Social assistance restrictions in Canada

[wheelchairdemon]

Hi,

I was just reading the Canadian Constitution Act of 1982 and I must say, I was shocked when I read that people who rely on publicly provided social assistance can be restricted from moving to another province. (source:http://www.canlii.org/en/ca/const/const1982.html). Has anyone else heard of this?

Limitation

(3) The rights specified in subsection (2) are subject to

    (a) any laws or practices of general application in force in a province other than those that discriminate among persons primarily on the basis of province of present or previous residence; and
    (b) any laws providing for reasonable residency requirements as a qualification for the receipt of publicly provided social services.

I have looked into moving to another province and have been told that, because my sole source of income is the provincial disability pension, I can't. On CPP disability, apparently it is different. 

What experiences have others had?

Louise

[abrowne]

Louise,

It is true that if you move to another province, and you want to

go on their version of disability there, you have to go off ODSP,

and then apply for their version of disability.

 

The problem is most other provinces are stricter in their definitions

of disability and pay less than ODSP.  Alberta's is not too bad,

but there are issues with that program as well.

Angela

---

From: wheelchairdemon <wheelch...@gmail.com>
To: ODSP Fireside <odspfi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Sat, March 5, 2011 12:54:47 PM
Subject: [odspfireside: 35460 ] Social assistance restrictions in Canada

[wheelchairdemon]

I was looking up Alberta because that's where my Aunt and her family lives.

I would qualify for AISH as far as my disability goes, but I would not
qualify until I can become an official resident and live there for 6
months without their financial support.

I haven't looked at the rules for welfare yet.

Louise

[StarTears]

  Alberta's is not too bad, but there are issues with that program as well.

Angela

from folks i know in alberta their disability program is this country's most difficult to get onto. they do not recognize MANY mental aliments as a qualification for disability or a hinderance to daily functioning in any such way [schizophrenia, in its highest forms that prevent functioning is NOT a disability in alberta- that is just ridiculous] brain injuries are iffy on acceptance as well.

one of my close friends who has cerebal palsay in alberta cannot receive disability because she can still put her own shoes on and tie the laces.  it doesn't matter that it takes her over an hour to do this and in a very very awkward position but she can do it because she is strong willed to not let her disability stop her from doing it nor is she not proud enough to say that she can do it.  the government says then she is not disabled enough to qualify for disability.  ergo the saying is common that "if you can put on shoes get a job" in alberta.  my friend is 27.  

i think that sums up just about how bad it is in alberta right there.  its a rich province, always has been, and people work themselves to the death rather than be on assistance of any kind.

star

[Lorene]

Saskatchewan (SK) is tough to get on disability too from what my
friend and her hubby whom both lived in Ontario and moved to SK 8
years ago. Both were on ODSP in Ontario. The hubby had FM and a bad
back. My friend has arthritis on her spine. They moved to SK because
the climate is dryer and easier on arthritis for both of them. I am
just going by what my friend told me this. They couldn't get on some
type of disability. They went on SK welfare. The hubby had to go thru
medical tests, etc. They would not use the Ontario medical records to
show them his health problems.They were turned down and not eligible
to get on SK disability. The hubby even tried to get on CPP-D in
Ontario while on ODSP. He was turned down many years ago. He applied
again in Saskatchewan. He was turned down again. They hired a lawyer
to fight CPP-D. Somehow the lawyer managed to get the hubby on CPP-D
with back pay up to 12 months easily. They said it was more money to
live on CPP-D than it is to live on SK welfare. While living on SK
welfare, the hubby's stepfather passed away in Kitchener. SK welfare
has this policy for those who need to go to the funeral of your
immediate family and they pay for transportation costs. The hubby
couldn't go because his stepfather was not an immediate family. He
wanted to come to the funeral to be with his mom.

Lorene

[Chris Carey]

Louise, New out-of-province residents are also subject to a mandatory wait-period for provincial healthcare coverage, which is also true of Ontario. Chris --- On Sat, 3/5/11, wheelchairdemon <wheelch...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Brenda lee]

I moved from BC and to Ontario in 2005.I was on disability in BC and
then when I moved to Ontario I applied for ODSP, of course was
approved.What you have to do is apply for disability in the province
that you are moving to and you of course will have to get off of ODSP
when you move to that other province.When I moved to Ontario my
hubsand and I applied for Ontario Works until we were approved for
ODSP.

On Mar 6, 3:44 pm, Chris Carey <chrisca...@rocketmail.com> wrote:
> Louise,
> New out-of-province residents are also subject to a mandatory wait-period for provincial healthcare coverage, which is also true of Ontario.
> Chris
>

> --- On Sat, 3/5/11, wheelchairdemon <wheelchairde...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Lorene]

You are fortunate to have that done easily. My friend and her hubby
were on ODSP and moved to SK in 2002 weren't so lucky when they tried
to apply for SK disability. They bought their Ontario health records
with them. It didn't do any good.

Lorene