Ontario to allow people on social assistance to keep part of emergency benefits
From Niagara Falls Review – Ontarians on social assistance who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19 will be allowed to keep a portion of federal income support being offered to most other Canadian workers struggling to make ends meet during the pandemic.
“These are unprecedented, and uncertain times, especially for individuals receiving social assistance,” Todd Smith, provincial minister for children, families and social assistance, said in an email to the Star on Monday.
“Following a productive conversation with federal Minister (Carla) Qualtrough on Friday, our government provided new direction to Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) staff to ensure individuals on social assistance keep much more of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) than they would have under current rules,” he said.
Ontario and other provinces typically deduct most federal benefits such as EI and CCP-Disability dollar-for-dollar from social assistance.