additional terms.

Each member of the Tribunal holds office during good behaviour and may be removed for cause by the Governor in Council at any time.

Each Vice-chairperson exercises any powers and performs any duties and functions that the Chairperson may assign. Each member exercises any powers and performs any duties and functions that the Vice-chairperson who is responsible for the Division or Section for which they hear matters may assign.

The Chairperson may assign members to hear matters in the Appeal Division, the Income Security Section or the Employment Insurance Section.

The Minister must consult a committee composed of the Chairperson of the Tribunal and the commissioners of the Canada Employment Insurance Commission before recommending to the Governor in Council any person to be appointed as a member of the Tribunal who may hear matters in the Employment Insurance Section.

Each full-time member of the Tribunal must devote the whole of their time to the performance of their duties under this Act.

A part-time member of the Tribunal must not accept or hold any office or employment inconsistent with their duties under this Act.

In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chairperson or if the office of Chairperson is vacant, the Vice-chairperson of the Appeal Division acts as Chairperson and may exercise all the powers and perform all the duties and functions of the Chairperson.

In the event of the absence or incapacity of the Vice-chairperson of the Appeal Division, or if the office of Vice-chairperson of the Appeal Division is vacant, the Minister may authorize another Vice-chairperson to act as Chairperson and that Vice-chairperson may exercise all the powers and perform all the duties and functions of the Chairperson.

In the event of the absence or incapacity of a Vice-chairperson or if the office of a Vice-chairperson is vacant, the Chairperson may authorize a member to act, on any terms and conditions that the Chairperson may specify, as Vice-chairperson for the time being.

The Chairperson and the Vice-chairpersons must reside within the distance from the head of office of the Tribunal or at any other place within Canada that may be designated by the Governor in Council.

Each member of the Tribunal is paid the remuneration fixed by the Governor in Council.

Each full-time member of the Tribunal is entitled to be paid reasonable travel and living expenses incurred by them while absent from their ordinary place of work in the course of performing their duties under this Act.

Each part-time members of the Tribunal is entitled to be paid reasonable travel and living expenses incurred by them while absent from their ordinary place of residence in the course of performing their duties under this Act.