[THREAD]
I have seen a lot of people asking why people on ODSP or OW should be eligible for CERB. The argument seems to be "Their situation hasn't changed, so why do they need more money?"
I have seen a lot of people asking why people on ODSP or OW should be eligible for CERB. The argument seems to be "Their situation hasn't changed, so why do they need more money?"
Quick non-COVID related background: OW and ODSP are not indexed to inflation. So people using those programs have effectively been given a pay cut every year, for decades. Because even years that rates have been raised, it is never enough to get caught up on inflation.
Using the Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator, OW rates need to be raised by 44% (to $12444 a year) and ODSP rates need to be raised by 56% (to $17488 a year) in order to be the equivalent to what they were in 1993 <--- !!!
Okay moving onto the COVID-related parts about why life is even more unaffordable right now to those on OW and ODSP:
1. Many people on OW and ODSP also do paid work. They are allowed to earn $200 a month and keep all of it. After $200 a month, 50% of their earnings are clawed back. A lot of this supplemental income is now gone (as businesses close).
2. For people who have not lost this extra income, they may now be forced to spend money on taking taxis to and from work, as taking the TTC poses an increased risk to getting COVID-19 (particularly if you are immuno-compromised).
3. Some of this paid work requires internet access (ie: data entry or transcription work), no longer available for free in places like libraries. People now have to choose between adding the extra cost of internet access to their monthly expenses, or giving up the extra income.
4. The homeschooling program that the TDSB is offering also requires having the internet at home, which again is an additional expense for families who might have otherwise relied on free access at school or in libraries.
5. Home schooling supplies like pens and paper and notebooks and pencil crayons etc etc are also an added expense that can add up quickly.
6. School closings are also affecting families who rely on school lunch programs to supplement their children’s diet, and now have kids who need all of their food to come from home.
7. Similarly, kids often eat dinner or snacks at various friends houses, also not an option right now.
8. Having more people in the house 24/7 can also mean increased power bills.
9. Folks on OW or ODSP often travel to many grocery stores in a week, in order to get deals that will let them stretch their small food budgets. This isn't something people can do anymore, to the point where you might be ticketed if you try.
10. We've all seen prices spiking on essential things. Yes you can report it, but that doesn't help you in the moment when you need to purchase them.
11. Masks and gloves are now an essential added expense.
12. Without added financial support to make up the increased cost of living, people have to turn to credit cards. This means added interest charges every month as well.
These are just some of the reasons that CERB must be extended to cover those on OW and ODSP. I'm sure there are many more examples (feel free to share them, and I will add them to the post!)
NOTE: I am not trying to speak for anyone, I am trying to save people the labour of having to explain this over and over. I also have the benefit of a large audience. I am very open to being corrected on any of this!
p.s. Yes they are presently letting people on OW or ODSP apply for an additional $100 or something, on top of their benefits. This does not even come close to making up for all of the additional expenses listed above.
p.p.s. Since Mike Harris is trending right now, let's all remember that in 1995, his government cut OW and ODSP rates by over 20%, and no subsequent government has corrected that actual disaster. So this is where we are.
