Buying a house on ODSP

[gobbla]

Hello.

I am currently about to get married to somone. I am on ODSP she is
not. She also isnt Canadian.

We want to buy a house. My questions are. What does ODSP do with this?
Will they expect her to get a job? How much money would i receive on a
monthly basis?

are there any bad ways to go about this? I want to go the right way
and the best way to avoid any problems in the future. The more
information the better.

thank you so for any information that can be provided.

[bjr]

The first thing you need to concern yourself with is ensuring that
your intended bride has legal immigrant status.
There have been some heart wrenching media reports in recent years
about deportations, one that comes to mind was a mother in Toronto who
was deported despite the fact that her child who needed health care
was born in Canada.
The child wasn't deported.
It is a myth that marriage to a Canadian automatically makes one a
Canadian citizen. Not True.

My guess is, as far as odsp is concerned, that you'll end up in a
perpetual cycle of suspension due to missing information, and constant
trips into their office to sign documents to release information from
other sources...just go to the other sources yourself...start with
immigration canada...http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/index.asp
When searching the web make sure gc.ca in the address, that's
government of Canada...there's lots of other stuff that isn't, and
some of it is just plain wrong.

Once your wife-to-be does have legal immigrant status she will be
added to your benefit unit as an adult dependent and be required to
sign an OW participation agreement saying she agrees to comply with
conditions that will be determined at a later appointment according to
whatever programs are available in the community, or work and report
her earnings or volunteer and report her hours. If she doesn't then
you get suspended.

As for buying a house, the only restrictions are the real estate
market. You can get a letter from your caseworker or team saying you
are a "permanent" odsp recipient and get so much a year, take it to a
bank or mortgage company and start house hunting...keep in mind you
have to find a place that's in live-in condition, otherwise you won't
be able to get home owners insurance and the mortgage company won't
authorize the purchase. Best of Luck.

[jbkeh]

When you marry, your spouse becomes part of your Benefit Unit. That
means her assets are included when they check whether you are
sufficiently poor to be on ODSP. A house ("principal residence") is an
"EXEMPT" (not considered) asset and is an excellent way to 'shelter'
your actual worth. (Not to mention that mortgage payments/property
taxes are considered "shelter costs" and can be used to maximize your
Shelter Allowance.)

The Basic Needs and Shelter Allowance are slightly higher for a couple
than a single.

Her citizenship is immaterial - the question is whether she is a
"resident" of Ontario.

ODSP will require that she participate in the OW job search program
and deduct 50% of her earnings (but add $100 if she has earnings to
report).

The main thing you want to avoid is being disqualified because of her
assets - you want to acquire the house in the same month (or earlier)
that you marry if this is necessary to prevent disqualification due to
excess assets.

Almost all the information you could ever need is in the Directives:

http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/social/odsp-is-directives/ODSP_incomesupport.htm

Read 2.3 (Definition of "Spouse"); 2.5 (Definition of "Resident"); 2.8
(OW Participation); 4.1 & 4.2 (Asset Limits, Exemptions and Real
Property); 5.1 & 5.3 (Income and Earnings); 6.1 & 6.2 (Basic Needs and
Shelter Allowance Calculation)

That should get you started, but you should take the time to read ALL
the directives when you have the time. (Not to mention the
endurance.)


gobbla wrote:
> My questions are.

[bjr]

The fact that " ODSP will require that she participate in the OW job
search program"...means she must have legal status to work in Ontario.
This is where the different Acts of legislation merge. They will
verify her social insurance number, which is mandatory in order to
work legally anywhere in Canada whether you are a resident or not. If
she isn't a legal immigrant she won't be allowed to work. If she can't
work, she's not eligible for OW. If she's not eligible for OW then her
status as a beneficiary of an odsp recipient comes into question. It's
a nuisance, a hassle, a never ending stream of red tape and paperwork
and a frustrating situation for all involved. Save yourself and the
odsp staff the bother and ensure legal immigrant status before
declaring her as a beneficiary. That entails a bit more paperwork then
just signing a marriage certificate. What you propose is much more
complicated then back in the olden days when you could simply apply
for a war bride and start a family.

[Craig Palmer]

Does any 1 know , if one appeals a decision regarding an "overpayment", the first step being an Internal Review, does ODSP commence in deducting the amount prior to the Internal Review or for that matter, a Tribunal Hearing to decide (if it goes that far)  -  or does ODSP have to wait until all enqiries and hearings are exausted before deductions are initiated?

 

[gobbla]

Thanks for all the information I really appreciate it.
This information will help extremly.

any idea how long it takes to get accepted to be a legal immigrant?
Also she is disabled she just isnt on ODSP. Will this effect the out
come?

[gobbla]

I see the immigration website. it says that i can sponser my family
(being her after we are married) BUT she cant require any help from
the government. How is that even possible then? I am on odsp and
obveusly cant support her without help from the government.

I was honestly thinking she would just be able to move in after the
wedding LOL

[Slim Pickens]

Craig, ODSP will commence with the deductions and it's up to you to
prove they shouldn't during the Internal Review. The Internal Review
is within your local office and must be done within the time frame.
They have to send you a letter stating the date. If unhappy with the
results only then can you go to the Tribunal (notice the war-like
connotation) and appeal the IR's decision. Have all your paperwork
handy and at the IR ask to see the documentation they used to make
their decision. Take a witness who can take notes, or better yet a
recorder. Let the worker know you will be recording the interview and
will require a comprehensive report regarding their decision for your
files in case you need a lawyer. You won't be popular by doing this
but think of it this way, would you let someone help himself to your
wallet?

[Frank]

Because, in the past, immigrants were getting on welfare and sponsoring their families who also eventually got on welfare. Despite the fact they promised the government to support their relatives100%.

It was a dirty game played by immigrants and their families to get into Canada at our expense. That is why they changed the system, I hope, especially when they found out our system was supporting the families odf despots in other lands.

And if anyone read the sun a few weeks ago, it was found out that many Muslim men with BIG families, more than one wife with kids, are supported by welfare. Much the same in US when regarding the Mormon situation in Utah.

Take care,
Frank.
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[bjr]

Twice in the past I was given notice of erroneous overpayment
deductions. I appealed the decision and asked that the deductions not
be made until a final ruling on the matter , or be reduced to only 5%
of my basic needs, ... the first time they acknowledged the error and
dropped the issue, the second time they took the 5% off for a few
months, then reversed their decision and reimbursed me.

[mking101]

As soon as ODSP thinks that there is an overpayment, they start taking
off the money (they assume that they are correct).I have pointed out
to the MPP Meilleur and the Premier that this is unethical, to assume
that they are correct and start taking the money before the matter is
resolved. My local office - then 10 Rideau - informed me that 'if you
win your appeal we will make an adjustment'. I told her in no
uncertain terms that this was not acceptable as while the money was
being skimmed off that recipient was having to do with even less per
month.

Get a SBT appeal form from the Tribunal prior to any action and keep
it handy. When you file for the Internal Review, keep a close watch on
the dates - for an Internal Review ODSP has to reply within 10 days.
While you are waiting for the 10 days to pass, fill out the SBT appeal
form. Fill out the application for Interim Order - that is page 3 and
4 of the SBT Appeal form. As soon as you hit day 10, fax the appeal
form to the SBT. In the cover letter mention that you did not hear
within the 10 days required. The Tribunal will issue an order (if they
deem your request is warranted) barring ODSP from deducting any money
until the case is resolved.

Lastly, you can also ask the SBT at the hearing that if you do not
win, that deductions are limited (in my case $20 per month).

mk