Feed Ontario welcomes the Government of Ontario’s announcement that the new Canada Disability Benefit (CBD) will be exempt as income for social assistance recipients, ensuring that individuals will receive the benefit without a reduction in provincial social assistance supports.
This important decision means that Ontarians currently receiving support through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Ontario Works (OW), or the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) will be protected from benefit reductions if they receive the CDB.
We are very encouraged by the Province’s commitment to ensuring that people with disabilities can keep more money in their pockets, particularly at a time when food bank use is at record levels and poverty among people with disabilities remains disproportionately high. In fact, nearly one in three people who turn to food banks rely on disability supports as their primary source of income.
We would like to thank the Government of Ontario for taking meaningful action during a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty, and for its effort to continue improving social supports available to Ontarians in need.
We would also like to recognize and thank the numerous non-profit organizations and food banks across the province and country for their tireless advocacy for the establishment of the Canada Disability Benefit and its exemption from provincial social assistance programs. Feed Ontario is proud to stand alongside these organization in this work.
While today’s announcement marks a significant step forward, Feed Ontario joins the Government of Ontario in urging the federal government to amend the Income Tax Act so that the CDB can reach as many people in need as possible. We also echo the call being made by non-profit organizations and food banks across the country to increase the benefit amount to bring people with disabilities above the poverty line.
To learn more visit: fundthebenefit.ca