Sept 1, Income Security Work Group Members who participated in the development of this report:

Transcription

1 Issues and Recommendations: Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network Income Security Work Group Response to the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario Sept 1, 2011 RECEIVED Ministry of Community & Social Services SEP COMMISSION FOR THE REVIEW OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE IN ONTARIO Income Security Work Group Members who participated in the development of this report: Martha Macfie, Peterborough Community Legal Centre Christine Post, Peterborough County-City Health Unit Joanne Bazak-Brokking, Individual member Carol Winter, Individual member Dorothy Boddy, Individual member Linda Slavin, COIN Margaret Wright, Individual member Roy Brady, Peterborough Health Coalition Teresa Vickers, Individual member Peterborough D ieuut 0 Network \ Too many people live in poverty in Peterborough and it s time for that to change! 1

2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 3 OVERALL RECOMMENDATION: 5 Reform Social Assistance from a system of Last Resort to a system to Dignity and Human Rights SPECIFIC ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS Issue I: Employment 7 II: OW and ODSP Structure 11 Issue III: Easier to Understand/Accessible 14 Issue IV: Viability 16 Issue V: Integration 18 Peterborough Toomanypeopleliveinpovertyin Peterborough (O/ertY and it s time for that to change! ) Red 01 Network -2-

3 INTRODUCTION Background on the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario Integral to the government s Poverty Reduction Strategy, is a commitment to review social assistance Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). This led to the establishment of the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario in November 2010 The Commission s task is to carry out a comprehensive review and provide specific recommendations with a concrete action plan for reforming the social assistance system. The vision for the review of social assistance is: A 2ls century income security system that enables all Ontarians to live with dignity, participate in their communities, and contribute to a prospering economy. The review will recommend ways to improve social assistance to increase people s opportunities for work and guarantee security for those who cannot work. An improved system will also be easier to understand, more transparent, and sustainable in the long term, so that it can continue to support the most vulnerable Ontarians. 1 Background on the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network (PPRN) Poverty, and its impact on people living in Peterborough City and County, has been a concern in our community for many years, leading to poverty alleviation and reduction initiatives. The Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network (PPRN) is a community-based collaboration which has worked to bring together local poverty reduction efforts through various initiatives since December, Six Work Groups, made up of community volunteers as well as representatives of community agencies, address a variety of poverty-reduction themes (housing, food security, basic needs, employment and training, community hubs and income security). The PPRN shares a vision of a community free from poverty, where all people live with dignity, health and have: secure and affordable housing, food, and income and are able to meet their basic needs; employment with good wages; access to education and training throughout the lifespan; opportunities to reach their full potential using their energy, creativity and talents; opportunities to be involved and included; support for their changing needs from childhood to old age. The purpose of the Income Security Work Group of the PPRN is to work collaboratively locally, provincially and federally on initiatives to achieve income security for all people. It is recognised that livable incomes and wages that are based on the real cost of life s necessities provide critical pathways out of poverty. People on Ontario Works (OW) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) are trapped in deep poverty, not only because the income support 2 1 Ministry of Community and Social Services, Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario Terms of Reference ( 2010) 2 Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network, workplan,

4 rates are woefully inadequate, but also because the social assistance system is failing to achieve its stated objectives. Integral to our work has been advocacy for adequate social assistance rates and an overhaul of the social assistance system. The establishment of the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario was applauded by Peterborough and other communities across the province. This was the opportunity we had been working for; an opportunity to contribute to an improved social assistance system. The Income Security Work Group benefits from the collective wisdom and experience of people with lived experience with poverty, representatives from the Peterborough County-City Health Unit, Community Legal Centre, Social Planning Council, Community Food Network, Peterborough Health Coalition, City of Peterborough Social Services; COIN, Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS), and other interested community members. While staff from Social Services and MCSS contributes to the work group, they temporarily stepped aside to facilitate a consultation process that allowed for other perspectives. To this end, Peterborough Social Services made their own, separate submission to the Commission. Peterborough s Approach to the Review Peterborough took a two-stage approach to providing input and ideas for solutions to the review of social assistance. A community conversation organized by the PPRN was held on June 21. The purpose was to assist people, particularly those with lived experience with poverty, to contribute their ideas to the review and to help us prepare for the Commissioners visit to Peterborough. Participants were asked to respond to two questions: 1. What needs to change with ODSP and OW? 2. What are your ideas/solutions for improving the system? A summary of ideas and key recommendations from this community conversation, along with the perspectives of two people with lived experience, was presented at the meeting with the Commission on July 13 th A compilation of the June 2l meeting is found in Appendix 1 The second community meeting, held on July 13 th was organized by a committee in response to the commission s invitation for Peterborough to host a cross-community dialogue by providing input into their discussion paper and workbook, Discussion Paper: Issues and Ideas The discussion paper provided the basis for much of the July 13 th consultation and for this report. Peterborough s complete response to the Commission was compiled by the Peterborough Social Planning Council This report summarizes key issues and recommendations of the PPRN income security work group, based on the two community consultations along with additional input provided through local submissions, interviews, and the broad range of experience of contributing work group members. Organizing Committee: PPRN- Income Security Work Group, Peterborough Social Planning Council, Peterborough Community Legal Centre, New Canadian Centre Ministry of Community and Social Services, Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario. A Discussion Paper: Issues and Ideas. June Peterborough Social Planning Council, Peterborough s Response to the Commission for the Review of social assistance in Ontario; based on the Proceedings of Peterborough s Consultation Sessions. July

5 OUR RESPONSE Reform Social Assistance from a System of Last Resort to a System of Dignity and Human Rights - The whole system needs to change. Something is really wrong with the system when - The - The - People you can t get ahead. A couple on OW trying to raise their kids both work full time. At the end of the month, after their earnings are clawed back, they have almost nothing to show for it. - Community Consultation Participant system makes decisions about how much money people deserve to get. You can t get a cent more or it gets clawed back. Community Consultation Participant rates are not based on reality: People can t afford to live anything about it. Community Consultation Participant on OW and ODSP are trapped in a poverty pit with no way out and they can t do Issue: People on OW and ODSP are trapped in poverty Social Assistance is designed to be a system of last resort ; to be accessed only when people have no other financial options. Income rates are woefully inadequate and not based on the real cost of life s necessities. People are unable to afford rent, food, heat and hydro, transportation, phone and other basics. A last resort system traps people in deep poverty, causing hunger, health problems, shortened lifespan, homelessness, isolation and despair. OW is failing to provide adequate income supports and transition people to work. For many people with disabilities, ODSP is not a support 6 program of last resort but a support program of only resort. A last resort system, by its very nature is rule-bound, complicated and difficult to administer fairly. The current system, with its 800 rules, is punitive, adversarial, and strips people of their dignity and self worth. It requires depletion of assets and income clawbacks. People cannot escape poverty. Last Resort System Poverty Trap Traps people in poverty Leads to complicated rules and regulations Results in a punitive, adversarial system Requires depletion of assets & income clawbacks Strips people of dignity and worth Exacerbates health problems, isolation and despair 6 Daw T. Presentation to the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario, July 13, Social Assistance Review Advisory Council, Recommendations for an Ontario Income Security Review: Report of the Ontario Social Assistance Review Advisory Council, May 2010, p.7, at sarac.aspx. -5-

6 OVERALL RECOMMENDATION Reform Social Assistance from a System of Last Resort to a System of Dignity and Human Rights A redesigned social assistance system, grounded in human rights, enables development of a system that recognises, values, and invests in all people and all forms of economic and social contribution. 8 This approach acknowledges the diversity of abilities, disabilities and complex needs of people who require assistance, along with their contributions to prospering, inclusive communities. A system based on dignity and human rights begins with ensuring that people s basic needs for livable incomes and wages, affordable housing and meaningful occupation are met to create a stable foundation from which to live, work, learn, and participate in community life. Addressing these basic needs provide critical pathways out of poverty. Fundamental to a dignity and rights based Social Assistance system is provision of client-centred services that are responsive to the individual s needs, goals and plans. A client-centred approach considers the whole person; building on strengths and capabilities while addressing circumstances, health issues, and other problems, including barriers to employment and participation in community life. Through planning in partnership, people are assisted to connect with the services and supports they need to achieve their employment and community goals. Accommodations, adjustments and other supports are implemented to achieve social and economic inclusion, and to address barriers. Dignity and Human Rights Based System Recognises, values and invests in all people Ensures basic needs are met; livable incomes and wages, affordable housing, flexible employment opportunities, transportation Enhances capacity of people to help themselves Requires individualized, client-centred approaches to OW and ODSP Enables people to step onto the rungs of a ladder out of the poverty trap (Consultation Participant) Poverty Trap 8 Daw T. Presentation for the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario, July 2011.

