Income Security Advocacy Centre

ISAC works to address issues of income security and poverty in Ontario

Policy Advocacy

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In the Media: “While Doug Ford’s Government Changes Eligibility for Social Assistance, Experts say Existing Programs are Failing Those in Need”, Press Progress

ISAC Staff Lawyer Robin Nobleman was recently interviewed by Press Progress about the inadequacy of OW rates, problems with the low earnings exemption and clawbacks, ODSP application denial rates, and other issues facing social assistance…

Campaigns, Disability Justice, In the Media, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Policy Advocacy, Poverty Reduction, Social Assistance Rates

OW and ODSP rates and OCB as of July 2026: Social Assistance Rates are Stuck in Time

ISAC’s 2026 Ontario Works (OW) & Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Rates and Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) Rates Sheet is now available. The Rates Sheet includes: Download the rates sheet by clicking here. Download the…

Campaigns, Community Organizing, Disability Justice, Ontario Child Benefit (OCB), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Policy Advocacy, Social Assistance Rates, Special Diet Allowance

Join us for the Community Launch of “In Their Own Words: The State of Social Assistance in Ontario”, June 25, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

ISAC recently released a new policy report called In Their Own Words: The State of Social Assistance in Ontario. You can read more about the report here. Join us for the online community launch of…

Disability Justice, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Policy Advocacy, Poverty Reduction, Public Education, Social Assistance Reform
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Efficiency at What Cost? How Ontario’s New Centralized Intake System Puts Vulnerable People at Risk

In 2020, Ontario began to introduce a host of changes to the administration of social assistance, including rolling out a new Centralized Intake model with the purpose of modernizing access to social assistance. With this…

Access to Justice, Disability Justice, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Policy Advocacy, Poverty Reduction, Public Education, Social Assistance Reform
Blue arc which is part of ISAC's logo

Budget 2026 Reaction: The Limits of Protection in Ontario’s 2026 Budget

Ontario’s 2026 Budget arrives with a familiar promise of protection, but for whom? The province faces compounding pressures, including a deficit that has nearly doubled to $13.8 billion, ongoing U.S. tariff threats, and the ripple…

Disability Justice, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Policy Advocacy, Poverty Reduction, Provincial Budgets, Public Education, Social Assistance, Social Assistance Rates, Social Assistance Reform, Workers' Rights
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NEW REPORT: In Their Own Words: The State of Social Assistance in Ontario

Nearly one million Ontarians rely on social assistance programs like Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) for survival. These are programs of last resort, a lifeline for those with nowhere else…

Disability Justice, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Policy Advocacy, Poverty Reduction, Public Education, Social Assistance Rates, Social Assistance Reform