sOCIAL ASSISTANCE AND PENSIONS UPDATE

*This page was updated May 14 2021
The Headlines:
The Federal government has implemented some measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
• Three new benefit programs have been implemented effective September 27th, 2020: the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Sickness Recovery Benefit (CRSB), and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB).
• Employment Insurance (EI) rules have changed effective September 27th, 2020 allowing more workers to qualify.
The Ontario government has announced changes to the administration of social assistance in response to COVID-19:
• OW and ODSP clients can access travel money to access Covid-19 vaccines.
• Expiry dates on special diet allowance, pregnancy-breastfeeding nutritional allowance and medical special necessities benefits, and pay direct arrangements, are being automatically extended.
• Current social assistance recipients can access expanded discretionary benefits.
• Clients who are facing a Disability Determination Package (DDP) or Medical Review Package (MRP) deadline and can’t get appointments to see their health care providers should call the DAU to request an extension at 1-888-256-6758

The Details:

Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Up-to-date information about OW and Covid-19 can be found here.
Up-to-date information about ODSP and Covid-19 can be found here

Emergency Assistance for new OW or ODSP applicants: 
Ontario has expanded access to existing Emergency Assistance under the current provisions of Ontario Works. Applications for Ontario Works financial assistance can be made online  and by phone at 416-338-8888 or 1-888-465-4478 (toll free). This program is available to people with limited income, assets or credit who are in a crisis or an emergency situation and are not currently on OW or ODSP. 

Covid-19 Benefits for current OW and ODSP recipients:   
OW and ODSP recipients can get transportation money to get a Covid-19 vaccine. They may also be eligible for supplementary payments to cover extraordinary Covid-19 related costs. 

There is a Digital Access Employment benefit for OW recipients. If an OW recipient needs a device in order to do something related to employment, such as remote ESL classes, OW may cover up to $275 for device and $60 for internet. There is also a new $250 supplement while in a program in order to allow the OW recipient to better focus on their program. Eligible people should ask their OW caseworker about these benefits.

Special Diet Allowance (SDA), Pregnancy-Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance (PBNA) and Mandatory Special Necessities (MSN) benefits
New applicants can self-declare that they are pregnant or breast-feeding, or have an application form completed by a midwife, in order to obtain a nutritional allowance, without the need for further verification by a health provider at this time.

TESS is no longer issuing forms to process new Special Diet Allowance requests. Recipients who wish to access the Special Diet Allowance (SDA) must call their worker to request it and can give their verbal consent for TESS to speak with their medical practitioner to confirm their medical conditions. The worker may not tell them which medical conditions are eligible to receive the SDA supplement so recipients should be prepared to know which medical conditions for which they will be claiming the benefit. The list of approved conditions and their amounts can be found here. 

Other ODSP and OW service changes
The OW offices at Metro Hall, York Humber, and Scarborough Village are open for clients without telephone/internet access on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30am-5pm, and on Tuesdays from 8:30am-6pm. ODSP physical offices are open Monday to Friday from 8:30am-5pm for people with scheduled appointments.
Toronto Employment and Social Services (TESS) is currently issuing new applications for OW recipients to access ODSP by sending the applications directly to the applicant’s doctor. 

Clients must report their income monthly to avoid having their file suspended. They may use the MyBenefits online service, mail, or fax. They can also call the office, and if they don’t reach their caseworker they can leave a voice message with their member ID or name and date of birth. Clients should not bring income reports to the office.
Clients should not be required to provide original documents or wet signatures at this time, but are to be notified that the documents will need to be provided at a later date.

Participation in employment assistance activities and participation agreement updates are not being required – initial participation agreements should be completed without activities with a 60-day review – no clients should be referred from ODSP to Employment Supports or to OW for participation in employment activities. 

Employment Insurance (EI) Changes and Three New Post-CERB benefits Took Effect September 27 2020
With the end of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) October 3 2020, the Federal government has created three new benefits effective September 27 2020 as well some changes to make EI accessible to a greater number of workers also effective September 27.

The three new benefits are:

• The Canada Response Benefit (CRB), which provides $500 per week for up to 26 year self-employed individuals needing income support, or to workers who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI). 
• The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), which provides $500 per week for up to two weeks for workers who cannot work because they are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19. 
• The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), which provides $500 per week, for up to 26 weeks per household to eligible workers who cannot work because they must provide care to children or family members due to the closure of schools, day cares, or care facilities. 

Details for these programs can be found here 
 
The eligibility criteria for Employment Insurance (EI) with the changes are:
o were employed for at least 120 insurable hours in the past 52 weeks
o received the CERB, the 52 week period to accumulate insured hours will be extended
o stopped working through no fault of your own
o have not quit your job voluntarily
o are ready, willing and capable of working each day (EI regular benefits)
o are temporarily unable to work while you care for someone else or yourself (EI maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care, and family caregiver benefits)

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) Has Ended But Legal Problems May Still Arise. 
While the CERB benefit has ended, recipients of the CERB may still face legal problems, including but not limited to overpayments with the Canada Revenue Agency due alleged CERB ineligibility, overpayments and files being put on hold or closed with OW or ODSP due to clients’ failure to report CERB income or OW and ODSP’s failure to properly record reported CERB income, and issues with Rent Geared to Income housing providers. If you are facing any of these issues contact your local legal clinic for help.