7 - Community SPECIFIC ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Income Security Work Group s Issues and Recommendations in the following sections of this report flow from the Commission s Discussion Paper: Issues and Ideas and focus on the five key issues and questions set out in the Discussion Paper which are: Issue I: Reasonable Expectations and Necessary Supports to Employment Issue II: Appropriate Benefit Structure Issue III: Easier to Understand Issue IV: Viable over the Long Term Issue V: An Integrated Ontario Position on Income Security Issue I: Employment We need to acknowledge that with high unemployment rates not everyone will find work/j -Community Consultation Participant Even young people with Master s degrees can t find decent jobs, and end up working slinging beer. How can our clients compete in this environment? -Community Consultation Participant You cannot work or look for work if you are worried about the basics, such as whether your family will have enough food, or whether you will have your rent money Consultation Participant Employment Issues and Recommendations: 1. Treatment of Earnings Earnings are clawed back from assistance at a flat rate of 50% and overpayments are often assessed due to earnings. This has to change. people out of poverty. Suggestions are: The system needs to be more generous and flexible in order to lift permit an individual to earn $500 per month before any claw back; change the rule so that a person who reports income as required is not assessed an overpayment just because of the inevitable time lag between when the money is earned and when it is input by the caseworker. -7-

8 2. Unemployment of persons with disabilities Although the majority of ODSP recipients want to work, only 11% are employed. There are many complex factors that affect employability that need to be considered for developing reasonable expectations and enabling more persons with disabilities to be employed Persons with disabilities are making a valuable contribution to the workforce and there is solid evidence they make good employees. Society benefits from a more inclusive workforce. Skilled labour is underutilized and unemployed people with disabilities are isolated in a society that places great value on economic selfsufficiency. Recommendations: Many people with disabilities are capable of some form of employment given suitable accommodations, supports and opportunities. A flexible continuum of employment opportunities improves outcomes; casual, part time, flexible work hours, job sharing, communal work spaces, and/or working from home. Employers need more education. Disability/ability awareness training can improve access to new employment opportunities Wage subsidies and other incentives should be available to employers who hire people requiring accommodation. More funding should be available for successful employment strategies including on-the-job training, job coaching and supported employment. 3. Inadequacy of ODSP Employment Supports. The goal of competitive employment is far too narrow. Employment supports are not available to all who apply and there are limited supports available for those who are accepted. A person who is denied employment supports has no appeal rights. Supports and services available through the school system are no longer available once a disabled young person leaves high school at age 21, leading to a sense of abandonment by the system. Change the name from ODSP Employment Supports to ODSP Supports so that it reflects a broader mandate to support: a continuum of employment alternatives that are evidence based: consumer businesses, supported employment, transitional employment; increased education levels; skill development; mental and physical health; volunteer work; other participation in the community (for example, community cooking programs) make the ODSP Supports program available to all recipients, with the right to appeal any adverse decision. -8-

9 4. The Myth. OW recipients are lazy. The Myth. They could find lobs if they really wanted to. The Myth. The rates are too generous If the Myth were true, there would be a large number of jobs available and desperate employers looking for workers. This is not the case. Municipal and provincial governments have accepted the Myth. The result is a punitive OW system and poor bashing. This needs to change, and here are some quick fixes: educate caseworkers; remove threats and threatening language from otherwise simple letters about appointments and reporting requirements (i.e. You have an appointment on x date at y time. Failure to attend the appointment may result in a suspension or reduction of your assistance. ); eliminate the disqualifications that may be imposed where a person quits or is fired from a job; hire employment counsellors and caseworkers with lived experience of OW 5. The growth of OW services beyond income support Over the past 15 years OW (formerly General Welfare Assistance, or GWA) has changed dramatically. It has grown from a program delivering income supports to one that also provides a broad range of services, many of which are directed at specific demographic groups such as the unemployed, sole support parents, addicts and tenants to name but a few. This has undermined the income support function of the program. At the same time the program has become less client-centred, more intrusive, and punitive. OW should focus on providing income support and adopt a client-centred model of service delivery for doing so. The other services that OW currently provides are extremely important pathways out of poverty. These could be provided by existing arms-length community agencies that would receive additional funding for this purpose. Where necessary a new agency could be funded and established to deliver services, for example a community agency providing employment related services. OW caseworkers could work with their clients to direct them to the services and programs they need. 6. Education and Upgrading People want to work. They take on huge levels of debt to get the education they think they need to get a job. Many are unable to get jobs, and are left with debt. Others obtain jobs but remain burdened by debt. The key problems are: very few grants/bursaries are available; OSAP is not available for apprenticeship-type and other programs; recipients need computer training, computers, software and access to the internet. More funding in the form of grants and bursaries is required and less in the form of loans. The cost of computers and internet access should be included in funding. -9-

10 7. Transportation cost and availability The cost of public transportation is prohibitive for recipients and their families and for those earning minimum or near minimum wage. There is a lack of public and other transportation in rural areas. OW and ODSP do not come even close to covering transportation costs. Ontario needs to be a leader when it comes to fostering sustainable communities. The end goal is free public transportation for all, regardless of source and level of income. This would reduce congestion, pollution and global warming, and eventually save municipalities road maintenance costs. In the interim, the Province should fund municipalities to provide all low-income households with bus passes for family members. The Province should provide tied funding for municipalities to operate transportation services in rural areas. The requirement would be that it be freely available for a broad range of activities, including employment, employment-related training! education, medical treatment, and social and recreational activities. Hospitals should be funded to cover the transportation costs (taxi fares) of low-income patients who are released from the hospital at night. 8. Childcare cost and availability There are few subsidized, not-for-profit, regulated spaces; increasingly the only option is private, for-profit, unregulated childcare. The government s commitment to full-day kindergarten is commendable. Now is the time to increase funding for childcare. Recipients should not feel pressured to leave their children in substandard childcare. As evidenced by the recent tragic death of a young child in unregulated childcare, the government must set standards and regulate childcare providers, childcare facilities and childcare services. renewals should be available from the government and online. funding of subsidized, not-for-profit daycare. The results of inspections and license There should be more - 10-

11 Issue II: OW and ODSP Benefit Structure People who end up on OW and ODSP are there for a reason, whether it be some kind of disability, family emergency, low literacy, domestic violence orfamily breakdown. These are not people who are well equipped to deal with the system. OW and ODSP needs to work better for people who rely on these income supports. - Community Consultation Participant We need to move beyond the assumption that rates should be set below the poverty line. -Community Consultation Participant OW and ODSP Benefit Structure Issues and Recommendations: 1. OW and ODSP rate levels are far too low. They have been set arbitrarily without any connection to real world costs, they have gone up and down based on political whim, and increases have not kept pace with the rate of inflation. Rates and additional benefits should be based on regional conditions and should cover the real cost of: food, shelter, heat, hydro, transportation, communication (phone, internet), health related expenses (medications, dental, special dietary needs, supplements, and community activities. Changes to the rates and to the amount provided for benefits should be tied to change in the cost of living. The Income Security Work Group expressly disagrees with any suggestion that the amount of assistance an individual receives should decline over time. 2. The OW and ODSP benefit systems are complicated. People do not know what may be available and are not getting what they are entitled to receive. Different procedures and rules apply depending on the benefit or service (Special Diet, Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit, Extended Health Benefits, discretionary benefits etc.). Problems arise because OW is paid at the beginning of the month and ODSP at the end. Simplify the benefits structure. Caseworkers should be trained in how to communicate with their clients. Clients should meet with their workers twice a year to review available benefits and to facilitate applications, OW and ODSP should both be paid at the end of the month to cover expenses in the upcoming month. -11-

12 3. Treatment of income replacement. Replacement income, such as CPP disability benefits, Employment Insurance benefits, WSIB, and private insurance payments are clawed back at a rate of 100% as compared to 50% for earned income. This different treatment perpetuates the Myth (see Part I. Employment, 4., above). Earned income and income replacement should be treated the same. An individual should be entitled to keep $500 per month before any amount is clawed back. 4. The asset limits for OW are too low. Families must use up all of their savings and sell their assets before they qualify. This is degrading. It also makes it less likely that families will be able to end their reliance on the system. The goal of the OW and ODSP programs should be to lift people out of poverty, OW asset limits should be the same as those for ODSP recipients. 5. The spouse in the house rules discriminate against people who are forced to rely on OW and ODSP for income support. Single women, women who are sole support parents, and disabled recipients are the three groups who are most unfairly affected by the current rules. The Family Law Act definition of spouse in the context of the legal obligation to provide support should apply. In other words, two people are spouses if they are married or if they live together and have a child together. They may also be spouses if they have cohabited for a period of not less than three years, depending on the nature of the relationship. 6. Drug coverage/special diets and dietary supplements/health-related necessities. Many prescribed medications, and most special diets, dietary supplements, and healthrelated necessities are not covered by the OW and ODSP drug plan (called the Ontario Drug Plan), by Health Benefits or Extended Health Benefits, or by the Special Diet Allowance regardless of whether or not these are prescribed by a health practitioner. Expand coverage to include all prescribed medications, diets, supplements and health related necessities

