On November 22, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Lisa MacLeod, announced a number of changes to Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
These changes include:
- changing the definition of disability in ODSP to make it more restrictive
- changing the amounts of money that people in both OW and ODSP can keep when they work
- simplifying the rates
- consolidating supplements and benefits in both ODSP and OW
- more emphasis on local service delivery
- giving people on OW wrap-around supports to employment
- and much more
ISAC hosted a webinar to discuss the announcement, with support from CLEO’s Your Legal Rights.
The webinar:
- reviewed the proposed changes
- explored what they will mean for low-income people in Ontario
- talked about next steps that people in community can take.
Date: Thursday, December 6
Time: 10:00am – 11:30am
The webinar was taped so that people who were unable to participate live can watch at their convenience.
Watch the webinar at this link:
Note:
- If you are a group of people on social assistance or work with such a group, please consider setting up a group opportunity to watch the webinar together.
Resources:
- The Minister’s press release is here: https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2018/11/ontarios-government-for-the-people-announces-plan-to-restore-dignity-independence-and-empowerment-to.html
- Background information about the Minister’s announcement is here: https://news.ontario.ca/mcys/en/2018/11/reforming-social-assistance.html
Backgrounders:
- Many questions, few answers and great risk for people with disabilities: ISAC responds to the Nov 22 announcement: http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/many-questions-few-answers-and-great-risk-for-people-with-disabilities/
- Working while on OW: What Minister MacLeod’s changes to income exemptions would mean: http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/working-while-on-ow-what-minister-macleods-changes-to-income-deductions-would-mean/
- What changing the ODSP definition of disability would mean: http://incomesecurity.org/public-education/changing-the-odsp-definition-of-disability/
