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Financial and Legal Resources

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The Transition to Adulthood: A parents story

Matt, a father, shares his experiences of being a primary caregiver for his daughter Leah, who has a developmental disability as well as complex care needs. Matt speaks about resources that he has used with some success, and the transition into adulthood for Leah and what it means for both father and daughter. This presentation was done for a LIGHTS event in partnership with Community Living Toronto on April 12th, 2017.

5 things You Should do if you are Supporting a Child with a Disability

A discussion of five important financial related actions you should take to maintain your child’s and your own financial well-being. Read more

Inspiring Possibilities Estate Planning Guide: A Tax, Benefits, Trusts, and Wills Toolkit for Ontarians with Disabilities

Developed by PooranLaw Professional Corporation, this comprehensive guide provides up-to-date information pertaining to wills, trusts, benefits and personal rights most frequently asked by people who have a disability, their relatives, caregivers, and professional advisors. (French and English versions available)
Download your copy: https://communitylivingontario.ca/resources/wills-estate-guide/

Partners For Planning (P4P)

P4P empowers people with disabilities and their families with FREE resources to create meaningful lives and secure futures, firmly rooted in the community. We help families envision, plan and implement strategies to ensure that your loved one is safe, fulfilled, respected and financially secure—from childhood into adulthood and for the rest of his or her life.http://www.partnersforplanning.ca

Special Needs Planning Group

Special Needs Planning Group assists families in establishing plans which will provide their family members with a disability with a decent quality of life for their entire lifetime while at the same time, preserving their entitlement to government support programs. http://www.specialneedsplanning.ca/

Resources to help with legal and financial issues

From time to time, self-advocates and family supports run into obstacles, gray areas, and bigger problems in the course of navigating the world. Families report struggling with issues such as filing taxes; setting up bank accounts; obtaining insurance; struggling to keep employment; or estate planning. Read more


Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)

Registered Disability Savings Plan

A registered disability savings plan (RDSP) is a savings plan that is intended to help parents and others save for the long term financial security of a person who is eligible for the disability tax credit. https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/registered-disability-savings-plan-rdsp.html


Henson Trust

Henson Trusts: Preparing for the Future

When planning for the well-being of our sons and daughters with disabilities, we are usually attempting to protect their entitlement to government support programs. The Henson Trust (also referred to as the Absolute Discretionary Trust) is used for that purpose. Read more

Consider a Henson Trust

Henson Trusts have been allowed ever since the mid-1980s, when Ontario’s Court of Appeal decided that a person with a disability receiving Family Benefits should not be cut off from benefits if they were getting money from a trust set up to help them, so long as the trust gave a complete control (or ‘absolute discretion’) to the trustees about when to make payments from the trust. https://pooranlaw.com/wholelifeplanning/questions/wills-trusts-estates/hensontrusts/


Property

Power of Attorney for Property

An individual may become unable to make decisions about his/her property and finances either through a serious illness or accident. All adults in Ontario are encouraged to make a continuing Power of Attorney for Property, appointing someone who can make certain financial decisions if required. Read more

Continuing Power of Attorney for Property

This resource explains what a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property is, reasons to make one, and what can happen if you do not. Topics include how to make a Continuing Power of Attorney for Property, when an attorney can make decisions, the type of decisions they can make, and where to get forms, legal information, and help.
http://www.cleo.on.ca/en/publications/continuing
Sourced from Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) http://www.cleo.on.ca/en

Understanding Capacity, Competency & Consent 1: Introduction (Podcast)

A Shared Learning Forum Series Workshop with Elaine Atchison, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario (Recorded October 26, 2007)

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Understanding Capacity, Competency & Consent: Property (Podcast)

A Shared Learning Forum Series Workshop with Elaine Atchison, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario (Recorded October 26, 2007)

Audio MP3

Personal Care

Understanding Capacity, Competency & Consent 2: Personal Care (podcast)

Shared Learning Forum Series Workshop with Elaine Atchison, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario (Recorded October 26, 2007)