13 7. Discretionary benefits. Current rates are so low that they are insufficient to cover even basic food and shelter costs. There is no extra money to cover other necessary items/expenses (examples being a blood pressure cuff, medical stockings for amputees, replacement/repair of household furniture, and air conditioners for asthmatics). When funding discretionary benefits funding is provided, it is often woefully inadequate (for example, funeral funding of $2,250). There is no consistency across the Province as to the discretionary benefits provided, the adequacy of what is being provided, and there is no right of appeal where discretionary benefits are refused. Given that many of these items and services are necessities, funding should be included in the benefit rate to cover the costs. Further, a list of additional benefits (not discretionary ; the word discretionary should be eliminated) should be compiled along with annually updated estimates of the expected cost of each item/service. Individuals who receive OW and ODSP should be informed of these benefits, how to apply for them, and how to appeal a decision to deny them. 8. Income and asset rules make it impossible to save to buy a home. When a family owns the home that they live in there are positive spin offs, both for the individual and the community. Ownership gives the family a sense of belonging, contribution, and present and future security. It affords people the opportunity to put sweat equity into their investment. Most families that rely on OW and ODSP cannot afford to own a home. They rent, and as a result are in constant risk of economic eviction due to insufficient shelter allowance rates. Further, the income and asset rules do not permit saving or pooling resources for the purpose of purchasing a home. No additional funding is available for this purpose. Change the rules to permit saving for the purpose of purchasing a home. Permit income such as inheritances and gifts, insurance payments and other income sources to be placed in a home ownership trust account. The government could support home ownership directly by providing recipients with unused Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefits for the purpose of purchasing a home. The Ministry of Housing should provide low interest loans/mortgages. (See Part IV. Integration #4, below)

14 9. Child support payments on behalf of disabled adult children are deducted dollar for dollar from ODSP. Income support changes drastically when a disabled child transitions onto ODSP. Child support that is paid to the disabled adult child or to the custodial parent of the disabled child is charged as income and deducted from the disabled child s ODSP. This means that disabled children in single parent families do not benefit from the incomes of both parents, as is the case where the family unit is intact. A recent court decision, Ansell, found that in the circumstances of that case the support paid to the custodial parent should not be considered as income to the disabled adult child. Child support that is paid to the parent of a disabled adult child or to the disabled adult child directly should not be treated as income to either the child or the custodial parent. Issue Ill. Easier to Understand/Accessible We need to change the attitude of the system from, how can we manage the risk that this person will misuse the system to, how do we help this person. -Community Consultation Participant It would be interesting to know how many OW and ODSP recipients have been assessed with overpayments. We estimate that over 80% of our clients are trying to live on reduced cheques due to overpayment recoveries. Most don t understand why, and didn t realize that they could appeal the overpayment. Many were told by their workers that there was no point appealing. Meanwhile, the reduced cheque is a very real hardship for the whole family. - Community Consultation Participant Easier to Understand/Accessible Issues and Recommendations: 1. The OW and ODSP programs have too many rules and are unnecessarily complicated. The programs are unnecessarily complicated. Workers and recipients alike do not understand the rules. One is left with the impression that the goal is to keep people off benefits, regardless of need. People are refused or cut off benefits for failure to meet requirements. The requirements frequently are not explained. If explained, they frequently are not understood. If understood, they frequently cannot be complied with. The purpose of the programs should be to lift people out of poverty. Start with the assumption that the people who are forced to rely on these income supports want to be self-sufficient. They want more for themselves and their children. Simplify the programs, the rules, the requirements

15 2. ODSP application forms are deficient. Disability Adiudication Unit (DAU) initial adiudications take too long, and the adjudications are inconsistent. There is no confidence in the ODSP application process. The forms do not properly reflect the test in the legislation as to what constitutes a person with a disability. They do not provide sufficient direction to the health professional completing them. The compensation provided to the health professional for completing the forms is inadequate. Initial adjudications can take up to 6 months. The qualifications of the DAU adjudicators are undisclosed. Develop an application form that permits the health professional to list more than five conditions. Further, the forms should provide more direction. They should clarify what is needed in terms of impairments and restrictions and should make it clear that comprehensive lists are required. Health professionals should be paid adequately for completing the forms and should also receive an additional amount for copies of medical imaging reports, specialists reports and test results. The qualifications of the DAU adjudicators should be listed on the Ministry s website to instil confidence in the system. Except where additional medical information is being sought, initial adjudications should be completed within 30 days. 3. Case workers in the system. Recent client-centred changes to ODSP, in particular the return to individual caseworkers, are appreciated. However recipients continue to report that both OW and ODSP caseworkers are often insensitive to their situations, which can include domestic and financial crises, problems with children and health issues. Clients report a mutual lack of trust and respect. Clients are fearful that they will lose their income support if they question their caseworker. Caseworkers should receive sensitivity and equity training. People with lived experience should be hired as caseworkers. 4. SDMT computer system is fatally flawed. This system has been in place since It produces multiple, often contradictory decision letters. The letters do not use plain language. The language is unnecessarily threatening. Caseworkers and managers complain that the computer system is rigid, and cannot be customized to individual circumstances (see OMSSA s Ontario Works Simplification Task force 2004). SDMT is scheduled to be replaced by a new system early in 2013 as part of the government s modernization process. A Review Committee of people with lived experience, advocates and caseworkers should participate in the selection and testing of a replacement program

16 5. Overpayments assessments are unfair, recovery creates financial hardship, appeals are limited. OW and ODSP rates are well below the poverty line to start with. If benefits are reduced at source to recover an assessed overpayment, the family experiences extreme financial hardship. Often people do not understand why they have an overpayment. The decision letters are computer generated and provide little information. Usually they do not realize that overpayment assessments can be appealed. However, the time periods for filing an appeal are short, particularly for a family or individual in crisis. Low literacy, disability, and other vulnerabilities reduce the likelihood of appeal. People can be haunted by social assistance overpayments for the rest of their lives due to recovery through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). There should be no assessment or recovery of overpayments that are more than 7 years old. The hardship created by overpayment recovery necessitates that they should always be subject to review and appeal, with no limitation period. OW or ODSP should have to prove that the overpayment occurred, and that it is reasonable to recover it, when challenged. There should be recovery through CRA where the overpayment is the result of fraud. Issue IV: Viability A nation s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members. -Mahatma Ghandi Viability Issues and Recommendations: 1. Viability of OW and ODSP programs. OW and ODSP rates are well below the poverty line. It is well established that poverty leads to: ill health and greater expenditures in the health care field loss of housing and the costs to families and the community of homelessness and re-housing stress within the family and increased incidence of family breakdown lower educational attainment by children. OW and ODSP programs cannot be considered viable if those who rely on these programs live in poverty

17 2. Progressive income tax system and increased municipal taxes. To be viable, the programs have to be sufficiently funded. The Income Security Work Group is hopeful that the commitment by the government to poverty reduction, as set out in the Poverty Reduction Act 2009, is more than just rhetoric. Increase the personal income tax rate of the highest income earners in order to increase OW and ODSP rates. Increase municipal taxes to pay for social services. These measures will go a long way to ensuring the viability of the programs, which in turn will benefit the community as a whole. 3. Guaranteed Annual Income. All of the issues discussed above demonstrate that the social assistance system in Ontario needs to change dramatically in order to achieve its various objectives, and lift people out of poverty. One possible solution is to replace social assistance with a new system of a Guaranteed Annual Income (GAl). Various models for how a GAl could be implemented have been developed, and discussed in detail. Some of the important benefits that have been identified of a GAl are that it would: Lift people out of poverty (at least in terms of income), and reduce growing inequities between top and bottom income earners. Foster dignity and reduce stigma for people who currently receive social assistance. Support a more flexible and just labour market, and give value to unpaid activity such as volunteer work and caregiving. Put an end to needless administration and bureaucracy in a variety of social assistance programs. Undertake a careful analysis of possible models for a Guaranteed Annual Income in Ontario that would align with the principles of universality, unconditionality and income adequacy. In order to ensure that this strategy is effective in lifting people out of poverty, the analysis should also consider a range of complementary measures such as good employment policies, social inclusion supports, and the provision of public goods such as education, health care and childcare. Young M. and Mulvale J., Possibilities and Prospects: The Debate Over a Guaranteed Income, Canadian centre for Policy Alternatives, November,

18 4. Treatment of income replacement. Replacement income, such as CPP disability benefits, Employment Insurance benefits, WSIB, and private insurance payments are clawed back at a rate of 100% as compared to 50% for earned income. This different treatment perpetuates the Myth (see I. Employment, 4. above). Earned income and income replacement should be treated the same. An individual should be entitled to keep $500 per month before any amount is clawed back. This will encourage people to advocate on their on behalf for income replacement, which will have the effect of decreasing OW and ODSP payments. This will have the dual effect of lifting people out of poverty while making the OW and ODSP programs more viable. Issue V: Integration I spend more than 50% of my income on rent. There isn t enough for winter boots, winter clothing, telephone and food. - Community Consultation Participant We need to make better use of existing community agencies and services. - Community Consultation Participant Integration Issues and Recommendations: 1. OW and ODSP rationale for two separate programs. Historically the OW program has been funded and delivered by municipal governments and ODSP by the province. There remain sound reasons for this difference. The purpose and program design for ODSP and OW are different and reflect the diverse needs of the people in receipt of ODSP and OW. OW provides temporary assistance, recognizing individual responsibility and promoting self reliance through employment. 0 The principal objective of OW is to help people in financial need to overcome barriers to employment as quickly as possible in order to find a job. ODSP is meant to ensure ongoing support for persons with disabilities, recognising the government shares in the responsibility of providing the support. 2 The principal objective of ODSP is to help people 10 Income Security Advocacy Centre, Envisioning a new Approach A Response to the Commissioners for the Review of Social Assistance June 2011, p.10 Ministry of Community and Social Services, Commission for the Review ofsocial Assistance in Ontario: A Discussion Paper: Issues and Ideas June 2011, p Income Security Advocacy Centre, Envisioning a new Approach A Response to the Commissioners for the Review of Social Assistance June 2011, p

