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ODSP - What's In It For Me?

© Keenan Wellar

Last month I talked about some of the changes expected from the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services with respect to income and employment support for persons with disabilities. It remains to be seen what this will all mean when it comes to implementation, but here's hoping that the Ontario Disability Support Plan will be as forward-thinking in action as it is in philosophy. Here are some of the highlights.

There is anew definition of disability under ODSP. Currently, under FBA (Family Benefits Act) there are two disability tests:

1. Permanently Unemployable (PUE): A person who is unable to work for prolonged periods of time
2. Disabled: A person with a major physical or mental impairment and as a result is severely limited in activities of daily living

Under the new definition, a person has a disability if they have a substantial mental or physical impairment that restricts one or more activity of daily living which includes personal care, functioning in the community, and in the workplace and is expected to last at least one year.

The client's co-payment through Ministry of Health funding has been elimintaed. Currently the Assistive Device Program (ADP) covers 75 per cent of costs, up to a maximum. Clients must apply to the municipality for the other 25 per cent, and there is no guarantee that municipal funding will be granted.

As of June 1:Ministry of Health will pay 100 per cent of allowable costs for clients who are eligible for the ADP and are receiving ODSP or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (formerly known as the Handicapped Children's Benefits).

Treatment of interest earned on liquid assets will change. Examples of liquid assets include bank accounts or Canada Savings Bonds. Currently, under FBA, clients can keep the first $30 of interest earned on cashable assets. The remainder is treated as income.

As of June 1, under the ODSP, clients are able to keep all interest earned on cashable assets.

There will be an increase in the amount of cashable assets that clients can retain. Currently, under FBA, allowable levels of cashable assets are $3,000 for singles, $5,000 for couples, and $500 for each child.

As of June 1, under the ODSP, allowable levels of cashable assets are $5,000 for singles, $7,500 for couples, and $500 for each child.

There is to be onsistent treatment of allowable asset levels when someone on Ontario Works has applied for the ODSP. Currently, municipalities may use FBA disabled asset levels ($3,000 for singles, $5,000 for couples, and $500 for each child) for applicants who are receiving temporary assistance under Ontario Works.

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