News

News, Social Assistance

Increases to the ODSP Income Cap and to GAINS

Re-posted from ON THE RADAR, a publication of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

Now, people who have a disability and are able to work can earn more money before their Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits are reduced. The government has also increased how much ODSP is reduced if someone earns more than the new income cap.  

And Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) payments have been doubled for all of 2023, starting in January. 

Find out more in the March issue of ON THE RADAR.

This post gives general legal information. For legal advice for a specific situation please CONTACT KCLC.

News

ON THE RADAR: Changes to some Ontario Court Fees

Re-posted from ON THE RADAR, a publication of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

On January 1, 2023, the government raised some of the fees that people pay to use Ontario’s courts. They also made changes to how much money a person can make to qualify for a fee waiver. For more information, check out the February issue of ON THE RADAR!

This post gives general legal information. For legal advice for a specific situation please CONTACT KCLC.

Employment Insurance (EI), News

ON THE RADAR: Changes to EI Sickness Benefits

Re-posted from ON THE RADAR, a publication of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

On December 18, 2022, the Canadian government increased the number of weeks that workers can get Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits. Workers who started their claims on or after December 18 can get up to 26 weeks of benefits. For claims started before that date, workers can get up to 15 weeks.

For more information, check out the January issue of ON THE RADAR!

This post gives general legal information. For legal advice for a specific situation please CONTACT KCLC.

Holiday, News

Holiday Closure

The Legal Clinic will be closed for the Christmas holidays from Saturday, December 24th to Monday, January 2nd. The Legal Clinic will reopen on Tuesday, January 3rd at 8:30 a.m.

If you experience an emergency during this time that cannot wait until the Legal Clinic re-opens, please complete an online intake form by clicking HERE or leave a voicemail message at 613-541-0777, ext. 0.

Messages will be checked on December 28, 29, and 30. Emergency calls will be returned as soon as possible. Please ensure that you leave your first and last name, any telephone numbers where you can be reached and the nature of the emergency when leaving a voicemail message.

Employment Insurance (EI), housing, News

Coming in 2023: New EI Rates and Rent Increase Guideline

Re-posted from ON THE RADAR, a publication of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

The December issue of CLEO’s ON THE RADAR looks at the January 2023 annual increases to Employment Insurance (EI) and the rent increase guideline.

Click HERE to find out more in the December issue of ON THE RADAR.

This post gives general legal information. For legal advice for a specific situation please CONTACT KCLC.

Social Assistance

Impact of Proposed Changes to Earned Income Exemptions for ODSP – November 2022

Reposted from Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC)

On November 14, 2022, the Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review proposed changes to how earned income will be deducted from benefit cheques of people on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) only. Note: These changes do not apply to Ontario Works (OW) clients.

The government announced that the ODSP monthly flat rate earnings exemption – the amount people can earn without any deductions from their benefits – will increase from $200 to $1000. The amount that is deducted on income above the exemption amount will increase, from 50% to 75%.

Our analysis shows that: 

  • The proposed changes will improve the incomes of people on ODSP who earn up to $2600 net (after taxes and deductions) each month. This will help those who can work. However, for those who cannot work, these proposed changes will have no impact on incomes. 
  • The proposed rules will mean that people become ineligible for ODSP at a lower income point. They will “earn their way off” the program $224 earlier per year ($18.67 per month). At that point, they will no longer have access to associated supports that cover some disability costs such as prescription drug coverage, assistive living devices, or the Guide Dog Benefit. 

We have put together two examples showing how the incomes of two different fictional people on ODSP would be treated under the current rules, and how the same incomes would be treated under the proposed rules.

We have also created a chart which shows the impact of the difference between the current rules and the proposed new rules for a single person on ODSP and for different amounts of earnings.

Click here to access the factsheet which includes examples and chart in English.

This post gives general legal information. For legal advice for a specific situation please CONTACT KCLC.

News

The Colour Purple – What Does it Have to Do with Gender Based Violence?

Reposted from The Legal Clinic Sexual Harassment at Work Project

During the month of November, you may see a lot of purple around your community. It is the colour used in campaigns that focus on raising awareness about gender-based violence. Discussing violence in the greater community has a short history compared to the use of the colour purple to advocate for social change.

For the full article from Carrie Sinkowski, CLICK HERE

Uncategorized

It Takes a Village to End Violence, Including Vets, Dentists Hairdressers, RMTs and Employers

Reposted from The Legal Clinic Sexual Harassment at Work Project

Levels of domestic violence have skyrocketed since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Most people who experience domestic violence are afraid to reach out for help and/or don’t know who to reach out to. Thankfully there are innovative projects around the world that have been working on educating dentists, hairdressers, massage therapists and small to large-scale businesses to identify the signs of domestic violence and provide support and resources to survivors in a safe manner.

For the full article by Asha Jeejeebhoy-Swalwell, CLICK HERE.

News

Show Your Support for Women Experiencing Violence on November 25th!

Reposted from The Legal Clinic Sexual Harassment at Work Project

On November 25, 2022, Ontarians will join in solidarity with women and their supports across Canada and around the world to observe the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. November 25th marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence that ends on World Human Rights Days, on December 10th. In Canada, during these 16 days, we also observe the National Day of Remembrance and Action of Violence Against Women, which occurs every year on December 6th on the anniversary of the murder of 14 women at Polytechnique in Montreal 33 years ago.

For the full article from Claire McMenemy with details on events an actions you can join on November 25th, CLICK HERE.

Employment, News, Social Assistance, Taxation

ON THE RADAR: Changes to Benefits Aimed at Rising Cost of Living

Re-posted from ON THE RADAR, a publication of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

The provincial and federal governments recently made changes to some financial benefits and policies. These changes are aimed at helping people with the increased cost of living. For more information, check out the November issue of ON THE RADAR!

This post gives general legal information. For legal advice for a specific situation please CONTACT KCLC.