the beginning of frustration

it's april 2004 and i'm visiting the o.d.s.p (ont. disability) office and meeting my advocate for the first time, and before we even discuss my case she informs me i made it under the wire by $4 dollars to qualify for there services. i was recieving a little over $700 dollars on my federal disability and told i'm almost not qualifing for financial and medical help from the ontario government.

my rep tosses a file on the table and tells me to apply for everything and see what i receive, what a cruel joke as the file was as thick as the book "war and peace" it was upsetting to find out that your advocate really wasn't. it's now 6 years later and i'm stilling learning about things i qualify for, thankfully if you talk with others on o.d.s.p you learn more than you'll ever learn from those who are suppose to speak on your behalf.

it seems to me the job of these social workers are not there for us, their main job function is to avoid providing assistance to the weak. the government is running a large debt so the belt titaning is only going to get worse, for those of us between 21 and 65 we really need to organize politically since children and seniors are well represented. all you have to do is look in the quarterly service books and there is activities for seniors and children however if your lucky you will find a couple of activities for those of us in between.

one other thing you may not be aware of is when the feds give you a cost of living increase in january the ontario gov. takes away the equal amount which sucks but thats not the worst of it, the region applies 30%to your fed pension to arrive at your rent. this for those having trouble understanding this your monthly monies stay the same and your rent continues to go up. what i don't get is waterloo region is the only region using fed pension alone were as others use your total income, i do understand as your total dollars never go up neither would your rent.

so long for now, please leave your comments i look forword to hearing from all of you at some point.