Bulletin - January 31, 2012

Effective January 30, 2012, Ontario will modify the Special Diet Allowance program to include people who have lost significant weight because of the following three medical conditions:

• Muscular Dystrophy
• Huntington Disease
• Parkinson Disease

This change affects people receiving assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program who have lost more than five per cent of their total body weight as a result of these conditions. Eligibility is verified through an assessment by a medical professional. The allowance will help pay for the cost of any special dietary needs they have as a result of these conditions.

Eligible recipients can request an Application for Special Diet Allowance form from their local Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program office.

Quick Facts

• 33 medical conditions are now applicable for assistance through the Special Diet Allowance.
• In 2010, Ontario revised the Special Diet program to make it more accountable to taxpayers while helping social assistance recipients who have eligible medical conditions receive the special diets they need.
• Weight loss associated with these three medical conditions is generally recognized within Ontario’s medical community as benefiting from a special diet.

Learn More

• Find out more about the Special Diet Allowance program.
• Eligible recipients can request an Application for Special Diet Allowance form from their local Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program office.