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:

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.