Important Changes to Social Assistance (OW and ODSP)

A number of important changes to Ontario’s social assistance regime (Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program) have come into place as of September 1, 2013. Some highlights of these changes are posted below, along with links for further details.

• ODSP basic needs rates have increased by 1% for persons with disabilities and members of a prescribed class. There has been no increase to the maximum shelter rates or to the incremental basic needs amounts for non-disabled family members. (NOTE: A similar 1% increase to OW rates and benefits will take effect as of October 1).

• There has also been a 1% increase to the following ODSP rates and benefits: Northern Allowance, Personal Needs Allowance, Special Boarder Allowance, Guide Dog Benefit, and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities. 

• OW asset limits have increased to $2500 for a single recipient and $5000 for couples. The asset limit for each additional dependent remains at $500. 

• OW asset exemptions for motor vehicles have been expanded. A primary vehicle of any value is now fully exempt and a secondary vehicle is exempt up to $15,000. 

• There are new earnings and exemption rules. The first $200 earned by each adult member of a benefit unit is now fully exempt from income. The 50% exemption will continue to apply to net monthly earnings above the $200 threshold. These new rules apply to net income from employment, amounts paid under a training program and net business income for both OW and ODSP recipients. 

• Employment earnings and training allowances are now fully exempt as income and assets for spouses under the age of 18 as well as recipients and spouses over the age of 18 who are in secondary school full-time. 

• OW recipients are now allowed an income exemption of up to $6000 in any 12-month period for all gifts and voluntary payments received. 

• Benefits or payments under any income replacement scheme or program (such as Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, and Worker’s Compensation) are now expressly precluded from being considered “earnings”. 

• The prescribed time for the Director or Administrator to complete an internal review request has been changed from 10 days to 30 days from the receipt of the internal review request. 

• In order for an absence from Ontario to be considered necessary for “health” reasons, an OW or ODSP recipient must now show that the purpose of the absence is to receive necessary medical treatment outside of Ontario that I prescribed by a physician, and that the medical treatment is an out of province or out of country insured service under OHIP. 

You can find out further information and details about these and other changes in the following information sheets compiled by the Income Security and Advocacy Centre (ISAC)(links open as .pdf files):

1. Social Assistance Rates Update
2. Changes to OW Rules about Assets
3. Changes to OW and ODSP Rules about how much money you can keep from work, self-employment, or training
4. Changes to OW Rules about Gifts