Information on changes coming in 2015 Right now, people on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) who are preparing to work or who are working have access to three employment benefits. Starting in April 2015,…
Increase in reviews coming in 2015 If you get benefits from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you may get a notice that your disability status is being reviewed. These “medical reviews” have always been…
New amounts start Sept 30 / Oct 1 The 2014 Ontario Budget, passed in July 2014, increased Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates. A new rates sheet from ISAC outlines the…
A test of success for Ontario’s second five-year Poverty Reduction Strategy The provincial government unveiled its second five-year Poverty Reduction Strategy earlier today, called ‘Realizing Our Potential’. ISAC commends government for continuing to focus on…
OW & ODSP Rates and the Ontario Child Benefit We have prepared a new rates sheet that shows changes in OW and ODSP rates and the Ontario Child Benefit. The new rates will be in…
Budget Re-introduced: More Comment Required The new Ontario government re-introduced the 2014 provincial Budget yesterday – the same Budget that was originally introduced on May 1. The Budget includes a social assistance rate increase, with proportionally…
We sent three separate questionnaires to four parties – the Greens, the Liberals, the NDP, and the Progressive Conservatives. The questions are about issues related to Ontario Works (OW), the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP),…
Immigrant seniors to be denied equal access Right now, the House of Commons and a committee of the Senate are reviewing a federal government Bill that will deprive elderly immigrants of equal access to benefits…
Election Day in Ontario is June 12. Issues that affect low-income Ontarians are important to talk about during provincial election campaigns. That’s because provincial government action can go a long way toward making life better…
What does it mean for social assistance? We wanted to follow-up to our email last week about the 2014 Budget and its implications for people receiving social assistance. That’s because we got some emails asking when people…
TORONTO (1 May 2014) – Ontario’s 2014 Budget takes important steps to reduce poverty in Ontario through investments in income benefits, housing and homelessness supports, and expanded health benefits for low-income children. However, the Budget provides…
After our coalition of more than 27 community-based organizations in Ontario wrote to the government urging more funding for housing and homelessness prevention programs this past November, we’re pleased to report that 2014 Budget includes…