I volunteer for a couple homeless charities/groups in Toronto and one of the tasks I've personally taken on is helping individuals get on and maintain Ontario Works and ODSP. OP you're not alone, it's a god damn nightmare to simply get help for these people and keep in mind it's not MUCH help. both OW and ODSP will fight tooth and nail to ensure the pennies they provide you don't last long or if you get them at all. I've never known a program or anything be so reluctant to provide an individual a lousy $343 a month. that's the MOST a homeless person can get from Ontario Works.

And they've JUST rolled out a new thing to ensure homeless people get off the program asap. If you don't have a bank account, and most homeless people don't, they provide you with a debit card from royal bank. Now this card will charge a user 60cents just to check the account balance even if you use the card at an RBC ABM. but that's not all. the new thing they've rolled out is apparently you can only be using that card for a year even if it expires after like 5 years. They want people to have their OW payments go to a bank...ok...how many homeless people have bank accounts again? The common issue is well these people don't have IDs to open a bank account, most only have health cards which aren't acceptable forms of ID at the bank. too bad. same deal with ODSP. and Employment services will NOT help an individual obtain ID they use an outside service that only....helps with health cards. not Ontario Picture IDs.

Within the past few months I've been going to meetings with Ontario Employment Services helping people fight to just continue to collect their lousy $343 a month or MAYBE $1000 a month for ODSP. it's pathetic.

Sorry, my second time posting in this thread, a little more clearly this time… Haha it’s late and this post woke me from a bit of a daze.

For those thinking this is harassment I’d like to quote something for your consideration relating to freedom of expression in Canada:

Expression protected by section 2(b) has been defined as “any activity or communication that conveys or attempts to convey meaning” (Thomson Newspapers Co., supra; Irwin Toy Ltd., supra). The courts have applied the principle of content neutrality in defining the scope of section 2(b), such that the content of expression, no matter how offensive, unpopular or disturbing, cannot deprive it of section 2(b) protection

Section 2(b) - Freedom of expression - Government of Canada website

(and in French)

Fun fact when you apply for ODSP you are “encouraged” to fill out an “optional” self-assessment and talk about how your life is shit and plead your case and describe your issues to some unknown government shithead who’s not a qualified practitioner. Most reports I’ve seen, people say this drastically improves your odds at acceptance. I’d imagine from about 0.5% to 1% or something like that.

Isn’t that just the most fun fucking fact you’ve ever heard?

Hey when you apply for a job can they request you share your personal medical history to help your odds of qualifying? No, they can’t? Huh.

Also to my fellow Canadians I love you all and you are totally free to disagree with me and I understand that my point of view is not gospel.

Mods please consider this creative expression with the intent to invoke thought and discussion, however crude.

Thanks ❤️

Doug Ford I would tell you to suck my dick but it’s important to me and we all know you like to cut things that are important to others. Maybe if my white Ontarian cock was filled with oil you’d suck it to see it spew all over and cause an ecological disaster on your face. Or maybe you take after your brother and just need a little “bump” towards making the right choice.

I'm really sorry you're going through this, having to jump through hoops and waiting a very long time to find out if you've been approved for ODSP. The way this country treats people with disabilities is shameful

I was quite literally dying in the hospital for nearly 2 years from a rare genetic condition (still have it, slightly managed now but the government won't cover the medication to actually help me, just the one that keeps me barely functioning) and still wasn't able to get onto ODSP for another 5 afterwards. Had to sell my car and ended up declaring bankruptcy from all the medical debt I incured. Doug Ford needs to take a long walk off a short pier.

We moved from Ontario to BC, one factor was my son had a disability and BC had much better social programs, and in Ontario if your kids are on disability and you didn't set up a Henson Trust then the Ontario government takes their inheritance. BC doesn't steal your kids inheritance if they are disabled.

There was a lot of paperwork to fill out but it wasn't like you describe, and once on the disability in BC my son had lots of support and services.

People still vote for the corrupt Doug Ford so Ontario is what it is.

I don't have direct experience with ODSP, but the doctor/specialist thing is real. It's unbelievable that we've allowed our healthcare system to get this bad. Getting a GP is hard. Getting an appointment with your GP is hard. Wait times for specialists are unbelievable. Wait times in ERs are terrible. Even getting tests done is onerous.

My partner was notified back in October that they were approved for ODSP, but hasn't been able to get a call back from a case worker since to actually get the benefits.

I want some mod permission to post my grievances and criticism in a dedicated thread up to two times a week, please.

If not on a Canadian owned Lemmy instance related to Ontario, then where? Ty mods looking forward to your decision.