By James Jackson
For the Post
Following the provincial government’s announcement to increase minimum wage and index it for inflation, one local woman says disability payments should also be tied to inflation and the rising cost of living.
Every month, Claire Mosher receives $1,172 in Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) payments from the government, but it’s barely enough to live on, she said.
It’s an insult to her and other individuals or families who are unable to work, she said.
“I’m disgusted with this government,” Mosher said.
“They have a bubble over their heads and won’t take it off to see the real picture.”
In January, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced her government would increase minimum wage by 75 cents to $11 per hour starting June 1 — the first increase since 2010 — and the government would also seek to tie future increases to inflation.
Mosher, 48, wants to see ODSP payments linked to inflation as well.
As of November 2013, there were 315,784 ODSP cases representing 437,161 people in Ontario, according to the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
The government does not tie ODSP rates to inflation or any other cost-of-living measure, according to Charlotte Wilkinson, a ministry spokesperson, but instead increases are based on government priorities of the day and available resources.
“Since 2003, ODSP rates have increased nine times,” said Wilkinson.
“Today, individuals on ODSP are receiving 16 per cent more than they did 10 years ago.
“We are exploring options for how we could create a new and consistent way of setting and adjusting rates over time,” Wilkinson added.
Monthly payments vary based on the number of adults or dependents in the family.
Mosher has been receiving disability payments since 2004. She suffers from depression, a bad back and arthritic knees. She had a job at Broil King and a packaging plant in New Hamburg, but couldn’t hold on to either job.
“I did enjoy it, but I couldn’t keep up with the work,” she said. “I can’t stand for very long with my knee and back problems.”
Mosher receives the maximum payment for a single person from the government each month, $1,086, and that is broken down into $479 for shelter and $607 for other necessities. She also gets an additional $86 for special dietary needs.
She lives in a cramped one-bedroom apartment with her dog and cat, and desperately wants to move into a townhouse but can’t afford it. She’s currently paying $711 for rent, which doesn’t leave much for food or clothing at the end of each month.
“The shelter (payments) should be as high as the basic needs (payments),” she said. “You can’t get much for $479.”
Kitchener-Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife agreed $1,086 is not a livable wage for Ontarians, and said correcting that disparity is on the NDP’s radar.
Her party fought for a one per cent increase in payments, which was delivered in the last provincial budget.
“There’s no doubt about the question of if the system is working or not — it’s not,” Fife said.
To qualify for ODSP, applicants must demonstrate financial need and a physical or mental disability that is expected to last for a year or more and also makes it hard for them to look after themselves or be employed.
Typically, someone is ineligible for ODSP when their income from other sources exceeds the amount they would receive from the government.
The province does provide geared-to-income housing options, but the waiting list is too long, Mosher said.
According to the 2012 report from the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, 156,358 households were waiting for affordable housing in this province.
In 2011, single people and childless couples under 65 formed the largest portion of that demographic — roughly 59,000 households — and the wait can be as long as 10 years, depending on the size of the family.
For every applicant housed, three new applications are received.
Fife said any discussion on increasing ODSP rates must also include a discussion on making housing more affordable.
Wilkinson pointed to past actions by the government to help those on disability improve their lives. Beginning last September, individuals could start earning up to $200 a month without having their income support reduced. Once you earn more than $200, 50 cents of every dollar earned is reduced from your income support.
Under the old system, workers lost 50 cents from their ODSP payment for every dollar they earned.
Mosher said these actions are not enough, and she is losing faith in the government’s willingness to help Ontario’s poor.
“This is not dignity. This is an insult to anyone on disability,” she said. “They should treat us all as equal people, and they’re not.”
By James Jackson
For the Post
Following the provincial government’s announcement to increase minimum wage and index it for inflation, one local woman says disability payments should also be tied to inflation and the rising cost of living.
Every month, Claire Mosher receives $1,172 in Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) payments from the government, but it’s barely enough to live on, she said.
It’s an insult to her and other individuals or families who are unable to work, she said.
“I’m disgusted with this government,” Mosher said.
“They have a bubble over their heads and won’t take it off to see the real picture.”
In January, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced her government would increase minimum wage by 75 cents to $11 per hour starting June 1 — the first increase since 2010 — and the government would also seek to tie future increases to inflation.
Mosher, 48, wants to see ODSP payments linked to inflation as well.
As of November 2013, there were 315,784 ODSP cases representing 437,161 people in Ontario, according to the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
The government does not tie ODSP rates to inflation or any other cost-of-living measure, according to Charlotte Wilkinson, a ministry spokesperson, but instead increases are based on government priorities of the day and available resources.
“Since 2003, ODSP rates have increased nine times,” said Wilkinson.
“Today, individuals on ODSP are receiving 16 per cent more than they did 10 years ago.
“We are exploring options for how we could create a new and consistent way of setting and adjusting rates over time,” Wilkinson added.
Monthly payments vary based on the number of adults or dependents in the family.
Mosher has been receiving disability payments since 2004. She suffers from depression, a bad back and arthritic knees. She had a job at Broil King and a packaging plant in New Hamburg, but couldn’t hold on to either job.
“I did enjoy it, but I couldn’t keep up with the work,” she said. “I can’t stand for very long with my knee and back problems.”
Mosher receives the maximum payment for a single person from the government each month, $1,086, and that is broken down into $479 for shelter and $607 for other necessities. She also gets an additional $86 for special dietary needs.
