Diane Devine finds the first day of each month stressful, wondering how she’ll make ends meet after paying her rent and other bills.
The London, Ont., resident’s only source of income is $1,600 through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), plus a housing stability benefit from the City of London that helps pay the balance of her $1,312 monthly rent.
“I get my money on the last day of the month at 3 a.m. and by 3 p.m., my bank account is back to maybe $2 or $3, if that,” Devine, 56, told CBC News.
“It’s not much to live off of for a whole month, that’s for sure. It’s a pinch of pennies every day just to try and pay all the bills and buy groceries for a full month.”
Ontario is in the midst of an election campaign that will culminate with the Feb. 27 vote.
Devine, for one, believes people on a fixed income have all but been forgotten by provincial and federal governments.
She wants the next Ontario government to increase social assistance rates enough so they match the high cost of living, and urges voters to consider that when they choose their next premier.
Devine has been receiving ODSP benefits for over 20 years, since suffering a spinal injury at her former job. It’s since developed into a degenerative disc disease, making it hard for her to stand for long periods or do lifting.
“If someone can promise me that they can bring our benefits up to that level, then that would be where my vote goes. I don’t expect to live a lavish life — I just want enough money to pay my rent, utilities and eat properly without worry.”
In September 2022, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government increased ODSP rates to align with inflation, with a five per cent hike. The following year, it was legislated that ODSP will have inflationary increases every July, with a 6.5 per cent jump in 2023 and 4.5 per cent in 2024.
The maximum ODSP rate for a single individual is $1,368 per month and can go up to $2,639 for a couple with two children. Payments cover basic needs allowances for essentials like food and personal items, and shelter allowances for housing-related costs like rent and utilities.
“That may sound like a lot, but you have to consider that rates were already 40 to 50 per cent below the poverty line,” said Trevor Manson, co-chair of ODSP Action Coalition, an advocacy group led by people with disabilities who receive ODSP.
Manson said other benefits, like Ontario Works (OW), haven’t increased and believes low social assistance is fuelling the province’s homelessness crisis. He wants these benefits doubled so people aren’t living in poverty.
“People are spending up to 100 per cent of their income toward rent because they’re terrified of becoming homeless. Just take a walk across any community across Ontario — you see tent cities popping up everywhere,” he said.
“Our number one ask is to immediately double social assistance rates. Even if they doubled Ontario Works, it would still be below the market basket measure, which is Canada’s official measure of the poverty line, but it’ll still be better than it is now.”
Randy Tessman said he has run out of items to cut out from his budget to afford to feed his family.
The 56-year-old single dad of three lives in a public housing complex in northwest London and gets approximately $3,000 each month through ODSP and the Canada Child Tax Benefit.
“The cost of everything has slowly gone up. For us, the biggest expense is food. We spend more money on food now by far than anything else,” said Tessman, adding his ODSP cheque increased by $9 with the inflationary rise.
“They’ve also cut back on other extra discretionary benefits. You used to be able to get a washer, fridge and stove. We’re at the point now where I can’t even get a washer — I’ve been handwashing my children’s clothes for a year and a half.”
Tessman wants the next premier to make discretionary benefits more accessible for people on ODSP and improve communication on what supports are available to them.
“I’m only hoping they can understand that people on a monthly set cheque are having to sacrifice so much just to make sure our children eat.”
What the major parties are promising
CBC asked Ontario’s four major parties vying for the top job about what changes they would make to social assistance rates if elected.
Here’s what they said.
Progressive Conservatives: A campaign spokesperson said the party raised the ODSP earned income threshold by 400 per cent, which will keep more money in the pockets of ODSP recipients who are able to work. It will continue to increase ODSP rates with inflation each July.
NDP: A party spokesperson said current ODSP and OW rates are forcing people into legislative poverty, and that it would double ODSP rates.
Liberals: A party spokesperson said leader Bonnie Crombie will make an announcement related to this issue later Wednesday. The spokesperson didn’t disclose further details.
Greens: The party said it would “at least double ODSP and OW rates while getting rid of unfair clawbacks and ensuring shelter allowances reflect the shelter costs where recipients live.”