Kaye,
Except one thing ... my husband will likely not qualify, as
would most people (approximately 60 - 70%) of those that
currently qualify for ODSP. Because I work in the legal
system I am basing this on my analysis of what the word
"severe" means and my experience in obtaining CPP-D
benefits for people, including those that paid into it ...
AISH does not take age, discrimination, lack of accessibility,
lack of education or anything else but *medical*. This is
the problem. Because whether somebody is able to work or
not has much *more* to do
with everything else in addition
to the person's medical condition. Even CPP takes some of
that into account under the Vilianni decision, but AISH will
only permit medical and extensive testing. They do this in
the UK, and less than 30% of those undergoing this type of
testing actually qualify as being disabled. That's probably why
Alberta can "afford" to be generous with the small group of
people that can get on it.
He does not qualify for the Disability Tax Credit either, or
any other definition including 'severe', but he isn't going to
be working any day soon. ODSP has made him essentially
*my* problem, though I have nothing to do with making
him
disabled or not able to work. If I leave him, he will still continue
to be my problem because ODSP will not issue him cheques
unless he sues me for half my income.
Even if miraculously he would be able to do this, we would
have to be able to get to Alberta, a place where I know nobody
who would take me in as a guest as I seek housing and a job.
That would be a fortune in coins I do not have ;-) As I said in
another post, just moving to Toronto alone when I spoke to my
real estate agent who knows our disability issues, the cost for
the move (including fixing my house up to sell, winding down
my practice -- it's going to cost ME to get rid of my
business
because that is the way ODSP has set it up, etc.) is over $50K.
Let us be realistic here. As of January 1, 2013, there will be
no more CSUMB and even if there is, the amount comes
nowhere near the amount one needs to actually move and get
there. Also, is there a job guarantee for me?
I would definitely have to live in Calgary or Edmonton because
I cannot drive. I don't know the attitudes of employers there,
but the ones here assume you have no skills and an intelligence
level somewhat just above a chimpanzee if you don't drive. That
is why I am stuck self employed. The work I do is not the issue,
but the self employment is.
I know employers pay better in Alberta
especially for valued talent, but I have had little luck in getting
assistance for that the minute they ask for my driver's license.
I realize when you said the spouse can earn up to $1950, but again,
WHY is the spouse capped at all? If the disabled spouse is disabled
and entitled to a pension benefit, it should have no bearing from the
working spouse's point of view. If my husband were able to get a
good CPP cheque (which is still below AISH even at its max), my
income would have NO bearing whatsoever, nor would my income
have any bearing if he got WCB benefits or Long Term Disability
or even Employment Insurance, etc. If he was over 65 and
got OAS,
my income would only affect his GIS amount, not his OAS.
I don't want my income capped. I want to be able to earn as much as
I can, as well if I am self employed to be a "real" business that hires,
fires, invests, etc. as opposed to a glorified "dog walking business"
which ODSP policy folks think we're only capable of. I also don't
want government to touch my RRSPs. I had to ditch all of mine so
my husband can get his benefit back when I didn't know when I will
be able to return to work. Those qualifying for the Disability Tax
Credit get the RDSP; working spouses get nothing. My husband, not
eligible for the DTC, like about 70% of ODSP clients ... will
also
get nothing and if he dies, I will get nothing not even their piddly
death benefit from CPP-D.
I agree Alberta has tried to make this a positive benefit and much,
much less onerous in many ways than Ontario's, but I am at the same
time realistic. I think it is only when the person with the disability
works, that the benefit be affected. AISH is closer to that model, but
not close enough to refrain from restraint of trade against the spouses,
and others. The thing that ODSP forgets about the Family Law Act is
that BOTH spouses are obligated to support one another, not just
the one way as it is now ... because all I am in my family is a
wallet.
And this is why I am not very well much of the time lately, because
normal people wouldn't put up with this treatment. Why should I?
As I said the married couples where both spouses are disabled do
the best under the AISH system.
Angela
You (Kaye) wrote ...
... In your case Angela, with an income exemption of $1950 for the