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Changes Mean A Higher Quality Of Life For Social Assistance Recipients
And Their Families
TORONTO, Feb. 8 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is helping people with
disabilities gain greater financial independence and increase their standard
of living by improving the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Minister
of Community and Social Services Sandra Pupatello announced today.
As part of its plan to restore integrity to Ontario's social assistance
system, the government is introducing changes to ODSP supports and services to
make it easier for recipients and their families to find jobs, keep more of
what they earn and, for those who are able, move toward financial independence
from ODSP.
"It's time our social assistance system did a better job of supporting
people with disabilities who want and are able to work, and rewarding those
who are trying," said Pupatello. "Having a job brings more than financial
benefits - it gives people an opportunity to contribute to their communities
and helps them fulfil their potential. That leads to a higher quality of life
for our clients and their families."
Currently, more than 18,000 ODSP recipients are working. Many more are
able and willing to work, but need the right supports. In the coming months,
the government will implement a number of improvements that will help ODSP
recipients and their families:
- Find work - such as improving access to employment services, like job
placement and retention support, to help recipients and their families
find and keep real, sustainable jobs
- Keep more of what they earn - such as replacing the current set of
complicated earnings exemption rules with an easy-to-understand
50 per cent flat rate exemption combined with a new $100 monthly
work-related benefit. For recipients this means that only half of
their income will be deducted from their ODSP payment, plus they will
receive an extra $100 per month - and as a result, the vast majority
of current earners will automatically see an increase in their
disposable income
- Move toward financial independence - such as providing ongoing
health-related benefits to recipients who find employment and leave
ODSP until they receive employer health coverage, so people don't have
to worry about how they will pay for their prescription drug, dental
and vision care expenses.
"Our plan to help more people with disabilities get into the workforce
will result in a stronger economy, stronger communities and a stronger
Ontario," said Pupatello. "By investing in our people, we're investing in the
future prosperity of our province."
Disponible en français
www.mcss.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
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IMPROVING THE ONTARIO DISABILITY SUPPORT PROGRAM
As part of its plan to restore integrity to Ontario's social assistance
system, the McGuinty government is introducing improvements to the Ontario
Disability Support Program (ODSP) to support recipients and their families as
they move into the workforce and achieve a higher quality of life.
Currently, more than 18,000 ODSP recipients are working. Many more are
able and willing to work, but need the right supports. These improvements will
provide straightforward incentives and extra support to make it easier for
recipients who are able and want to work to find jobs, keep more of what they
earn and move toward financial independence from ODSP.
Find Work
- Improving access to a range of employment services, such as job
placement and retention services, to help recipients find real,
sustainable jobs
- Increasing the employment start-up benefit from $253 to $500 to help
recipients cover the costs of participating in a training program,
looking for, starting or changing jobs (e.g., uniform, equipment,
professional fees)
- Providing up to $600 for upfront informal child care costs while
recipients look for a job, participate in training or start a new job
- Introducing employment requirements for spouses who do not have a
disability or caregiving responsibilities and giving them better
access to employment services to help them find jobs so they can
contribute to improving the lives of their families.
Keep More of What They Earn
- Replacing the current set of complicated earnings exemption rules with
an easy-to-understand 50 per cent flat rate exemption combined with a
new $100 monthly work-related benefit for each adult family member who
is working. For recipients this means that only half of their income
will be deducted from their ODSP payment, plus they will receive an
extra $100 per month - and as a result, the vast majority of current
earners will automatically see an increase in their disposable income
- Increasing the maximum amount recipients can deduct for informal child
care costs from $390 to $600 per month - boosting a valuable support
for working families
- Better recognizing the actual costs of disability work-related
expenses, such as attendant care and specialized technology/equipment,
by increasing the deduction for such costs from $140 to $300 per
month.
Move Toward Financial Independence
- Providing ongoing health-related benefits to recipients who leave ODSP
for employment until they receive employer health coverage, so people
don't have to worry about how they will pay for their prescription
drug, dental and vision care expenses
- Creating a new, one-time employment transition benefit of $500 for
recipients who leave ODSP for employment to help cover the costs of
starting a job
- Improving rapid reinstatement rules to allow recipients who leave ODSP
for employment to return to ODSP at any time, if their job does not
work out.
Transition to New Rules
In order to give ODSP recipients time to learn about and adjust to the
new rules and benefits, changes will be implemented in two phases.
On April 1, 2006, all ODSP recipients will have improved access to
employment services, such as job placement and retention services. As well,
spouses who do not have a disability and who do not have caregiving
responsibilities may be required to look for work and will be given better
access to a full range of employment services through Ontario Works to help
them find and keep jobs that can put them and their families on the path to
greater financial independence.
All other changes will take effect on November 1, 2006.
Earnings Examples
With these improvements, the vast majority of recipients who are working
will see an automatic increase in their disposable income, starting in
November 2006. The amount will depend on each recipient's circumstances. For
example:
<<
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disposable Disposable
Disability income income
Profile Gross work- Child under under Difference
monthly related care current new per month
earnings deduction deduction rules rules
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Single
recipient $160 $0 $0 $1,113 $1,133 + $20
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Single
recipient $750 $300 $0 $1,097 $1,415 + $318
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Single
recipient
with one
child under
the age
of 13 $1,500 $300 $600 $1,649 $2,101 + $452
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family -
one child
under the
age of 13,
both the
recipient
and
spouse $1,000 $0 $300 $2,065 $2,325 + $260
work (combined)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reforming Social Assistance
The McGuinty government is implementing its plan to restore integrity to
Ontario's social assistance system and programs. The plan focuses on making
Ontario's social assistance programs work better for clients and for the
people of Ontario by streamlining administration, improving accountability and
moving people off social assistance into steady jobs.
These changes are in direct response to what Deb Matthews, Parliamentary
Assistant to the Minister of Community and Social Services, heard during her
discussions with people with disabilities, social assistance recipients,
community organizations and municipalities in 2004. Stakeholders called for
the removal of barriers and disincentives to employment (e.g., fear of losing
health benefits), the elimination of punitive policies and the simplification
of program rules.
Disponible en français
www.mcss.gov.on.ca
>>
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For further information: Sara Best, Minister's Office, (416) 325-5219; Anne Machowski-Smith, Ministry of Community and Social Services, (416) 325-5156
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