HALDIMAND—Community Living Haldimand (CLH) CEO Bob Butella is excited about the Canada Disability Benefit, a new federal program that launched in June and is designed to support working age Canadians who are living with a disability by providing an additional $200 a month in support.
“According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Haldimand County is $1,487 per month. A person with a disability who relies solely on the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) as their source of income, receives $1,408 a month (up 2.8% from 2024) for shelter and basic needs. If someone lives alone, this $200 a month may mean the difference between eating or not,” said Butella.
Eligible applicants must be residents of Canada, 18 to 64 years old, and already approved to receive the Disability Tax Credit.
Payments are income-tested, and will be reduced for applicants already earning above $40,000 a year.
The federal government sees the new benefit as a cornerstone of their disability inclusion action plan, with the benefit now enshrined as part of Canada’s social safety net with a six-year, $6.1 billion initial cost, and an ongoing $1.4 billion a year. They estimate the benefit will increase the financial security of over 600,000 low-income people living with a disability.
CLH is ready to help the more than 60 people currently utilizing their services, “We can provide links to Service Canada and information on our website for others in the community who may be eligible,” said Butella.
He sees the benefit as an additional boost in a system that also includes ODSP, and support from programs like CLH’s Leap Employment Services, which supports people with barriers to find and maintain a job.
“The Poverty Line in Ontario is $2,302/month. The addition of the CDB will not lift people who rely solely on ODSP, who would now have an income of just over $1,600, out of poverty,” said Butella. “All of these together can make the possibility of living above the poverty line a reality.”
While first payments through the program were issued in July, those who might benefit are welcome to visit canadadisabilitybenefit.ca to find out more information and submit their application.
Payments are sent monthly; however, Butella noted that those applying can expect a 28-day processing timeframe after submitting their application forms. He advised those looking for information about their applications to call Service Canada’s designated CDB call center to check on their status at 1-833-486-3007.
Butella touched on how the benefit fits alongside existing supports and services for people with disabilities, saying, “Thankfully, Ontario has committed to annual increases to ODSP and has agreed to not claw back ODSP amounts for someone who receives the CDB.”
Beyond financial aid, CLH continues to advocate for the over 52,000 adults who have been deemed eligible for funded services but sit on a wait list because “provincial funding hasn’t kept up with demand,” said Butella.
“Community Living Haldimand is working collectively across the province asking the government to address the waiting list.”
In addition to the employment support services CLH provides to working age adults, Butella shared that the organization is currently working with the Grand Erie District School Board and Haldimand War Memorial Hospital in Dunnville to launch Project Search, a program Butella described as designed for “students with disabilities in their final year of school to gain work skills that will make them employable when they leave school.”
He concluded, “It is a really good start to help lift people out of poverty. Apply as soon as possible. Use your influence as a constituent and talk to your MP and MPP to ensure that the program continues to improve.”
