Got approved for basic social assistance yesterday

splitimage · Jul 26, 2017 at 08:45 AM

I was approved for Ontario Works yesterday. It's the most basic form of social assistance in Ontario, and is available to anyone who has no other income.

The amount it pays out, are ridiculously low - the housing allowance is $376 a month. You can't even rent a room for that. Even the case worker I talked to admitted the housing allowance was too low, but that's what the ministry had set it at. By contrast my rent is $660 a month. I'm not sure what the basic needs allowance is, but I think it's around $350 a month.

The good news is now that I've been approved for Ontario Works, I'm deemed financially eligible for disability, and now can start the process of applying for disability insurance, once they mail me the forms. So I'll take them into my Dr. the next time I see him.

The bad news is I've been told that the approval time, once they receive the documentation is 8 months. And I can't work during that time.

Good thing I've got family willing to help me financially.

splitimage

Jul 26, 2017 at 06:13 PM

I hope you get approved for ODSP on the first try, it is not by any means a large amount of money but definitely more than OW. If you live alone and don't work at all, I believe the maximum is around $1100. If you live with a partner that doesn't work you get closer to $1500. There are deductions if you work but you end up making more than if you didn't work at all.

splitimage · Jul 27, 2017 at 06:46 AM

Thanks scaredandconfused. Yeah that's my sort of plan, get ODSP and then pick up a small part time job. Aside from rent, my cell phone, and bus pass, I don't have a lot of expenses, and I know how to cook cheap, so I'll be ok on ODSP.

Fingers crossed that I get it.

splitimage

Christina86 · Jul 27, 2017 at 09:09 PM

Yay splitimage!

Fighting the system is so exhausting! I could tell you stories about my experiences with ODSP...!!

TECHNICALLY if you get paid under the table and like store money under your mattress... you could work.

I know it's fraud-ish but they cannot expect people to live without financial support!

ODSP caps at about $1100 a month. My rent is $800. I don't know how they expect people to live below the poverty line!!

RainyDay107 · Sep 17, 2017 at 10:36 PM

Happy for you!

Gummie · Sep 18, 2017 at 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by splitimage

I was approved for Ontario Works yesterday. It's the most basic form of social assistance in Ontario, and is available to anyone who has no other income.

The amount it pays out, are ridiculously low - the housing allowance is $376 a month. You can't even rent a room for that. Even the case worker I talked to admitted the housing allowance was too low, but that's what the ministry had set it at. By contrast my rent is $660 a month. I'm not sure what the basic needs allowance is, but I think it's around $350 a month.

The good news is now that I've been approved for Ontario Works, I'm deemed financially eligible for disability, and now can start the process of applying for disability insurance, once they mail me the forms. So I'll take them into my Dr. the next time I see him.

The bad news is I've been told that the approval time, once they receive the documentation is 8 months. And I can't work during that time.

Good thing I've got family willing to help me financially.

splitimage

Sounds like Ontario could benefit from a guaranteed income supplement that could help out people like you get ahead in a time of need. It's the conservatives in Canada that say such a program like that is too costly, and that one should pick themselves up by the bootstraps (bootstrap mentality) in order to get themselves out of their situation. Ends up costing the country more money in the long run to not implement these progressive programs?

Keyplayer · Sep 18, 2017 at 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by splitimage

I was approved for Ontario Works yesterday. It's the most basic form of social assistance in Ontario, and is available to anyone who has no other income.

The amount it pays out, are ridiculously low - the housing allowance is $376 a month. You can't even rent a room for that. Even the case worker I talked to admitted the housing allowance was too low, but that's what the ministry had set it at. By contrast my rent is $660 a month. I'm not sure what the basic needs allowance is, but I think it's around $350 a month.

The good news is now that I've been approved for Ontario Works, I'm deemed financially eligible for disability, and now can start the process of applying for disability insurance, once they mail me the forms. So I'll take them into my Dr. the next time I see him.

The bad news is I've been told that the approval time, once they receive the documentation is 8 months. And I can't work during that time.

Good thing I've got family willing to help me financially.

splitimage

Hi Split .

I am happy for you , in the US , the most you can have and FILE is 7, 280.00 and it could take up to 3 months before you get any help

Is it any wonder I am in therapy , I have to literally go broke before my own country will help me.

Sure , I have a few bucks saved , but even after I get help , the housing down here is like you and even worst is the "supplemental security income" which comes to a whopping 194.00 per month. I am supposed to live off of less than 50 bucks a week ?

If you here on the news that somebody whom has never run for any elected office in the land is running for The Presidency of these United States " , well change your citizenship , come down here and vote for me.

I will appoint you Secretary of the Interior !! , thats just a few heart beats away from being the leader of the free world!!

Wish me luck

KP 

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Got approved for basic social assistance yesterday

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Anonymous55397 Guest Posts: n/a	Jul 26, 2017 at 06:13 PM #2 I hope you get approved for ODSP on the first try, it is not by any means a large amount of money but definitely more than OW. If you live alone and don't work at all, I believe the maximum is around $1100. If you live with a partner that doesn't work you get closer to $1500. There are deductions if you work but you end up making more than if you didn't work at all.
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RainyDay107 Grand Member Member Since Feb 2017 Location: M Posts: 989 7 2,452 hugs given	Sep 17, 2017 at 10:36 PM #5 Happy for you!
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