Audio MP3

Power of Attorney for Personal Care

This resource explains what a Power of Attorney for Personal Care is, reasons to make one, and what can happen if you do not. Topics include how to make a Power of Attorney for Personal Care, when an attorney can make decisions, the types of decisions they can make, and where to get forms, legal information, and help. http://www.cleo.on.ca/en/publications/power
Sourced from Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) http://www.cleo.on.ca/en

Manual for Helping People with Intellectual Disabilities Choose an Attorney for Personal Care

This manual is useful in helping to understand the role of attorney for personal care and provides tips on choosing the best person available to take on this role.
Manual for Helping People with Intellectual Disabilities Choose an Attorney for Personal Care
Sourced with permission from www.aging-and-disability.org

Pictorial Power of Attorney Concerning Personal Care Booklet

A pictorial tool to help explain “Attorney for Personal Care” to individuals with intellectual disabilities so that they can make an informed decision. Adapted from “Manual for Helping People with Intellectual Disabilities Choose an Attorney for Personal Care”. Pictorial Power of Attorney Concerning Personal Care Booklet
Sourced with permission from www.aging-and-disability.org

The Public Guardian and Trustee: Investigations

Presenter: Denise Hannivan, Investigator OPGT

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The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (“OPGT”) delivers a unique and diverse range of services that safeguard the legal, personal and financial interests of certain private individuals and estates.

Recorded at the Shared Learning Forum April 26, 2019

An online tool designed to help you manage your Special Services at Home (SSAH), Passport, and Residential funding. MyDirectPlan.com


ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program)

Ontario Disability Support Program (Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services)

The Ontario Disability Support Program helps people with disabilities who are in financial need pay for living expenses, like food and housing.

The program provides eligible people with disabilities with:

  • Financial help
    This is called Income Support and it helps people with disabilities who are in financial need pay for living expenses, like food and housing.
  • Help finding a job
    This is called Employment Supports and it helps people with disabilities who can and want to work prepare for and find a job.

http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/social/odsp/

ODSP and Works Info Sheets

What is Employment Supports

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Employment Supports: A Panel Discussion (Recorded at DSO Info Fair Toronto Oct. 11, 2018)

ODSP is not a measure of last resort

A few weeks ago, I spoke with a frontline ODSP worker who described ODSP as a measure of last resort. In other words, ODSP is only for people facing financially desperate circumstances. Putting it simply, this is entirely false. Even middle-income families need to rely upon ODSP and have every right to do so. Read more

ODSP & Me video

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Understanding the Ontario Disability Support Program

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Disability benefits in Ontario: Who can get them and how to apply

This resource explains who can get income support from the Ontario Disability Support Program and how to apply. It includes information about the forms that have to be filled out and who can fill them out. http://www.cleo.on.ca/en/publications/disabben
Sourced from Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) http://www.cleo.on.ca/en

Appeals and internal reviews

This resource outlines the process to follow when a person disagrees with decisions about their right to social assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program. It describes how to request an internal review, file an appeal with the Social Benefits Tribunal, and apply for interim assistance.
Link
Sourced from Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) http://www.cleo.on.ca/en

Generosity Can Jeopardize Your ODSP

While an aunt, uncle or grandparent are ready to help, giving money to somebody on ODSP without understanding the program’s guidelines can jeopardize the government benefit they are trying to supplement, unless it is done thoughtfully. Read more

Legal information and referral skills for community workers

CLEO (Community Legal Education Ontario)

  1. Detecting legal problems sets out some common things you might hear clients say when they have a legal problem. It also links you to legal information that may be helpful.
  2. Community workers can give legal information to people even if they don’t have legal training. Our tip sheet Giving legal information gives examples of legal information and legal advice to help you understand the difference.
  3. There is a lot of legal information available online – so much that sometimes it can be hard to tell what you can rely on. Our tip sheet Clues to reliable legal information provides a checklist of what to look for when assessing the legal information you find online.
  4. Sources for online legal information lists several websites where you can find reliable online legal information for people in Ontario.
  5. Legal services in Ontario describes and gives contact information for free or low-cost legal services in Ontario.
  6. Hiring and working with a lawyer sets out some examples of when it is important to consult a lawyer. It also contains tips on interviewing a lawyer and discussing fee structures with a lawyer.