“Veterans who are injured in service to their country should not be living in poverty, scrapping by on meagre OW and ODSP benefits that keep people below the poverty line. (Ontario Premier Doug) Ford must immediately implement my motion and stop the clawbacks on federal disability awards.” – St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens
News from the Constituency Office of St. Catharines MPP Jennie Stevens
Posted March 3rd, 2022 on Niagara At Large
St. Catharines NDP MPP Jennie Stevens
QUEEN’S PARK – MPP Jennie Stevens’ (St. Catharines) motion to end the automatic deduction of federal disability award payments from Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits received by injured veterans was passed by the legislature on Tuesday.
“Injured veterans deserve government supports they can count on. They deserve to have decent life here in Ontario after their service,” said Stevens.
“We have a responsibility to show gratitude and take care of those who served our country, and ending the clawbacks on federal disability awards for injured veterans is one step closer to making sure our veterans are taken care of after their service.”
The federal critical injury benefit is a one-time award provided by the federal government to veterans to compensate for severe service-related injuries or illnesses.
When a veteran receives provincial support payments, such as Ontario Works or ODSP, the critical injury benefit can be treated as income and can significantly reduce the amount that a veteran is eligible to receive. While OW and ODSP exempt certain awards, veterans have experienced clawbacks and reductions due to their federal critical injury benefit.
“Veterans who are injured in service to their country should not be living in poverty, scrapping by on meagre OW and ODSP benefits that keep people below the poverty line,” said Stevens.
“Ford must immediately implement my motion and stop the clawbacks on federal disability awards, and he must also raise the shamefully low social assistance rates to help low income veterans and others afford the basics, like rent and groceries.
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