Misty Bernst is furious.
The Heron Street woman, a victim of the May 2012 flood and sewage back-up disaster, says she was shocked earlier this week when she got a letter from the Disaster Relief Committee asking her to repay $250.
Bernst said she initially received an emergency $1,000 claim in the aftermath of the flood, but though she sustained thousands of dollars in damage, was only approved for $750 in claims through the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance program.
Bernst can’t believe the DRC is demanding the difference back.
“I was devastated, so devastated,” she said in a phone interview Friday morning. “I can’t believe they would be able to turn around and say something like that. Out of all the things that the family lost, we’ve got somebody else telling us that’s not worth any money and that’s not worth any money, which is hard. We’re a family of four with one income just trying to start out.”
DRC chairman Wayne Fletcher said he sympathizes with Bernst and a few others who received similar letters from the committee, but strict ODRAP rules left them no choice but to reclaim the overpayments.
The program sets out strict rules for what is covered and what isn’t and the committee isn’t allowed to deviate.
Fletcher said the emergency payments came with caveats, one being recipients had to fill out a full claim. It also stated any overpayments on the original $1,000 had to be paid back in full.
“Unfortunately some of them ending up getting $800 worth of claims, but they were given $1,000.
Under the province’s rules, they’re supposed to pay back the $200, as an example,” Fletcher said.
“That’s not an awful lot of cases. In fact when we negotiated more money from the province we eliminated some of them, we were able to raise them over the bar, but unfortunately there were a few that did not quite make it, so those people have received letters.”
Bernst said her family lost a lot of collectibles and personal mementos in the flood, but their home suffered damage to the roof, basement and yard and a freezer was destroyed.
“I don’t even know where we’re going to come up with the $250 dollars to give to them,” she said.
She estimated her family has spent about $3,000 or more on repair costs.
Fletcher said the news isn’t all bad for claimants. The province has kicked in an additional $200,000 or more, meaning final cheques to successful applicants will be sent out within the next two weeks.
Claimants have already been paid out, on average, 75 per cent of their approved claims.
Adjustments have been made for increased construction costs and the value of certain items, including couches. Some recipients may get more than they were originally told as a result.
Fletcher said Bernst can appeal her decision and has 30 days upon receipt of her letter to do so.
