[homeles_ot-l] ODSP mileage for medical transportation updated for first time in more than 16 years

Wed Feb 1 18:22:15 EST 2017

A couple of important additions to this notice.
Anybody who has already claimed mileage for medical transportation is eligible for a retroactive payment of the difference between $0.18 and $0.40 per kilometre for trips made since October 1, 2016. Ask your worker how to get the back payment. It's well worth applying for since a return trip to Toronto is now $361.60 instead of $162.72, a difference of $198.88 per trip. Ottawa - Montreal will be $158.40 from $71.28, an increase of $87.12 per trip.
The change also applies to mileage for ODSP clients who are self employed and have business expenses for transportation. This is not retroactive though before January 9th.
The Ministry announcement is at: http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/mileageRates.aspx. 
Linda. “I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind.” Neil Gaiman
      From: Linda O'Neil <loneil at cmhaottawa.ca>

ODSP mileage for medical transportation updated for first time in more than 16 years The Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) has more than doubled mileage rates for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipients travelling for authorized medical treatments. Those driving to appointments will be compensated 40 cents and 41 cents in northern regions per kilometre for mileage, the first adjustment since 2000. ODSP recipients were previously only able to claim 18 cents and 18.5 cents in northern regions per kilometre. The Jan. 10 announcement follows an appeal jointly launched by the Income Security Advocacy Centre and Aboriginal Legal Services to challenge the mileage rate provided for ODSP recipients who must travel by car to medical appointments. An increase was previously denied at the Social Benefits Tribunal in January 2016. The Ontario Divisional Court granted the appeal in October 2016, agreeing that the rate of 18 cents was unreasonable and not justifiable as part of the government’s mandate to effectively serve persons with disabilities as well as Ontario taxpayers. It found that the cost incurred paying a higher mileage rate would be considerably lower than the cost of alternative transportation such as taxi or agency driver. The MCSS policy change shows a commitment from government to provide adequate support for Mandatory Special Necessities, including medical transportation that reflects current costs of living. However, MCSS did not make changes to the referral process for mental health services, and it therefore remains only as prescribed by a physician, psychiatrist or psychologist. CMHA Ontario will continue to advocate for changes to this policy to broaden access to mental health and addictions providers in this category of medical treatment. http://ontario.cmha.ca/news/odsp-mileage-medical-transportation-updated-first-time-16-years/ Linda O’Neil

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