Hamilton East MPP Andrea Horwath says the timing for mailing out disability support cheques puts people with disabilities and low incomes in deeper financial trouble.
In the statement marking to provincial legislature marking the International Day of Disabled Persons, Horwath urged the McGuinty government to make allowances for the fact that Ontario Disability Support Plan cheques arrive after the deadline for paying hydro bills has passed, prompting ODSP clients to be hit with unaffordable late penalties and security deposits “through no fault of their own.”
“People who rely on the Ontario Disability Support Plan have a tough time financially at the best of times,” Horwath said. “I suggest the McGuinty government turn up the heat on hydro utilities. Have them develop a policy that, when late payments are a result of ODSP cheques arriving after the set due date, those customers aren’t put further behind by late payment charges and security deposits.”
Horwath urged the McGuinty Liberals to work with local utilities to set up a systemic response addressing the fact that ODSP cheques aren’t mailed early enough to meet hydro bill payment deadlines.
“If the Premier and the Minister of Community Social Services can’t deliver a solution, then the McGuinty government is, in fact, creating more homelessness and hardship for people with disabilities who rely on them for help,” Horwath said.
ODSP recipients report being late paying the amount they owe for hydro because their government assistance cheques don’t arrive in time. As a result they get defined as high risk and must post exorbitant security deposits and pay late charges which, of course, they don’t have the money to pay, Horwath explained.
“It should not be difficult for the McGuinty government, through the Ontario Energy Board, to recognize and do something about this obvious problem. All it requires is better coordination and a government that cares,” Horwath said. “Let’s ensure that no disabled person in Ontario is penalized for a hydro payment that is late because of the government’s unsynchronized cheque issuing schedule.”