Archive for the ‘Social Security Delivery System’ Category
‘Pay-for-performance’ poverty plan
Sunday, March 25th, 2012
March 11, 2012
“Governments can’t simply fund every demanded service without regard for the taxpayers’ ability to pay,” Finley said… “Governments can, however, facilitate and empower others to deal with social challenges.”… the government is considering “pay-for-performance agreements” in which federal dollars are only paid when clearly identified targets are met. Such an approach would have the private sector more involved in addressing social challenges and delivering innovative solutions…
Tags: budget, poverty, standard of living, tax
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Price of moving from welfare to work? $400
Saturday, December 17th, 2011
Dec 14 2011
… his college dreams of training to become a firefighter were dashed when Seneca insisted he make a $400 tuition down payment by Friday or forfeit his place in class. St Clair’s monthly welfare cheque is just $565 and he had already spent more than $300 of that on December rent for the subsidized apartment he shares with his mother… The welfare office wouldn’t help because tuition is covered by OSAP. But his OSAP loan won’t be available until he starts classes on Jan. 9… “I really want to get off welfare, but I don’t think I can do that unless I go back to school,” he said.
Tags: budget, ideology, participation, poverty, rights
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Child poverty easing in Ontario, report says
Tuesday, December 6th, 2011
Dec 04 2011
A 2009 decision to boost the Ontario Child Benefit to cushion struggling families during the recession helped pull 19,000 children out of poverty, advocates say in a new report on the province’s anti-poverty efforts. But on the third anniversary of Ontario’s Dec. 4, 2008 pledge to cut child poverty by 25 per cent by 2013, more action is needed… “Targeted action is urgently needed, including expanding poverty reduction targets to include adults — especially singles — and addressing equity for groups more at risk of poverty”…
Tags: budget, poverty, standard of living
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Minor adjustment a major problem for poor
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011
Nov 29 2011
In 2010, the Ontario government announced a change to the way it pays tax credits to the province’s poorest citizens. Instead of getting one lump-sum payment at the end of the year, they would get smaller amounts every three months. The objective was to produce a steadier income flow… But it did affect them in a way most didn’t realize…
Tags: budget, poverty, standard of living, tax
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Disability tax credit plan a too well-kept secret
Friday, October 28th, 2011
Oct. 26, 2011
It’s hard to criticize Ottawa, along with the major banks, when it comes to the generosity and promotion of the Registered Disability-Savings Plan… Yet, in the three years since the program was announced, just 48,000 accounts have been opened, serving only a fraction of those eligible. So last week the Conservative government, to its credit again because it was the Tories that started this ball rolling, announced a review of the plan. The public has until Dec. 16 to comment… only 5% cent of Canadians with disabilities hold RDSP accounts. Another 44% of those with disabilities had never heard about the plan.
Tags: disabilities, pensions, rights, standard of living, tax
Posted in Social Security Delivery System | 2 Comments »
Welfare still isn’t enough to live on
Monday, August 15th, 2011
August 15, 2011
“if governments had pegged rates to inflation, the welfare rate today would be $932 a month.” For all of Premier Dalton McGuinty’s talk when he was campaigning in two elections about raising the rates and getting rid of poverty in this province, his government has only managed to raise the rates by 3% or 4% over the years. As I said the rate is now at $592 and less then it was in 1993… In November 2010, McGuinty appointed a commission to do an extensive review of social assistance in this province… But… the final report will not be released until July 2012, long after the provincial election.
Tags: ideology, poverty, standard of living
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Debit cards to replace welfare cheques
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
Aug 08 2011
Toronto will soon become the first major Canadian city to permanently replace the iconic welfare cheque with a debit card, a move that will produce savings for both Ontario Works recipients and a government that is itself scrounging for cash. About 65,000 of Toronto’s recipients receive their payments via direct bank deposit. Many of the 35,000 who receive cheques do not have bank accounts, and many cash the cheques at payday lending outlets that charge high fees they can scarcely afford.
Tags: budget, poverty
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800-rule welfare system assailed
Thursday, June 30th, 2011
June 29, 2011
Frances Lankin, recently appointed commissioner of the province’s new Social Assistance Review Commission, told the general meeting of the United Way for Windsor and Essex County Tuesday that the system may be too complicated and irrational. “We’ve been asked to simplify the rules,” said the former NDP provincial cabinet minister. “There are now 800 rules. How does anyone navigate through? It’s not humanly possible for a caseworker to know all the (eligibility) rules without bogging down in administration …. There’s no time left to help families.”
Tags: featured, ideology, poverty, standard of living
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Poverty report shows single men faring less well than single moms
Monday, June 20th, 2011
June 15, 2011
A new national study by Statistics Canada shows poverty is still much higher among single mothers than among the general public. But with one in five single moms living in poverty, they have seen a steady improvement for the last 15 years — even during the recession. The same study… found that almost a third of single men are living in poverty. Single men have long wrestled with a poverty problem, and 2009 was no different. The percentage living with low incomes was 30.1, up from 27.9 per cent in 2008.
Tags: poverty, standard of living, women, youth
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T.O., Manitoba push debit cards for welfare recipients
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
May 30, 2011
In Toronto, thousands of welfare recipients without bank accounts could get debit cards if the city is successful in finding a card provider. Officials are hoping the city council will approve a plan to solicit bids from banks and card issuers as early as July. Proponents say the cards are cheaper than issuing paper cheques and help recipients avoid excessive fees charged at payday advance lenders. Critics say the cards give government a way to track how welfare dollars are spent and single out beneficiaries to store clerks.
Tags: budget, ideology, poverty
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