In
case of a potential postal disruption at Canada Post, the Ministry of Community
and Social Services has advised recipients of Ontario Works, Ontario Disability
Support Program (ODSP) or Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities
(ACSD), that there are contingency plans in place to minimize any disruption in
receiving payments and benefits by mail.
In the case of a labour disruption at
Canada Post, the Government of Canada and Canada Post have put in place measures to deliver socio-economic
cheques, including disability benefits and benefits for veterans. Canadians who
rely on these payments will continue to have access to the money they need.
Canada Post has agreed to deliver cheques on the 20th of the month, which may be
earlier than usual in some cases.
The Ministry of Community and Social Services encourages switching
to either direct bank deposit or reloadable payment card (ODSP only) to avoid possible delays.
Of the approximately 465,000 individuals on ODSP in Ontario, 14 percent still
receive paper cheques. The remaining 86 percent use the preferred option of
direct bank deposit and should not experience any disruptions.
The Ministry of Community and Social
Services introduced the reloadable payment card for ODSP clients in May to make it
safer and easier for people to receive and use their social assistance benefits.
The card, provided by the Royal Bank of Canada, works in the same way as a debit
card but does not require a bank account. Each month that a client is eligible
for ODSP benefits, funds are loaded onto the card and clients can then use their
card to make ATM cash withdrawals, as well as in-store or online purchases or
payments.
To ensure client privacy and safety, the cards are not
monitored and they do not identify the cardholder as a social assistance client
or a recipient of government services. For individuals without bank accounts,
reloadable payment cards offer many benefits, including:
- Not having to use expensive cheque-cashing services and
avoiding the risk of carrying large amounts of cash
- Four no-fee ATM withdrawals per month and unlimited in-store
or online payments and purchases
- Enhanced security with PIN and chip technology
Clients can reach their local
office for more information on contingency arrangements in case of postal
disruption.