19 with disabilities live as independently as possible in their communities, and to reduce or eliminate disability- related barriers to employment. 3 When ODSP was established in 1998, it was heralded as progressive and the start of a new era of fairer treatment and more opportunities for persons with disabilities. The new ODSP program removed people with disabilities from the welfare system, where they should never have been in the first place, and created for them an entirely separate system of income support. 14 The system was designed to enable persons with disabilities to continue to receive income support while improving employment opportunities. Seeking employment remained completely voluntary. OW in contrast is designed as a work first program to promote employment and transition off assistance as rapidly as possible. Job search and other employment related activities are compulsory for receiving benefits. The unique needs of individuals accessing OW and ODSP also need to be considered. OW is currently a program of last resort for people with diverse needs: unemployed workers (without El or other benefits), single parents, newcomers, racialized communities, First Nations people, people in precarious employment, people in crisis, or who are ill. Each of these groups requires different approaches to service planning and delivery. ODSP recipients are persons with a broad range of physical, mental and intellectual disabilities and capabilities. Many want to work, but require accommodations, supports and opportunities. This requires the further development of services designed to meet these needs The ODSP and OW systems were established and developed as separate programs for compelling reasons and this should be built on. While ODSP needs improvements, it is OW that needs transformation. For these reasons, the Income Security Work Group does not support the proposal by the City of Peterborough to combine OW and ODSP to a single supporting social assistance system. While there is opportunity for collaboration and sharing of resources, ODSP and OW need to continue to be distinct programs. 2. Transitioning from OW to ODSP. OW is paid at the beginning of the month for that month, whereas ODSP is paid at the end of the month, for the same month. Recipients who have made this transition report that 13 Ministry of Community and Social Services, Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario: A Discussion Paper: Issues and Ideas June 2011, p Income Security Advocacy Centre, Envisioning a new Approach A Response to the Commissionersfor the Review of Social Assistance June 2011, p

20 they were left with inadequate income for the month that ODSP benefits started and that the transition can take several months to complete. OW and ODSP should be paid at the same time each month. Speed up the transition from OW to ODSP once eligibility for ODSP has been established. 3. Transitioning from OW/ODSP to OAS. At age 65, typically OW and ODSP recipients become low-income seniors. They receive OAS and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). Some also receive a CPP Retirement benefit, if they worked and paid in to the plan. Low-income seniors continue to receive benefits through the Ontario Drug Plan and may receive the Health and Extended Health Benefits in limited circumstances. Extend necessary benefits such as the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB), the Special Diet Allowance and discretionary benefits to low-income seniors. Change the rules so that more low-income seniors can access Health Benefits and Extended Health Benefits. 4. There is a lack of co-ordination between provincial and federal ministries/departments that deal with social services and housing. Shelter is a necessity in our climate, and the cost of shelter is a family s single greatest monthly expense. Vacancy rates for more affordable units are low, and the waiting list for rent-geared-to-income units in Peterborough is many years long. There are no rent controls on vacant units. Further, there are no rent controls on vacant or occupied units built after June 1998, or on those where the use changed to residential purposes after November Most families that rely on OW and ODSP are in a state of constant housing insecurity. These ministries and departments should work together. More rent-geared-to-income housing needs to be built. Rent controls should be extended to vacant and new rental units. Shelter allowances must be increased to reflect the real cost of shelter, and increased accordingly each year. See Part II. OW and ODSP Benefit Structure 8., above, for recommendations about promoting home ownership. The Ministry of Housing could provide low interest mortgages to families participating in the home-ownership program. 5. Lack of funding and co-ordination of services that are needed by people living on OW and ODSP. People who rely on OW and ODSP struggle to survive on incomes well below the poverty line, often as they grapple with physical and/or mental health problems. Many do not have traditional family or community support. Obtaining and retaining personal information such as personal identification, health, and school records can be a major problem. If they have to move quickly personal belongings and household furnishings are left behind. -20-

21 In some communities, like Peterborough, Identification Banks have been set up. This is a positive step and should be expanded. A community agency (preferably one that already exists) operating at arms-length from OW and ODSP should receive funding to operate an Identification Bank and provide other services. The Identification Bank would assist people to obtain their personal information and provide storage where the information could be safely kept, and easily retrieved. The agency should also receive funding to help families access and pay for moving costs and short-term storage while they look for housing

22 - In - An - People - Over - An Consultation Introduction Consultation Process Summary Appendixi Social Assistance Review ; r- Notes from Input SEP 2 6 June 21, pm :c rvices COMMISSION FOR THE REVIEW OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE IN ONTARIO preparation for the visit from the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario, the Income Security Workgroup of the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network wanted to gather input from people with a lived experience of Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program. open community meeting was held at the Peterborough Public Library from 4-6 p.m. on June 21 5t Approximately 60 people with a lived experience of social assistance programs attended. groups that talked about 5 different themes related to social assistance: People joined 1. Training and/or finding work 2. Having enough income 3. Raising your children 4. Looking after your physical and mental health 5. Meeting your basic needs, such as housing, food, transportation, and heating shared their experiences related to each theme and the challenges they had faced. They also shared their ideas about how social assistance could do better in each of these areas. the course of the meeting, people had a chance to discuss two of the theme areas, and then add additional thoughts to the input from all the groups on flip-chart paper at the end of the meeting. incredible wealth of experience and insight was collected from participants. All of the feedback has been captured in a report that will be submitted to the Commission. However, we thought that it would be a good way to start our day today to hear some of the voices and stories of people who face the challenges of living with social assistance every day. Theme: Training / Education I Finding Work Issues: - Transportation - Job retention services; lack of employer sensitivity; not enough training for staff delivering programs; continuity of agency staff is very poor makes services slow; system is very impersonal. - Service - Need - Address - Few - Skilled gaps / lack of information sharing at OW / ODSP level. programs to support self employment & credit! lending are. care giving issue unpaid cannot look for work, couldn t even take a job. grants/bursaries available, rendering access to training challenging. people in receipt of ODSP can t work because of the way the system is currently designed. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21, 2011 P a g e I 1

23 - OSAP-covered - Need - Employer - Don t Consultation - There - New training does not incorporate apprenticeship for professions such as hair stylists. is no funds for education which will enable self-sufficiency. communication tools available could provide new work opportunities. Solutions: - Increase - Variety - We - Micro-lending - Sourcing - Networking - Government - Providing - Long-distance - Provide - Build - Develop - Clawing - Make use of county transportation service. job maintenance funding / services. Promote the value of having people with disabilities as employees. of work opportunities are needed overall job environment that is flexible for people on OW or ODSP. need to change attitudes around SA -we have to assume people want to work. sensitivity training; Committed staff in review of changing community services as a tool to OW / ODSP staff. (job creation); social enterprise. philanthropists Developing stronger non-profit relationships / referral processes. opportunities. claw back earnings of OW and ODSP clients. working closely with school boards, colleges, universities and revisit / change / examine admission requirements. funding for training part bursary / part loan for more apprenticeship programs to be included into OSAP. learning is more widely available now - provide people with tools to engage in this type of training (i.e. computer, access to the internet, etc.). discretionary funding for computers with access to Wi-Fi under a category called communication. a system based on the fact that we now live in a world that requires life-long learning from everyone. stronger communication channels central outlining. back of earnings. Temporary work part-time (up to $150/month) after income is deducted dollar by dollar. housing affordable so stresses (survival issues) can leave more focus for work-job & training. Notes: Transportation is a significant issue particularly in the County - Difficult to do Cold Visits to potential employers. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 st, 2011 P a g e 2

24 - County June Transportation Service is underutilized. After finding work it is often difficult to maintain work because of disability - This creates a perpetual job search process which is demoralizing. - Better job maintenance services are needed. - Employers that will hire someone with a disability must be very flexible. - The assets of people with disabilities need to be better recognized and promoted. Employment and volunteer opportunities should be more flexible. The community loses out on skilled people if we re not flexible in how they contribute. - Anti-stigma Training need for employers (possibly through Chamber or GPAEDC). - Charitable sector is most accommodating as employers. - Attitudes need to change about people and work, their skills and what they have to offer. ODSP Training Supports - Very difficult and lengthy process to navigate. - Staff are not experienced enough they need more training to do their job. - Better aptitude tests are needed for clients. - Self-esteem and confidence training is needed for clients. - Employment Planning & Counselling identified as an excellent agency. - CMHA needs to be more flexible to the needs of individuals. Clients often feel demoralized after receiving services. - Services for certain disabilities are very poor. - High staff turnover leading to poor continuity of service makes it difficult for clients. - Recognition that not everyone can service/work in the same way. Streamlining Services - Eliminate duplication. - Often confusing with multiple agencies providing employment services. - Communication channels between service providers needs to be improved. - Review of local services needs to be done to make it easier for clients to receive all the services under one roof. Self-employment needs to be a more viable option - Micro Enterprise loans would be an option. - Community Futures could have a specific program for this (federally funded). Expressive Arts Therapy as a social enterprise - Located in rural setting so there could be agriculture employment and training. - Arts studios included. - COIN as a partner. Awareness of available services needs to be improved Social Assistance Review - consultation Process St 21, 2011 P a g e I 3

