Rates increasing for ODSP, Ontario Works recipients

Beginning next month, people receiving Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits will see an increase in rates by one per cent starting Sept. 1, 2013, and people receiving Ontario Works will see an increase of one per cent starting Oct. 1, 2013.

This is part of a number of changes announced in the province's 2013 Budget, according to a news release, and is designed to remove barriers to finding work for people receiving social assistance.

In addition, clients in both programs will be able to earn up to $200 per month through employment before their social assistance benefits are reduced. This change will encourage more clients to gain valuable work experience and will help increase their opportunities of finding full-time jobs, while improving the incomes of more than 58,000 recipients who currently have employment earnings.

To further improve financial independence for Ontario Works clients, the province is also increasing the amount of assets they are able to keep before they can get assistance, such as a car a client may need for getting to and from work.

Single people supported by Ontario Works can now have up to $2,500 in assets without affecting their eligibility. Couples receiving Ontario Works can have up to $5,000 in assets.

As part of the changes, single adults without children receiving Ontario Works will receive a top-up of $14 a month, for a total increase of $20 a month to help individuals with the cost of food, clothing and other necessities.

More than 950,000 children in 510,000 families are benefiting from the Ontario Child Benefit. The benefit increased this July to a maximum annual payment of $1,210 for each child, and will increase to $1,310 in July 2014.