Income Security Advocacy Centre

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

Poverty Reduction

Keep social assistance in focus during the 2026 municipal elections: Share the Municipal Social Assistance Pledge!

Municipal Elections are happening across the province on October 26! This is the perfect time to speak publicly about the importance of municipal and regional government support for people on social assistance and to ask…

Community Organizing, Disability Justice, Government Benefits - General, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Policy Advocacy, Poverty Reduction, Public Education
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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
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NEW RESOURCE: Requesting Debt Relief for Pandemic Benefit Overpayments

Between 2020 and 2022, many people received COVID-19 income support benefits from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). These income support benefits include the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), Canada Recovery Sickness…

Access to Justice, Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), Federal Benefits - General, Poverty Reduction, Public Education, Social Assistance

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: Resource on Health Benefits for People Leaving Social Assistance Now Available!

There are many reasons why someone may stop receiving social assistance. For example, a senior may turn 65 and begin receiving seniors benefits that are greater than their Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income. A…

Disability Justice, Government Benefits - General, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), Poverty Reduction, Public Education, Social Assistance, Special Diet Allowance