25 - OW/ODSP Consultation - Should - Fourlnfo Case Workers need to do a better job promoting local services. have specific staff that links clients to services/employers. and 211 should be better promoted. Support and recognition for caregivers is inadequate - Story: ODSP recipient is also taking care of her disabled husband and elderly mother who has multiple difficulties, including poor health. Apparent misuse of resources - Too much money spent supporting the bureaucracy and not enough to clients. No opportunity for clients to network that could lead to employment or training. Earnings while on ODSP - He has tried to find work but most jobs wouldn t provide benefits and he would lose his ODSP benefits. - He s like to make him own money and not have to claim it with ODSP because they just claw back his benefits. There s no way to get ahead and maybe get off ODSP. - Student earnings shouldn t count against OW/OWSP for the student or the family. For - Rules - Co-ops - The - This my course, my paid apprenticeship will be deducted from OW. They should take away less than 20%, and even less as you get close to the end. for Honorariums should be more flexible. are great. They allow students to work and save money. deductions off a social assistance cheque for work are too high. person is paying market rent for their housing plus hydro, telephone and cable which increase annually. There is never enough financial assistance to cover these costs. When they worked for a temporary agency ODSP would claw back anything over $150/month that they earned working. Solution: Let people work and keep the money they earn. This discouraged them from working at all. Expansion of OSAP programs - There needs to be more support for schooling. Especially schooling that is not OSAP - Apprenticeship - I funded, like hair styling school. I ve always wanted to work in the beauty business, but people think I should try to get a fast food job. It s been really hard to get funding for the program I really want to take, because it s not covered by OSAP. programs should be covered. Expand OSAP for practical skills training. couldn t get assistance to go to the Bible College either. Increase number of grants/bursaries: - OSAP should have more bursaries and grants. Tuition costs have really gone up. Even 50/50 grant to loan would be o.k. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21, 2011 P a g e I 4

26 - System - Medical - Allow Consultation Creation of a more flexible system - The - Ensure - Access people to work out of their own home, on their own time. use of on-line training could be increased. access to computers for people who are interested to use them for training and coursework. to the internet and a computer is really a basic need now. Continue WIFI and computer access at the library too. People can t succeed when they are worried about where to get food or housing. A job is too difficult to find when you re worried about basics. Theme: Having enough income Issues: - Come - Getting - Living - There - Existing - Province - People - Not - Special - OW - ODSP - $ - Rent dictates no entertainment and social activities; Not enough money in the pension to afford transportation, going to movies, etc. cook with us classes are not long enough go back 6 weeks on, 4 weeks off. situations arise that are financially unmanageable you cannot be there to support the people you love. - People cannot afford long term care, which puts pressure on caregiver. Our population is aging so this is critical. funding for proper identification. on SA causes stress or depression. is not enough coverage for dental care. SA system borders on human rights abuse & removes your incentive. and federal governments are too distant and are not connected to communities. cannot file returns if in debt. having enough money for nutritious food like fresh fruit & vegetables for the whole month. diet will be removed so not enough money, and cannot make healthy choices. and ODSP are affected by too many rules. will not cover crowns. 723 for rent and it always goes up annually + $50 hydro + phone + cable. So there is never enough. This does not include internet, vehicle, diabetic supplies, laundry. geared to income is horrible living conditions (smoking, feces, black mold) and unsafe. Social Assistance Review - Process June 2011 P a g e 5

27 - Special - Doesn t consultation - Cannot - Experienced - Rates - Cost - Not - Not - Needs - Challenge - Doesn t - Concerned - When - Maybe diet is too limited and not enough conditions on list and will not cover nutritional supplements. This means people are suffering health wise (chronic fatigue / fibromyalgia). stock up on extra foods because of funds. very bad behaviour from an ODSP worker. Workers need an attitude adjustment. of ODSP have gone from 2% to 1% yet cost of living has increased. of living has increased (especially cost of groceries) but they are still getting the same amount as last year. enough money from ODSP = need to save but don t have enough to save. He also says that he knows that he spends too much money on things that are basic needs. have enough money; after paying the rent and he has very little for anything else. enough money and housing is a bit of an issue. more money to cover basic costs but also to do what we want with. to figure out how to divide up funds. have enough money to cover all her expenses to be healthy. about how people are spending their money. she was on OW, about 80% of her benefits went to housing. money management services should be made available. Solutions: - Adequate income for human (not just basic) needs, including social / entertainment needs & medical care. - Come cook with us 6 weeks on 4 weeks off; cooking programs are helpful for meals & social. - Ensure that people have the supports to provide care for their loved ones. - Less red tape to get necessary identification (SIN, health card, passport). - More money; Guaranteed annual income is essential; More meals on wheels; Respect is needed for people living on social assistance. People need to be supported in their decisions. - Full dental coverage for everything, including seniors to ensure not having to pay up front. - Programs, services to people pay for community service and care giving. - It s all here. Utilization is the perfection of renunciation. - Scrap the system use income tax system to generate enough income (anonymous) through tax credits & guaranteed annual income tied to inflation. - Guaranteed income is not more costly saving in long run since people will be healthier & could work. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 5t, 2011 P a g e I 6

28 - Municipality consultation - Communities local community body should have control over social service spending, since they know their communities needs. Opportunities Fund needed for social programs (networks, non-profits). - Umbrella - Raising - Adequate - Someone - Come - More - Make - Community - Make - Let - More - City - Expand - Make - Community - Freezers - Constant - Make - Politicians - Seniors - ODSP - SA - Respect - OW program to help coordinate social programs & combine resources (CCR housing resource). minimum wage. rates are essential to afford the basics. with lived experience from Peterborough should accompany the Commissioners when they report to government. cook with us offers limited support but since it s not everyday it is not enough. money. sure crowns are covered in a dental plan, instead of getting false teeth. care meals on wheels. sure medical needs are covered such as diabetic supplies, incontinence supplies. people work and let people keep the money they are making. affordable housing (that is really affordable) that is safe, healthy, clean, smoke free. of Peterborough program to improve property standards needs to expand (roof, locks, furnace). special diet program to include nutritional supplements and organic foods and access to healthier foods. it a faster and easier process from OW to ODSP with back pay. gardens and gleaning offer support a few months of the year. should be an allowable expense for people on social assistance (through discretionary funds). funding for nicotine replacement, allergy pills and vitamin pills (drug card should cover). sure all medications are covered drug card. need to live on the social assistance allowance to see what it is like. need to be covered by discretionary benefits & ODSP disability benefits. needs to cover expenses for funeral and travel expenses of significant others. rates should increase at the same rate as food, hydro & cost of living. Do not add HST to hydro. & trust by OW/ODSP workers for clients. They need to take human relations courses to be treated well. and ODSP rates need to be raised. Social Assistance Review - St Process June 21, 2011 P a g e I 7

29 consultation Notes Support for basic quality of life: - Social assistance does not provide for entertainment costs. Survival is important but being social and having access to entertainment is also important to quality of life. Come Cook With us program is helpful for meals AND social needs. Solution: i) There should be adequate income for basic needs including social needs. - ii) Come Cook With Us classes need to be returned to old schedule of 6 classes then 4 weeks of no classes. Challenging to transition from OW to ODSP: - It was difficult to transition from OW to ODSP. It took 8 months to transfer and they did not get any back payments. Enough to support care giving: - This person, while on ODSP, was needed to become a caregiver for her friend s daughter while the friend dealt with a medical situation. She was only able to perform this role (informal foster parent) by relying on her own set of friends. She also felt that she knew enough about the social support system to make the most use of it in this short term, high need situation. Solution: i) A guaranteed annual income would have been more support for her ii) Treat recipients of OW/ODSP as capable people. People need to be supported in their decisions with access to full information. - When unexpected health issues arise within your family it puts pressure and stress on caregivers this is difficult if the caregivers are seniors. This person s partner needed extra care or long term care services. Our local population is aging. Solution: Adequate income that adapts to changes in health status in the family. - Ensure there are adequate local care services for seniors with ailing health. - An agency representative noted that It causes stress and depression when you don t have sufficient funds. Funds to access ID numbers: - This person has problems getting ID and paying for it (SIN, passport, OHIP). Solution: There should be less red tape and no cost for people on social assistance to acquire ID. Revamp the system: - An agency representative stated a solution to SA may be to consider an income tax system instead of a welfare system. Its anonymous, captures the unique needs of each Social Assistance Review - Process June 21, 2011 P a g e I 8