She lives in a cramped one-bedroom apartment with her dog and cat, and desperately wants to move into a townhouse but can’t afford it. She’s currently paying $711 for rent, which doesn’t leave much for food or clothing at the end of each month.
“The shelter (payments) should be as high as the basic needs (payments),” she said. “You can’t get much for $479.”
Kitchener-Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife agreed $1,086 is not a livable wage for Ontarians, and said correcting that disparity is on the NDP’s radar.
Her party fought for a one per cent increase in payments, which was delivered in the last provincial budget.
“There’s no doubt about the question of if the system is working or not — it’s not,” Fife said.
To qualify for ODSP, applicants must demonstrate financial need and a physical or mental disability that is expected to last for a year or more and also makes it hard for them to look after themselves or be employed.
Typically, someone is ineligible for ODSP when their income from other sources exceeds the amount they would receive from the government.
The province does provide geared-to-income housing options, but the waiting list is too long, Mosher said.
According to the 2012 report from the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, 156,358 households were waiting for affordable housing in this province.
In 2011, single people and childless couples under 65 formed the largest portion of that demographic — roughly 59,000 households — and the wait can be as long as 10 years, depending on the size of the family.
For every applicant housed, three new applications are received.
Fife said any discussion on increasing ODSP rates must also include a discussion on making housing more affordable.
Wilkinson pointed to past actions by the government to help those on disability improve their lives. Beginning last September, individuals could start earning up to $200 a month without having their income support reduced. Once you earn more than $200, 50 cents of every dollar earned is reduced from your income support.
Under the old system, workers lost 50 cents from their ODSP payment for every dollar they earned.
Mosher said these actions are not enough, and she is losing faith in the government’s willingness to help Ontario’s poor.
“This is not dignity. This is an insult to anyone on disability,” she said. “They should treat us all as equal people, and they’re not.”
By James Jackson
For the Post
Following the provincial government’s announcement to increase minimum wage and index it for inflation, one local woman says disability payments should also be tied to inflation and the rising cost of living.
Every month, Claire Mosher receives $1,172 in Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) payments from the government, but it’s barely enough to live on, she said.
It’s an insult to her and other individuals or families who are unable to work, she said.
“I’m disgusted with this government,” Mosher said.
“They have a bubble over their heads and won’t take it off to see the real picture.”
In January, Premier Kathleen Wynne announced her government would increase minimum wage by 75 cents to $11 per hour starting June 1 — the first increase since 2010 — and the government would also seek to tie future increases to inflation.
Mosher, 48, wants to see ODSP payments linked to inflation as well.
As of November 2013, there were 315,784 ODSP cases representing 437,161 people in Ontario, according to the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
The government does not tie ODSP rates to inflation or any other cost-of-living measure, according to Charlotte Wilkinson, a ministry spokesperson, but instead increases are based on government priorities of the day and available resources.
“Since 2003, ODSP rates have increased nine times,” said Wilkinson.
“Today, individuals on ODSP are receiving 16 per cent more than they did 10 years ago.
“We are exploring options for how we could create a new and consistent way of setting and adjusting rates over time,” Wilkinson added.
Monthly payments vary based on the number of adults or dependents in the family.
Mosher has been receiving disability payments since 2004. She suffers from depression, a bad back and arthritic knees. She had a job at Broil King and a packaging plant in New Hamburg, but couldn’t hold on to either job.
“I did enjoy it, but I couldn’t keep up with the work,” she said. “I can’t stand for very long with my knee and back problems.”
Mosher receives the maximum payment for a single person from the government each month, $1,086, and that is broken down into $479 for shelter and $607 for other necessities. She also gets an additional $86 for special dietary needs.
She lives in a cramped one-bedroom apartment with her dog and cat, and desperately wants to move into a townhouse but can’t afford it. She’s currently paying $711 for rent, which doesn’t leave much for food or clothing at the end of each month.
“The shelter (payments) should be as high as the basic needs (payments),” she said. “You can’t get much for $479.”
Kitchener-Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife agreed $1,086 is not a livable wage for Ontarians, and said correcting that disparity is on the NDP’s radar.
Her party fought for a one per cent increase in payments, which was delivered in the last provincial budget.
“There’s no doubt about the question of if the system is working or not — it’s not,” Fife said.
To qualify for ODSP, applicants must demonstrate financial need and a physical or mental disability that is expected to last for a year or more and also makes it hard for them to look after themselves or be employed.
Typically, someone is ineligible for ODSP when their income from other sources exceeds the amount they would receive from the government.
The province does provide geared-to-income housing options, but the waiting list is too long, Mosher said.
According to the 2012 report from the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, 156,358 households were waiting for affordable housing in this province.
In 2011, single people and childless couples under 65 formed the largest portion of that demographic — roughly 59,000 households — and the wait can be as long as 10 years, depending on the size of the family.
For every applicant housed, three new applications are received.
Fife said any discussion on increasing ODSP rates must also include a discussion on making housing more affordable.
Wilkinson pointed to past actions by the government to help those on disability improve their lives. Beginning last September, individuals could start earning up to $200 a month without having their income support reduced. Once you earn more than $200, 50 cents of every dollar earned is reduced from your income support.
Under the old system, workers lost 50 cents from their ODSP payment for every dollar they earned.
Mosher said these actions are not enough, and she is losing faith in the government’s willingness to help Ontario’s poor.
“This is not dignity. This is an insult to anyone on disability,” she said. “They should treat us all as equal people, and they’re not.”