Cuts hurt Kids Alert!

Starting in 2008, the Back-to-School and Winter Clothing allowances provided through Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) will no longer be paid out in lump sum payments, as the provincial government starts to move benefits for children out of social assistance and into the monthly Ontario Child Benefit program.

Families on OW and ODSP will be expected to save up to buy winter clothes and school supplies, despite the fact they won't receive the new Ontario Child Benefit until July - just a month before the new school year starts. But even if they had all year to save, it would be virtually impossible given how low social assistance rates are. The reality is that, even with the new Ontario Child Benefit, the majority of families on OW and ODSP will still be living in poverty.

In response to community outcry, the Ministry of Community and Social Services' OW Branch has issued an internal bulletin to local District Social Service Administration Boards (DSSAB’s) giving them the authority to use discretionary funds to ensure families on OW and ODSP get equivalent allowances for this year only.

Tell your MPP and key ministers that you want the separate Back-to-School and Winter Clothing allowances restored so that all families on OW and ODSP benefit. Asking local DSSAB’s to pick up the tab is not adequate, especially since many of them may refuse and thus many Ontario families will lose out.

Raise this issue in any Poverty Reduction consultations happening in your community, in your written submissions to the Cabinet Committee on Poverty Reduction, or when answering questions on the government's Poverty Reduction website: www.growingstronger.ca.

Get your local District Social Services Administration Board, Municipal Council, School Board or Public Health Board to pass resolutions calling on the province to restore the allowances. For a sample resolution, see: www.incomesecurity.org/documents/BacktoSchoolandWinterClothingAllowances-May2008.doc (PDF Version).

Also, ask your local District School Board and Student Trustees to support the Halton District School Board's resolution on this issue, as well as a separate resolution on increasing OW and ODSP rates, at the Ontario Public School Board Association's AGM on June 11/12 and the Ontario Student Trustee Association. Copies of the resolutions and accompany letters are attached and have already been sent to all public school boards.

Contact your local DSSAB, or the manager of your local OW and ODSP offices, or your local municipal council and ask them to take action – if the province won't – to ensure they provide families with equivalent discretionary allowances at least for this year.

The Ontario Government has committed to developing an Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy by the end of 2008. The strategy will focus initially on reducing child poverty. Government consultations have begun and are expected to wrap up by June 30th, 2008. The Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) is working to ensure low-income people are included in the consultations and that the strategy benefits all people living in poverty, including people on social assistance.

Go to ISAC’s website for:

•  Up-to-date information on the government's consultation schedule

•  Information on how to get involved and speak up about your ideas for
   ending poverty

•  Key points to make about social assistance during the consultations

•  An MPP lobby kit on ODSP issues

•  25 in 5 Declaration on Poverty Reduction

•  A workshop facilitator’s guide for consulting with low-income people in your
   community.

•  Other useful poverty reduction resources and websites

In September 2008 the Ontario government set up a toll free number for people to call to provide input to this Poverty Reduction Strategy that is under development. If you are unable to provide comments online or at local meetings, please call:  

1-866-614-5953   (TTY: 1-800-387-5559)