30 - ii) - iii) - iv) home (size of family, medical needs). A simpler system would reduce the current rat maze. There has been research done on this model. It is empowering...you choose how to spend the money. The current system is sapping of energy. Federal and provincial governments are too distant from communities to understand their unique needs and systems. Province should invest in municipalities so they have more control on distribution of local social spending. Introduce a (community opportunity) fund for non-governmental groups. Umbrella structures to better coordinate all services. More people in the community need to be involved in decision-making distribute power and authority. Taxpayers can be given an option to donate to poverty reduction action through their municipal tax payment system. Sensitivity training for workers: - This - The person was treated badly by a worker at ODSP. They reported it to the staff s manager. They are no longer willing to have their case managed by that staff. Solution: 1) Social assistance workers need to treat people with dignity and trust pension amounts are a disgrace. It s hard to keep active. They feel like they are treated like garbage by staff. Solution: Workers need human relations training Not enough income for basic needs: - On such a limited allowance, this person finds it a challenge to stay clean. They must take money intended for food and use it for laundry purposes. If an appliance breaks there is no money to replace or repair them so people go without. Old appliances are hydro guzzlers. Solution: There should be adequate rates so these unexpected, rare costs can be covered. - Why do people on ODSP get 60% more than people on OW? It s wrong that one form of assistance gives more than the other. - OW should be about 85% or 90% of minimum wage. Minimum wage earners make $304 per week. Theme: Raising your children Issues - Claw back of support dollars from ODSP. - Temporary services temporary employment services workers receiving less than minimum wage while agency charging major dollars. Social Assistance Review - consultation St Process June21,2011 P a g e I 9

31 - Not - People Consultation - Claw - Student - More - Classes - Transition - Spouse enough funding from OW. Funding for housing. How can $530 cover rent? back of 50% of additional income. who choose to be a care giver for child with disability need to recognize option. loans at end of school if on ODSP & OW. recognition from school not enough support for children with special needs, more food programs in schools. on nutrition, low budget spending, how to buy in bulk. from childhood to adulthood overpayment taking too long to repay. in the house rule (ie presumed spouses if live together more than 3 months) is discriminatory particularly against women who are not able to establish / form new relationships in the normal manner. Solutions - Claw back of support money should not be tied to child. - Adjust income accordingly prior to transition so that there is no need for pay back. - Don t claw back additional income reported. - Include provision to continue funding if caregiver. - Forgive student loan if on OW or ODSP. - Increase training and support in the school for children with special needs. - Include classes on nutrition, budgeting & how to bulk purchase in high schools. - Better transition planning from childhood to adulthood to ensure seamless support and funding options. - Definition of spouse should align with family law definition. - Monies need to be made available to family caregivers. Notes: System and claw back of employment earnings: - The - It s whole system needs to change. They [the government] need to take a good look at where they screwed up and change the system. I know a couple on OW trying to raise their kids; both of them were working full time and had no time to spend with their kids. At the end of the month, after their earnings were clawed back, they only had $92.00 extra dollars to show for it. Something is really wrong with the system when it doesn t make sense. People on OW who are working can t make enough money with the claw backs to afford the basic necessities of life. like this. If you re only entitled to $10.70 and you make 10.71, then the government will claw back the extra dollar! You can t get ahead. After paying the rent for a shit hole because that s all you can afford on OW, you re starving... Social Assistance Review - Process June 21, 2011 P a g e 10

32 > Don t claw back as much money; people on OW should be allowed to make at least $250, maybe $300 a month from work before anything is clawed back Caregiver Burden: - I have a 19 year old son, with autism, Asperger s and Tourette syndrome. Years ago the Children s Aid told me to quit my job (and take a training course for autism in TO), in order to have custody of him. That s why I m on OW: I m the full time caregiver. My son gets child support payments from his mother. The problem is that ODSP claws back the child support payment from his ODSP cheque. Also, when my son turned 19 we lost the Ontario Child Benefit- (about 92.00/month) even though he is still dependent. When he moved from the children s system to ODSP, we were charged with an over payment which we had to pay back for several months. We were on the wait list for rent geared to income for six years and finally moved to a RGI apartment; this is a big help. Before that we lived in a two bedroom apartment: it was terrible and cost $ a month. The fridge died at least three times in the last few months. I a one bedroom in the same building who are paying $720 a month. know other people living in I m always stressed being a caregiver for a son with a disability; trying to make ends meet, only makes it worse. Solutions: > End the claw back of child support payments. This money should be used for the care and needs of the person with the disability, supplementing the ODSP income. This is a justice issue. Support payments for employed parents are not considered taxable income and clawed back. Therefore, this claw back is punitive and unjust for social assistance recipients. > Recognize both the role and burden of caregivers of persons with disabilities by ensuring the family gets the financial and practical support they need > Increase the number of units that are RGI: units that are in good repair, safe and accessible. Some stories to illustrate: A person with a disability, living on the second floor had her leg amputated because of diabetes. She couldn t handle the stairs; but couldn t move because she could not afford market rent. Comment: - The [social assistance] system makes decisions about how much money people are entitled or deserve to get. They can t get a cent more. These rates are not based on reality: the real cost of rent, heat, hydro, food, phone, and transportation the basics of life. People trying to live on OW spend all their money on rent for a room- a lousy room. They can t afford to live and they can t do anything about it. If they find work, their money is clawed back. When two people team up, they lose money unless they can Social Assistance Review-Consultation Process June 21 5t, 2011 Page j 11

33 Consultation prove they are not a couple That s what I mean when I say the whole system is screwed up they need to change the whole system. government needs to give more recognition to families with disabilities and their needs. > For parents attending university or college, there needs to be more consideration for granting more forgivable loans. While there is good integration between ODSP/OW and OSAP while the person is attending college/university once he/she graduates, has to pay back the OSAP loan there is undue hardship. Lack of funding for sports: > An individual s son is under 18 and she s concerned that she has no extra funds for him to do activities (e.g., sports). So he s not active and stays home and plays video games. > She would like a set amount of money per child for activities. Theme: Looking after your physical and mental health Issues: - Challenges - Not - No - Doesn t - Limited - Increase - Housing - Inflation - No - Special - Not - Cycle - Difficult - Diet - Not - Some with the system: not a truthful one; lack of compassion. enough funding for food / special diets / clothing; no money for transportation outside of Peterborough. Having to decide where to allocate money have to prioritize. No money for children to participate in extra activities. Reduced money for bus passes for dependants. community supports. Isolation. want to be institutionalized. access to programs. Limited to no access to workout health facilities. Limited access to counseling / specialized counseling in Peterborough. Not enough facilities in Peterborough for people living with mental health issues. stress. issues. Not enough supportive housing for people with mental health issues. and money are not connected. benefits. Doctors prescribed drugs / medication not covered by drug plan. Allergy pills and vitamin pills are not covered. No funding to help stop smoking. diet: Need for an independent medical board of doctors & naturopaths to determine special diet needs for different medical conditions; Stop the discrimination of only certain medical conditions being covered by the special diet program. everyone aware that have mental health issue / illness. = if not physically fit, not able to have optimal mental health either. to go back to work. / exercise / sleep. enough doctors / psychiatrists in Peterborough. No specialists in Peterborough. medications not effective. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 5t, 2011 P a g e I 12

34 - Stigma Consultation - Access about mental health. Government needs to be educated on mental health and addictions. to information. Solutions - Honesty / truthful system. To be treated like human beings. Government workers to take empathy courses. OW / ODSP workers take human relations courses to approach people better. - More feedback / support from community & government. - More funding. - Stop runaround in the system. - Give everyone set amount of money per child for extra activities. - Give more funding for transportation for children. - Give bus passes to dependents with subsidy. - Programs to access for mental health clients. - There are programs available but not everyone qualifies to these programs eg free YMCA membership. - Access to transportation. - More money on cheques. More funding to choose to do what we want and how to spend money. More money for clothing. Have payment reflective of inflation. Proper funding for diet to eat better. Funding to go to gym / health facilities / hire personal trainer. Need money to get socially involved and connect (money for phone, internet). Give extra money for travel / overnight if required to travel / food. Funding for emergencies. - Have a good life. - Benefit package. - Need local addictions treatment centre and detox. More access centres for people living with mental health issues. Need provincial transition house for people returning from prison. - More action. - More education in public about mental health issues eg depression. - Need to know resources available. - Have a health care team. - Programs that focus on encouragement to get back to work. - Supportive services, access to psychiatrists. - Volunteer as an option for work. Get people connected by... volunteering, support groups. - Referrals to local doctors. Doctors aware of drug plan. Social Assistance Review - Process June 2l, 2011 P a g e 13

35 - Money Consultation - More - More - Money to access stop smoking medication. affordable housing. Most serious needs with mental health issues should be a top priority for housing services. involvement with mental health agencies to follow up with assistance / support for people with addictions. Access to intensive counseling. to improve services in mental health and addictions. Notes: DC (on ODSP): - Individual is diabetic and not all of his medications/health costs are covered. He pays $500 out of pocket. He also needs orthotics and that cost is covered but not the cost of special shoes he needs to accommodate the orthotics. He says his health care worker doesn t see him and when he does see her, he feels he s being lied to. He has tried to find work but most jobs wouldn t provide benefits and he would lose his ODSP benefits. He doesn t feel like anyone is in his corner regarding his health issues. He wants more feedback from the government and community people. (I think he was talking about people being accountable for the decisions being made.) He feels he s being discriminated against because he s single. RN (on ODSP): - He had trouble with the CMHA last year and got kicked out. He was very vocal about how the REACH program was working = he wanted to be treated as an individual and he felt the program was forcing him to be like a robot; it felt institutionalized. Because he was kicked out, he also can t access other CMHA programs including the Making It Work program. He needs assurance that he has a say in things that will help him. He feels there s a lack of compassion and respect in the system. He wants to be treated like a human being and not a second class citizen. He suggests that employees should have to take empathy courses. MK (on ODSP): - Very interested in nutrition and being healthy and would like more funding to go to nutrition programs (like cooking classes). He says the cooking classes are very popular and he can t always get in. Doesn t have enough money to buy healthy food and he wants support for nutrition. MG (on ODSP): Doesn t have enough money to even go out for lunch with a friend which helps her mental health. More money would mean being able to buy healthier food. She would like to have choice. She says she is overweight and eating better and having access to a fitness facility would help. She would like a subsidized pass to a fitness facility. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 5t, 2011 P a g e j 14

