1. What are discretionary benefits?
Discretionary benefits are additional health-related or non-health related supports for
recipients of Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
and low income earners and seniors to help improve their quality of life, health,
wellness, safety and self-sufficiency. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case
basis and the City of Hamilton determines the benefits, the amounts and the
frequency they are provided.
Examples of health related discretionary benefits include:
 Dental care for adults
 Vision care for adults
 Prosthetic appliances (e.g. back braces, surgical stockings, artificial limbs,
inhalators, hearing aids)
 Funerals and burials
 Heating payments and payments for low-cost heating energy conservation
measure
Examples of non-health related benefits include:

Vocational training and retraining

Travel and transportation that is not for health-related purposes

Moving expenses

Any other special service, item or payment authorized by the Director
What is the change to discretionary benefits?
Changes to provincial funding
As part of the 2012 Ontario provincial budget the province announced there will be
changes to the Provincial funding formula for discretionary benefits to cap funding
for all benefits at $10 per OW/ODSP case load.
Prior to this change, the City of Hamilton’s operating budget was based on receiving
$3,350,845 cost sharing subsidy from the Province. From July 1 st to December 31st,
the City will only receive $1,534,118 – resulting in a $1,816,727 pressure. Beginning
in 2013, there is an estimated pressure of $3,756,517.
2. When will these changes take effect?
July 2012
3. Who will be impacted?
In 2011, approximately 60,000 Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support
Program participants have access to discretionary benefits in Hamilton.
4. What could this mean for marginalized citizens who depend on
these benefits?
If the City of Hamilton no longer provides these benefits, recipients would be forced
to seek these supports outside of the social assistance framework with another
service provider, which may have limits or be less responsive to the urgent need .
5. What Departments within the City currently provide these
services?
The following areas in the Community Services Department currently provide these
services:
 Employment and Income Support (e.g. in 2011, 30,842 bus tickets were
issued to recipients of OW to attend various OW appointments, urgent
isolated Doctor’s/Medical appointments, immediate employment activities,
access to community agencies/resources (food bank, housing, legal, CAS
etc) and/or meeting Family Support obligations (i.e. attendance at court).
Psychological assessments for 123 people to assist in case planning and
approximately 70 people attending vocational training (truck driving, personal
support worker, etc)
 Housing Services (e.g. 72 people were assisted with travel expenses for the
purpose of relocating individuals who stay in emergency shelters)
 Benefit Eligibility (e.g. In 2011 approximately 40,000 benefits were issued for
health and non-health related items such as hospital beds,
orthotic/orthopaedic footwear; cribs and layettes; eye glasses; dental;
denture; funerals, etc)
6. Is Hamilton unique in providing these discretionary services to its
citizens?
Other municipalities also provide discretionary services to their residents on a cost
shared basis with the province. Each municipality has had discretion as to the level
of nature of services that are provided.
In 2008, Council received a report [CM07021(a)] showing that the discretionary
costs provided by Hamilton cost less per case than comparator jurisdictions, while
offering a broader range of support.
What will the City do to ensure that OW, ODSP and low earning
citizens are not impacted by this change?
In May, Council will consider options to continue providing discretionary benefits to
marginalized citizens for the remainder of 2012. Staff will then conduct an analysis of
the current discretionary benefits and work with community stakeholders and other
municipalities to present options for the ongoing funding of discretionary benefits in
future years.