Government Eliminates Four Month Retroactive Payment Rule
TORONTO – The McGuinty government has eliminated a rule that limited retroactive payments for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) applicants, Community and Social Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur announced today.
“We believe that everyone deserves to be treated with respect, no matter what struggles they face,” said Meilleur. “That’s why we moved quickly to change the rules so that we can help people when they need our help the most.”
As part of its plan to restore integrity to Ontario’s social assistance program, the government has eliminated the four month limit on retroactive ODSP payments. Now, an individual who is approved for ODSP after submitting an application will receive retroactive payments for the full amount of time that they have been waiting for approval. Under the previous rule, this person would only have been eligible for up to four months of retroactive support.
The announcement builds on previous initiatives to cut the amount of time it takes to process an application, including investments in new technology and the hiring of additional staff. It also responds to a major recommendation made by the provincial Ombudsman in his report released today.
This is the latest change to bring greater fairness and respect to social assistance recipients and their families. Other changes include:
- Allowing social assistance recipients to keep registered education savings plan (RESP) funds so that their children can get an education and escape the cycle of poverty
- 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
- No longer requiring social assistance recipients to place a lien on their home in order to receive social assistance.
“Today’s report from the provincial Ombudsman shows that we are making progress on protecting our most vulnerable citizens,” said Meilleur. “By treating people with fairness and respect, we are building a stronger Ontario.”