36 - Supportive consultation K (on ODSP): - She has physical health issues and so does her husband (dementia) which is causing her a lot of stress. She needs supports for her to help with her husband. She has weight issues which makes it difficult for her to get around. Access is an issue (e.g., she has to walk up and down a hill to get to the bus stop). She lost her mother last November and so in addition to looking after herself and her husband, she s also looking after her father which is very stressful. S (on ODSP): - She J (on ODSP): - Needs - She SP (on ODSP): - Some - Not - No - Need - There - She - Not T (on ODSP): - Diet, - ISOLATION - Support is dealing with a back issue (just had surgery) and although she could access physio through her benefits, she can t access massage which is what she really needs. access to affordable counsellors. would like a benefits package. people are mentally ill but don t know it = they need to have access to a family physician to get referred to a psychiatrist. They need awareness about mental health and mental illness. Physical health goes hand in hand with mental health - need to accept disability and seek resources. enough money to eat properly, so it s hard to be physically active, and that means it s hard to get back to work. funding for gym get some but not enough for personal trainer support. encouragement to keep making healthy choices = access to health care tem (e.g., registered dietician). are different illnesses and people in the system need to understand that everyone will behave differently. Maybe ODSP and OW employees need crisis intervention training courses. feels that she would be dead now if she still lived in Northern Ontario (because no access to mental health professionals in her small town) but it means that she is not near her children now and that creates stress. enough programs/services available in Peterborough for people with mental illness (i.e., hospital). exercise, proper sleep = because of limited income need to budget and don t have enough to cover all of it. services = access to psychiatrist, medications. = people need to get connected with others - maybe volunteering. It would help with self-esteem, value (like we matter). groups people get together to share. Social Assistance Review - Process June St 21, 2011 P a g e 15

37 Consultation M (on ODSP): - Equitable - Socially - More income adjusted to cost of living is tied to good health = less stress, less sick, life would be more liveable and have incentive to accomplish what we want. involved - money for classes, phone to stay connected. involvement with people living with addictions (supports, follow-up) so people won t be risking their income on addictions; need rehabilitation services nearby. CC (on ODSP): - He - Would T (on ODSP): - She - Doesn t - Can t A (on ODSP): - Need - Can t needs to travel to Oshawa to see his psychiatrist. Has to pay in advance and then get reimbursed. Depending on his appointment, he may need to have lunch and he s lunch enough funds to buy one rather than carry something with him. Missed the bus once and had to stay overnight at his ex-wife s house because he couldn t afford to stay anywhere else created great discomfort. be nice if there were more specialists locally. requires travel to Toronto for medical appointments but doesn t travel frequently enough to get reimbursed. She d like that expense covered. have enough money to cover all her expenses to be healthy. turn her fan on because she can t afford the extra expense. more doctors in Peterborough. get funding for smoking cessation aids (e.g., the patch) = need money for this. CW: - Need - Need better access to health care. to improve the drug plan = certain medications are not on the plan and some that are covered are not the most effective drugs for certain conditions. J (used to be on OW): - Concerned - When - Maybe Nutrition: - This about how people are spending their money. she was on OW, about 80% of her benefits went to housing. money management services should be made available. person does not have enough money for nutritional needs over the span of the whole month e.g. fresh fruit, vegetables. In addition, they are worried that the possible removal of special diet funds will affect their ability to manage their diabetes. The lack Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 st 2011 P a g e I 16

38 Consultation of good food affects their ability to engage in exercise. To properly engage in weight training you need to eat sufficient food. Solution: Come Cook With Us should be more available. This person described their dental health issue. need for new crowns. They had root canal resulting in the ODSP would not cover the cost of crowns but would cover the costs of false teeth. They feel that it is healthier to keep their teeth and crowns are not a luxury. Solution: Crowns should be covered by ODSP. There is not sufficient dental care coverage. Why is this separate from OHIP? Oral health has a direct effect on overall health. Solution: I) There should be full dental coverage. ii) Dental service providers should manage the insurance process recipients do not have the up-front money to cover expenses. Individual expressed their concerns that the full range of diabetic supplies is not covered. They have heard from friends that incontinent supplies are not included. These friends have had to use incontinent supplies repeatedly (over more than 1 day) Solution: Cover all medical needs so they include ALL costs associated with controlling diabetes as well as incontinence supplies. Special diet funding is too limited and doesn t include nutritional supplements that help with health and management of diabetes. Such a limited budget for food makes it impossible for people to avoid foods which have chemicals added. Solution: 1) Expand the special diet program to include nutritional supplements and organic food. 2) Support can be found for a few months of the year through community gardens and gleaning programs. 3) Freezers should be an allowable expense to allow for buying healthy food in large amounts and safely storing it (buy in large amounts is also more cost effective) - This person wants to stop smoking. Has been working with counselors at health unit but access to free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is not guaranteed. Right now individuals have to apply online for NRT and there are problems with delivery and communication with CAMH (the supplier). This person has had to rely on health unit staff to advocate and problem-solve this. Solution: There needs to be guaranteed government funding and delivery of nicotine replacement therapy for people who want to quit. This person needs to take medication and vitamins to manage their allergies. have been told that these cannot be covered by the drug plan. They Solution: 1) Allergy medication and prevention strategies (vitamins) need to be covered by social assistance. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 5t, 2011 P a g e 17

39 Consultation 2) Politicians need to try living on the ODSP and OW allowance to understand the experience. Theme: Meeting your basic needs (housing, food, transportation, heating needs) Issues: - Rates are too low (OW) feel like it is slave money. - Rates are too low for ODSP. - Special diet: not cover enough conditions; not cover nutritional supplement; not rebate to diet prescribed; Doctors lack knowledge of program and of what it is there for; problem doctors shortage; control of the SD forms a lot of people are not getting SD who should be. - Other benefits are CSUMB people do not know they are there. - Transportation - Lack - Social - Definition - Too - Lack - Funding - Earnings - Other - Asset - People - Forced - The - Shelter - Not - Orthotics - Dental in city; in county huge problem cannot access services or use SA to pay for transportation and forgot rent; bus passes cost of public transportation. of respect not listening, not accepting people s limitations ie Peterborough transportation system; stigma. isolation, not being able to participate, interact, integrate because of: stigma; lack of resources ($) to participate in community activities. of basic needs is way too limited should include social inclusion, contribute, community participation; build relationships and stability. complicated lack of information eg as to what benefits are / are not available. of respect treated like a dead beat ; sense / feeling that the community shares the view; contempt for people who need help. is insufficient I rates insufficient and do not reflect actual costs. claw back. types of income (non-earnings) are clawed back $ for $ - why? disincentive to pursue these (ie CPP; El, etc.). levels are too low throw people into crises cannot afford basic needs. need support sooner than later why lose everything before you can be helped? to get CPP when on ODSP when returning to work the income limit is reduced from $1,000 to much less. Thus the gap when I want to transition is from a small part time job to full time wage, replacing CPP & ODSP & part time job. limit for removal from ODSP should be twice the level of ODSP. allowance is inadequate. enough funding for phone, winter clothing, etc.; Not enough for hydro. and shoes not covered other than small percentage. costs are not covered nor are medical supplies / tools such as crutches, scooters, etc. Social Assistance Review - Process June 2011 P a g e 18

40 - There Consultation is not enough money to repair / replace appliances & those in use are often hydro guzzlers. Solutions: - Rates - Increased - Information - Improve - Extra - More - Wherever - Community - Guaranteed - Earnings - Income - Increase - Use - Community - Physical - Basic - Shelter - Allowance - Shelter should be tied to actual costs of things and should increase with rate of inflation. amounts, add in conditions tie to both medical conditions and diets; ODSP / OW have to make sure that doctors understand; designated doctors / health clinic (community) who know the program, understand nutritional supplements; SD forms should be given to everyone when they go on OW / ODSP and then given out once every year. from case workers. educational standards & skills for people on all fronts who are working with people with mental health and those with addictions. funding for transportation to essential services not just medical care. GIS include enough for transportation costs; include free bus passes to all on OW & ODSP families need these passes. education; integration; media exposure; community support. you touch the system is where you enter the system. ; advocates, trained paid mentors if for ODSP; compassion, live people; community hub / opportunity centre for number of things I services ie SA, education, income, health, housing goal: change the way we look at SA. hub / GAl. Annual Income increases to rates ie rates of inflation. paid into a community trust that is earning replacement should not be deducted dollar for dollar - to encourage people to pursue these ie CPP-D. asset levels. trust as a vehicle to store / manage assets. integration system. location (hosting events, etc.) with this (social integration, mixing, interaction) is the goal. needs should include social inclusion, community participation, building relationships and stability. allowance needs to provide enough funding based on the costs of rents in the community. should cover the full cost of the rent. allowance should provide adequate coverage to pay market rents or geared to income housing. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 st 2011 P a g e 19

