Sylvia Jones, who as MPP for Dufferin-Caledon is Progressive Conservative Critic for Community and Social Services, has won a commitment to inform staff at Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) offices throughout the province about the Registered Disability Savings Plan

RDSP) program.

In December 2008, the Minister of Community and Social Services announced that her Ministry would be adopting Ms. Jones’ private member’s Bill 94, which would prevent the clawback of ODSP payments for people who set up a RDSP.

“Since Bill 94 was introduced in June 2008, I have received hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls from families who supported the legislation and were eager to start investing in a RDSP,” said Ms. Jones. “Now the phone calls I am getting in my office are people wondering why regional ODSP offices are telling them that their ODSP payments will clawed back if they open a RDSP.”

During Monday’s Question Period, Ms. Jones asked the Minister to commit to educating staff at ODSP regional offices and families across the province that RDSP contributions will not be clawed back from ODSP payments. In her response, the Minister committed to making sure that regional offices were aware that ODSP payments will not be clawed back.

“The RDSP allows parents to save for the longterm financial security of their children,” she said. “Families need to know that their government’s regional offices have the most up-to-date information to support them and their family members with disabilities.”

The minister, Madeleine Meilleur, told Ms. Jones it was “an excellent question. I wanted to say that this government is very proud to support the RDSP as a way to help families with children and adults with disabilities, and to help people with disabilities plan for their future needs.

“No, we are not going to claw back the help that we are already providing to these people. It’s part of their income and it’s put there for a good reason. We’re very pleased to support this benefit, and encourage all people who have someone in their family with a disability to take advantage of the RDSP.”

“Minister, thank you for clearing up the confusion,” Ms. Jones responded, adding, “but the reality is my office has been fielding phone calls from concerned families because they are being told by ODSP regional offices that, in fact, they will be clawed back if they set up an RDSP.

“Will you commit today to notifying staff and families across the province of the RDSP program and that their ODSP payments will not be affected?”

“Yes, I will. I will make sure that all our offices know about it. But sometimes people are confused because there is a limit for people who are on OW or ODSP. On OW, they can receive gifts in the form of payments of up to $6,000 a year. So they may be confused about that. I’ll make sure that we send note to every office to clarify that. Thank you for asking the question.”