THUNDER BAY DISTRICT SOCIAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BOARD

DATE PREPARED

November 8, 1999

REPORT NO.

1999-15

MEETING DATE

November 24, 1999

SUBJECT

Discretionary Benefits and Funeral Costs

 

REPORT SUMMARY

 

This report is being prepared in response to a resolution that was circulated by the Municipality of Windsor, requesting increased subsidy levels for the payment of discretionary benefits and funeral costs.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Province, through the enactment of Ontario Works (OW), eliminated a number of benefits that were previously paid to non-recipients of social assistance. These benefits are no longer available to assist with extraordinary needs in excess of one’s income through provincial subsidy. Historically, individuals qualified for special or supplementary assistance based on a needs-testing formula.

 

COMMENTS

 

Ontario Works provides for the issuance of Discretionary Benefits that are now limited to recipients of social assistance only.  The regulations prescribe the specific benefits that may be provided.  Provision of special services or items not identified in the regulation or directive must be authorized by the Director ( i.e. Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) representative).

 

Supplementary/Special Assistance

 

Persons previously eligible for, or in receipt of either Special Assistance or Supplementary Aid who are not recipients under OW or Ontario Disability Support Plan (ODSP no longer have eligibility; for example, elderly persons in receipt of Old Age Security (OAS) or Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits are no longer eligible.  Non-social assistance recipients who were in receipt of an item of special assistance prior to May 1, 1998 continued to receive the specific item on a transitional basis.

 

Funeral Costs

 

Under OW, the cost of a funeral and burial is a discretionary benefit.  Funeral costs are cost-shared at 80% provincially, to a maximum of $2,250.00 for social assistance recipients only.  Costs exceeding this amount are cost-shared at 50/50. The Province will not cost-share a funeral or burial for non-recipients of social assistance or indigent burials. This change, particularly with respect to indigent burials, will cost municipalities additional funds.  Municipalities are required to cover the cost of an indigent burial under the Public Hospitals Act and Anatomy Act.

 

Extended Health

 

Under OW (formerly General Welfare Assistance), applicants or recipients could qualify for extended health coverage only.  This included a cheque of a minimal amount and a monthly drug card.  Eligibility for extended health benefits would only occur where income exceeded budgetary requirements but did not exceed budgetary requirements, plus actual drug costs.

 

Effective April 1998, Extended Health benefits are no longer available to new applicants.  Those in receipt of extended health benefits only with ongoing verified drug costs were allowed a transition period during which time they would be referred to apply to the Tillium Drug Program.

 

Assistive Devices

 

For members of the benefit unit who apply for coverage under the Ministry of Health Assistive Devices Program (ADP), payment will be provided to cover the ADP assessment fee.  The Ministry of Health (MOH) now provides the consumer with co-payment up to the maximum allowable amount.  Costs in excess of the allowable amount are the responsibility of the applicant or recipient and cannot be covered through the issuance of mandatory or discretionary benefits.  The MOH pays 75% of the maximum allowable cost, MCSS pays 25% of maximum cost, and the Municipality pays 20% of the MCSS 25% share.  Funding levels through this shift in the funding formula have reduced the levels of income support available to individuals in receipt of social assistance.  Assistive devices are generally provided to individuals who are disabled or incapacitated. This benefit is also available to low-income individuals who are not in receipt of social assistance.

 

Mandatory Benefits

 

The following benefits are mandatory and must be paid to clients who have eligibility for OW or ODSP:

 

·        the cost of  prescribed drugs (within the Ontario drug benefit formula)

·        basic dental and vision services for dependent children only, to a maximum amount

·        cost of diabetic supplies

·        cost of surgical supplies

·        cost of transportation for medical treatment

·        community start-up benefit

·        guide dog benefit

·        employment  start up

·        up front child care costs

·        winter clothing allowance

·        back to school allowance

·        Assistive Devices Program

·        special diets

 

The pregnancy allowance, previously a mandatory benefit, has been discontinued. However, Ministry officials have indicated that under the current guidelines where a special diet is approved by a health professional certifying the requirements of a special diet, payment can be authorized to a client at the 80/20 formula.

 

Summary

 

The Province, through the above-noted regulations, has defined discretionary benefits for clients in receipt of Social Assistance.  This will provide greater consistency for delivery agents across Ontario.  Eligibility has been eliminated for low-income families or people living on fixed incomes who are in receipt of OAS, WSIB, or CPP benefits. The payment to families living on low incomes who qualified through a needs test for drug coverage has been eliminated. Subsidy levels through ADP have been reduced.

 

Some municipalities in Ontario are providing top-up benefits at 100%.  During the recent Northern Ontario Service Delivery Agents (NOSDA) conference, the Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury Boards indicated that costs were covered at 100% municipal.  In reviewing specific directives, the City of Sudbury is providing benefits to recipients of ODSP and OW only.  The City of Sault Ste. Marie has budgeted $160,000.00 at 100% municipal and the City of Windsor at $25,000.00.

 

Verbal discussions with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing have indicated that, if the Board elects to top-up or provide additional benefits over and above the legislated requirements, these funds would not be eligible for reimbursement through the Community Reinvestment Fund.

 

To assess the impact of these changes to individuals in receipt of WSIB, CPP, OAS and other income support would require a manual case-by-case analysis.  Community agencies and other emergency service providers have indicated that they are experiencing a greater demand for services resulting from the changes that have been initiated (i.e. service clubs).  A number of community agencies are conducting an analysis on the impact of these changes.  Once the data has been prepared, the Board may be in a better position to petition MCSS with respect to discretionary benefits.

 

Although some benefits have decreased, other mandatory benefits have provided expanded eligibility such as the Community Start-Up Benefit.  Initiatives that will unfold through the National Child Benefit program could assist with some of the extenuating circumstances, particularly in the City of Thunder Bay where funds have been dedicated to assist with hardship cases. 

 

 

CONCLUSION

 

It is concluded that the Board should request the Province of Ontario to increase subsidy levels for funerals, particularly indigent burials, to the former subsidy levels.  Municipalities, through a purchase-of-service agreement, could elect to provide discretionary benefits at 100% provincial funding outside of the Board budget.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

THAT with respect to Report No. 1999-15, the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board petition the Minister of Community and Social Services, the Honourable John Baird, to reinstate cost sharing for the burial of indigent individuals to an 80/20 funding formula as municipalities are responsible for the burial of needy persons or unclaimed bodies as legislated in the Public Hospitals Act and Anatomy Act.