41 - Have - Food Consultation - Increase - Covering - More - More - Provide - Raise - Give - Provide - Increase - Raise - Provide - Provide - Need - Provide - More Notes: - Dorothy - Garry - Cheryl - Steve - Patricia emergency funding for people who can t pay for their hydro. discretionary benefits coverage to include orthotics as well as special shoes. orthotics is cost effective less need down the road for surgeries & expensive treatments. funding for schooling and training in programs that are currently not OSAP funded. bursaries available. opportunities for people to save their house by renting out rooms for instance. rates by 21%. everyone bus passes for free. subsidized bus passes for OW and ODSP recipients dependents or free bus passes. funding for special diet for OW and ODSP clients. OW and ODSP or provide a guaranteed income. adequate income. separate food allowance. gift cards should be made available every two months (gift card food only). for l.d. banks people can access for l.d. to secure bank accounts instead of paying into money mart business. basic adequate income based on a minimum income to live with quality of life. The income could be 85 or 90% of what a person is making on minimum wage with a full time job. affordable housing is needed for people who can live independently. (they used the term high functioning ). Toronto, deaths in family and was ill. Had to dispose of assets. Was on OW medical. Tried to go on ODSP, was turned down. Had to appeal to o on. Came to live with friend in Hiawatha. Lived with her for a year. Came to Peterborough. Got involved with PCLC and other organizations. exploring how to be happy and minimize his self and other s suffering. System is good. Individuals interpretation sometimes skewed. non-profit in Peterborough. Experience with almost every sector on the list. on steering committee of PPRN. worked as nurse, retail, etc. has gone through OW and ODSP appeal. We need to find some solutions o these issues. What are issues to meeting basic needs? Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 st 2011 P a g e 20

42 - Patricia Consultation simplify system. System is too complicated. Not enough info on how to enter. Divorced, ended up on SA in another province. Came back. Told by OW I hope you don t expect the same amount of money here. Treated like she expected an handout. Disrespected. Felt like a deadbeat. Attitude reflected in wider community. Look at you like you re lazy and don t want to get out of the system. Poor bashing is a problem in Peterborough. When she does into emergency, doctor things government will pay for cast. Misinformed about what benefits are covered by OW / ODSP. City Hall gives you a run-around and telephone tag when trying to get info. Solution: whenever you touch the system, is where you enter it. Solution: Pay someone on OW / ODSP to mentor others and pay them to help others to enter the system. Impersonalism constantly redirecting to voic , websites, etc is a problem. Need more compassion and people to help people. Much easier to talk to someone instead of machine. Set up people in local community centre to help people on walk in basis. Opportunity centre rather than coming at OW / ODSP as one single entity, but have community hub with education, employment, recreation, etc resources. As well OW! ODSP should be seen as one of the things people need to live decent life. Emergency - Care Prevention (OW / ODSP) recreation, education, employment sustaining resources - OW - Every / ODSP is one among many services. Goal: change way we see SA individual / collective should define themselves within a triangle. Compassion as individuals and society. Feel suffering of others and ease it. Society Individual - Need Rates: - Funding - Solution: - Corporate - Rates compassion at funding level. is insufficient for basic needs / don not reflect actual costs. Some form of guaranteed annual income so you don t have to do through a ton of forms for each thing. system is not friendly to people. need to be increased along with inflation. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 5t, 2011 P a g e I 21

43 - CPP - We - This consultation -. Experience - University - Economy is more than OW / ODSP benefits. helps when trying to apply for OW / ODSP ex: knowing when to consult with lawyer. educated people look down on people with OW / ODSP temporarily. may affect the system. need to deal with income claw back and ways loans are paid back. Solution: Earning claw back could be paid into a community trust. Community housing with community trust (cooperative living) and run by people on OW / ODSP without overseeing agency. Ex: 3 people with OW / ODSP living in house and rent extra room. Rental income go into a trust. Lawyer / account services in community hub. Need to change rules: - Rules are discriminatory. Need Supreme Court challenge to rules. - If there is some way to circumvent the rules, we should try it. - Income going into community trust not considered income. - Claw back is disincentive to people pursing other benefits, like El or CPP disability benefits (supposed to be replacement for income). Why is it treated differently? Why would anyone bother trying for these other benefits? - The amount of money allowed in bank for OW does not allow you to have emergency backup to cover basic needs. Asset limit is too low. - Would a trust be allowed for OW? - There should be other trust mechanism available for people with assets. Most people have to be on OW before ODSP. Use trusts as vehicle to store / manage excess assets. Housing: - Need - Can t - Shelter - Can t person was offered rent geared to income housing. The condition was terrible damage from cigarette smoke, cat pee, feces. Smoke was coming from other units (through drywall, electrical). The staff person from the provider agency was apologetic but they did not have the funds to clean it. The home was described by those assisting her as horrible and it certainly made her feel horrible. People who are dependent on social housing have no options to move out of bad situations. Solution: 1) Housing must be safe and healthy, including smoke-free. 2) If City programs exist to help financially with replacement of roofs, furnaces, doors...it needs to be expanded. more supportive/affordable housing. get a place for less than $900 per month. Allowance doesn t provide enough. share housing. A male and female are automatically considered to be common Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 5t, 2011 P a g e I 22

44 - I m - ODSP - They - Even - The - I - Even - When - People - What - We - We going to lose my house. I m doing everything I can to hold onto it. CPP and ODSP aren t enough income to keep my house now that my daughter is leaving for school. My heat and shelter costs are more than $1,000 per month in the winter months. Heating costs especially are so high. should make it easier for someone to rent out rooms in their house. Most of the rent is considered income. with a low-income rental, I can t pay my bills. I m using my credit cards and shuffling my bills from one to another. Shelter Allowance should be enough to meet current rental costs. Even single rooms can be too much for the Shelter Allowance. spend more than 50% of my income on rent. There isn t enough for winter boots, winter clothing, telephone and food. a studio apartment is $500 per month. you rent a room it means sharing bathrooms with strangers. It s not safe. There can be needles. take the rent out of the Basic Needs Allowance, and then there s no money for food. they call Affordable Housing is still $700 - $800 per month. need more geared-to-income housing. Look at it from the perspective of people who are living it. need to allow people to live with dignity. Transportation: - Individual very concerned about having enough money to buy a bus pass. Her son s bus pass costs her more than hers and it s causing her stress. Group 2 all participants were on ODSP. - Rates - Last - Rates - Feel - Diabetic - Not is better than OW OW doesn t give as much money. Rates are too low for both slave money. should be accounting for inflation and tied to actual costs of basic needs. year, rate of income went down. Why? are political figures. Lowest amount they can get away with. they deserve more from OW / ODSP. supplies rate are increasing, which is a good thing. all medications are covered by OW! ODSP. Government needs to realize that medications need to be continued. Social Assistance Review - Consultation Process June 21 5t, 2011 P a g e 23

45 consultation punishing them for inability to work. OW should have multi-level goals assessed on individual basis rather than handing out résumés, etc. Ability to maintain relationships integral to long term stability. Discretionary Benefits: - There should be a discretionary emergency fund for illness, a crisis, or money to pay for hydro. - Discretionary benefits need to be increased, It will save the government money down the road. Things like orthotics should be covered. I mean, if you can t walk... Other Basic Needs: - A - $127 - There s set amount of money for groceries would be good. A food allowance, separate from the Basic Needs Allowance. per month for basic needs, that s just not right. not enough coverage for dental work. I need dental surgery, but my Worker says I have to pay for it myself. Guaranteed Annual Income (GAl): - GIS - Is - How - What - Phased-in - Would - A - One - Equalizing may be solution to problems. Group felt it was good idea. ex: given start up, dad helped him to move, was honest with ODSP, back fired. it really realistic to think that the government is going to implement a guaranteed annual income? We first need to fix OW! ODSP. many people need to ask for an alternative system for it to become considered? level of government would pay for GAl? Would a national system eliminate discrimination? A shared system with federal / provincial and municipal levels of government. system first closing the gap from the 21% cuts to now phase two: GAl keeping in mind the increasing number of women who are in their early 60s to 64 and facing serious challenges. need more information about [GAl]. Very concerned about the amount they would receive (i.e., would it be the same, less or more). basic adequate income is needed an equity income. Do the math, and give one sum that would provide enough for an adequate income to live with a reasonable quality of life. income would overcome the problem of administering of all these separate pots. of income wouldn t differentiate between people who can work, and people who can t. Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 5t, 2011 P a g e I 25

46 - I Consultation - People - I m - GAl - The - A - How hate being nickled and dimed for little things. People should be able to make their own decisions. would spend the money locally. afraid a GAl may not be realistic. Who would pay for it? should be a shared federal, provincial and municipal cost, geared to a community, and pegged to the cost of living. GIS has dramatically reduced poverty for seniors. One person has about $17,000 - $18,000 per year, with GAINS, GIS and CPP. It s about $35,000 for a couple. portion of a GAl could be allocated for pooled insurance or saving for a crisis. Maybe for the first five years. many people have to be unhappy before they ll implement a GAl? Social Assistance Review - Process June 21 st, 2011 P a g e I 26