ABOUT ISAC

The Income Security Advocacy Centre works with and on behalf of low income communities in Ontario to address issues of income security and poverty.

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WHAT'S NEW

• Budget 2013 has begun to make positive changes to a social assistance system that has continued to impoverish and cause hardship for low-income Ontarians. Read ISAC's analysis of Budget 2013 - Moving Forward on Positive Social Assistance Reform.

• The Special Diet Allowance is not a "loophole". It's a lifeline for many people receiving social assistance, who need extra funds to pay for the higher costs associated with the foods they need to treat their medical conditions.

• Read ISAC's pre-budget submission to the Ontario legislature's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on Budget 2013.

• Changes have been made to the Special Diet Allowance program as a result of ISAC's continuing legal work at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Find out more about these changes and what you should do if you are on OW or ODSP have been diagnosed with certain medical conditions.

• The 2012-13 provincial budget increased OW and ODSP rates by 1%. Our new rate sheet shows the new basic needs and maximum shelter amounts for selected family sizes and types. These new amounts go into effect in November and December 2012. La version française est disponible ici.

• The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario has released its final report - go to their website here to download the report.
  • Click here for ISAC's response to the report.

• Budget 2012 eliminated the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit and the Home Repairs Benefit. These cuts will hurt people on OW and ODSP across the province. Act Now to Save Housing Supports for People on OW and ODSP - join our email campaign online and get important tools for your own advocacy work!
  • ISAC joined with our sister clinic, the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, to make an oral submission about the loss of these benefits to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on June 7, 2012. Read our submission here.

• People on OW and ODSP who have pre-diabetes are eligible for the Special Diet Allowance. Read our fact sheet here. Aussi, la version française est disponible ici.

• Read ISAC's reactions to and analysis of the Ontario 2012 budget, which made the largest cuts to direct benefits for people on OW and ODSP since the McGuinty government was first elected in 2003.

• A recent court decision means that an adult on ODSP whose parent receives child support from the other parent should not have the money automatically deducted from their ODSP benefits, and/or will now be eligible for ODSP. Read our fact sheet about the decision and how it might affect you.

• The way that three provincial tax credits are being paid to people with low-incomes is changing. This means these credits are no longer being paid in lump-sum tax refunds. Click here for more information about how and why payment of tax credits is changing, and on avoiding getting into bad contracts with tax filing companies.

• For the latest on Ontario's review of social assistance programs, see our Social Assistance Review website.

• Bringing In Women's Voices! Are you a woman in Ontario struggling to make ends meet? Are you a mother raising kids on your own? Learn more about our project working with low-income moms across the province. And check out our Facebook page!

• If you are currently getting Special Diet and are confused about the changes and the new application process, please read these information sheets:
  • Special Diet Allowance: What You Should Know
  • Special Diet Allowance: Why The Program Is Changing
  • Use this Information Sheet for Health Care Providers to talk with your doctor about the changes to the Special Diet program. Word here or PDF here
• The Federal Tax Court has made some recent rulings relating to the Child Tax Benefit in situations of joint custody, custody by someone other than a parent, and spousal separation. For an overview of recent jurisprudence, see ISAC’s April 2011 paper :
  • Child Tax Benefits - Update on Objections and Appeals - April 2011
• For an update on the procedure for applying for the Child Tax Benefit or appealing a decision to deny or reduce your Child Tax Benefit, see ISAC’s powerpoint presentation prepared for the Northern Regional Training Conference in April 2011:
  • Child Tax Benefits - Topical Issues and Professional Obligations - April 2011
• Read ISAC's Comment on the 2011 Ontario Budget
  • Read ISAC's submission on the 2011 Budget in Word here or in PDF here
• The Ontario government’s announcements of Nov 30 on the social assistance review and special diet allowance program are both welcome steps forward on the road to improved income security for Ontarians. Click here to see ISAC's press release on the government's announcements.

• Short-term rule changes to OW and ODSP could make life better for people receiving support. The Social Assistance Review Advisory Council recommended 14 changes to government in February. Some have been made, but many are yet to be implemented. See the full list of recommendations in PDF here or in Word here.

• People with addictions can qualify for ODSP after a recent court decision. Click this link for more information.

Quick Links

• ISAC has been very involved in advocating for a Poverty Reduction Strategy for Ontario, and in helping communities get involved. Click here to read more about poverty reduction in Ontario.

• ISAC and Ontario Campaign 2000 have completed the Ending Poverty Project, working with low-income people in nine communities across Ontario. Get more information about the Ending Poverty Project here.

• The Disability Adjudication Unit has recently started doing medical reviews of people on ODSP. Click this link for more information.

• In July 2008, the Ontario Child Benefit started being paid monthly. Click here to read more about the Ontario Child Benefit.

• Click here for current OW and ODSP rates (this link will open as a Word document). And click on Resources for more fact sheets and other important sources of information.

• ISAC UPDATE has the latest news on a whole variety of income security issues that ISAC is working on. Click here to see all editions.

This site also features materials from CLEONet, an online clearinghouse for legal resources, news, and events produced by community organizations and legal clinics across Ontario.