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hi all in the interests of sharing information, i find that specifities are more informative than generalities all of the below is in Canadian dollars (cd$); to convert to American dollars (us$), multiply by .65 (yikes) i.e. my disability pension total is cd$930 x .65 = us$604 on second thought, i will go ahead and convert all of the amounts to us$! my disability pension is comprised of: a) shelter allowance (rent & electicity & heat & water) cd$414 = us$269 b) basic allowance (food & clothing & telephone & tv/comm) cd$516 = us$335 for a total of cd$930 = us$604 per month. this amount is subject to some adjustment downward e.g. if i find my shelter costs are lower than the allowance but not upward e.g. if i find my shelter costs are higher than the allowance. my rent is currently cd$500 = us$325 per month and my electricity bill is cd$40 = us$26 per month, total cd$540 = us$351 per month. thus, current shelter cost is cd$126 = us$82 more than is approved by ODSP; i am currently registered with the local community support folks to find subsidised housing so as to lower this cost to ODSP guidelines my qualification for disability is not subject to review since pd is incurable and progressive. the disability qualification entitles me to essentially free medications: e.g. my most recent prescriptions were priced as follows 200 fluoxetine 20 mg cd$228 = us$148 120 selegiline 5 mg cd$173 = us$113 420 levo/carbi/dopa 100/10 mg cd$123 = us$80 200 sinemet cr 100/25 mg cd$132 = us$86 monthly medications total cd$656 = us$427 my actual out-of-pocket expense cd$8 = us$5 our universal health care system means that other medical costs are free; e.g. doctors' visits, and hospitalisation the disability qualification also entitles me to many other benefits as indicated and as they arise: e.g. escorted transportation services handicapped parking sticker various assistive devices personal care workers home care workers meals on wheels some of the above items have costs attached to them some are subsidised and some are free some are available easily some are back-logged with waiting lists when all is said and done and having looked around the planet a good bit i feel extremely lucky and grateful to be able to live where i do janet janet paterson, an akinetic rigid subtype parkie 53 now / 44 dx cd / 43 onset cd / 41 dx pd / 37 onset pd TEL: 613 256 8340 SMAIL: PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada EMAIL: [log in to unmask] URL: http://www.geocities.com/janet313/