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sorry if this is a duplicate - i've tried to correct the formatting - jp Hi all; Way back in May, I asked my cyber family for advice re applying for a disability pension and was impressed with all the help I received. Since the Ontario provincial government regulations changed radically on June 1st, my application got bogged down in the ensuing confusion. But, it is all for the best, I'm convinced. The new regulations look like a vast improvement over the old ones. The onus of deciding what constitutes a disability has been transferred to a separate more professionally managed adjudication committee which uses detailed medical declarations from the applicant and the applicant's medical consultants as the basis for their decision. The entire documentation of the Act is on the Ministry's web-site. For those who are interested, I have downloaded all of the details of the regulations and have converted them from Adobe Acrobat format to plain text format. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services News Release Communique June 1, 1998 ------------------------------------------------------------------- ONTARIO KEEPS ITS PROMISE TO CREATE NEW INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Kitchener - People with disabilities who are in financial need will benefit from a new Income Support Program, the Minister of Community and Social Services Janet Ecker, announced today. The Ontario Disability Support Program Act, which receives proclamation today, creates a new disability support program, ODSP. The new program has two components: an Income Support Program for people with disabilities who are in financial need; and an Employment Support Program that recognizes many people with disabilities can and do want to work. "We made a commitment to people with disabilities in this province that we would create a better system," said Minister Ecker. "We listened to what they told us about the old system that didn't work, we consulted with them on what they do need, and we have delivered a program that directly responds to their concerns." Minister Ecker made the announcement at the Ontario Municipal Social Service Association's annual general meeting in Kitchener. She later visited the Ontario March of Dimes in Waterloo to meet with local agencies representing people with disabilities. The President of the Ontario March of Dimes, Duncan Read, said his organization has supported the ODSP and worked with the government throughout its development. "What's positive is the program's recognition that people with disabilities have the desire and the ability to work. The removal of the label permanently unemployable and the elimination of a financial penalty if attempts at employment fail are fundamental to persons with disabilities achieving independence." "Our government has taken a leadership role in meeting the needs of people with disabilities. Ontario presently provides the highest level of disability support among Canadian provinces," said Minister Ecker. "We worked closely with organizations such as the Ontario March of Dimes to create a new program that doesn't limit people's opportunities by labeling them unemployable." Everyone eligible to receive support as a person with a disability, or because they have been previously classified as permanently unemployable, or because of their age under the Family Benefits Assistance definition on May 31, 1998, are transferred to the ODSP income support program today. Highlights of the new Income Support Program include: a new definition that does not limit people's opportunities by labeling them unemployable; protection of benefits if a job attempt fails; retesting only in cases where a person's disability is expected to improve; people will no longer have to pay the 25 per cent consumer co-payment for the Ministry of Health's Assistive Devices program; more generous rules regarding limits on assets, compensation awards, gifts and inheritances, and cash surrender values of life insurance policies. The new Employment Support Program responds to long-standing calls for action from people with disabilities to support their desire to work. It replaces the Vocational Rehabilitation Services program with a program that better meets the needs of people with disabilities who can and do want to work. People receiving ODSP benefits will decide if they wish to use the Employment Support Program. People with disabilities who do not receive ODSP benefits may also be eligible for employment support. "We know the population of people with disabilities is growing. We want to ensure that as much money as possible goes to direct service instead of administrative costs," said Minister Ecker. "Therefore, we are doubling the amount of available employment support to people with disabilities from $18 to $35 million." The Ministry has set up an information phone line at 1-888-789-4199. In Toronto, call 416-325-5666. Visit the Ministry Internet site at http://www.gov.on.ca/CSS. ------------------------------------------------------------------- janet paterson - 51/10 - almonte/ontario/canada http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/janet/ [log in to unmask]