Introduction:

What’s all this noise about the Community Start Up?

The Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) is a mandatory benefit available to people on Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). It helps prevent homelessness and is one of the only direct payment supports available to help people secure and remain in their housing.

The government announced in its spring 2012 budget that they are cutting this benefit. It will no longer be available as of January 1, 2013.Half of the budget for this benefit will be moving to the Ministry of Housing and used by municipalities to fund their priorities around housing and homelessness prevention.

We are working to fight this cut, and welcome your help in two key ways:

1)Help as many people as possible to access this benefit while it still exists, and

2)Encourage the people you work with to fight this cut with us!

This short kit offers you four pieces meant to help you join this campaign:

  • Tips for helping someone apply for CSUMB
  • Follow up and info about what others are doing
  • Links to more information and resources to support your work
  • Sample MPP letter template

Tips for helping someone apply for CSUMB

The Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) is money to help pay for things people need to set up a new home, such as:

  • Deposits and hook up fees for heat or utilities
  • Last month’s rent deposit
  • Moving costs

This benefit can also help people stay in their current home by helping with costs like:

  • Rent arrears to prevent eviction
  • Payments to keep utilities or heat on – or turn them back on

And people can sometimes get this benefit to protect their health or well-being by paying for things such as:

  • Getting rid of bed bugs
  • Buying or repairing necessary home appliances (fridge, stove, etc)
  • Clothing, furniture, and other household goods (e.g., especially if damaged by water leak; infested by bed bugs; etc.)

For health and well-being, the policy directives describe the conditions as posing a risk to physical/mental/emotional health, and list the following:

  • overcrowding of premises
  • harassment
  • infestation
  • poor building conditions
  • uninhabitable premises

The maximum benefit available to people is $799 for a single person and $1500 for families in one 24 month period. It is possible to get the benefit more than once in 24 months in exceptional circumstances such as flood, fire, domestic violence and so on. For exceptions a person would need to show that staying where they are (or without the items being requested) would be harmful to their health or well-being.

There is no formal application for CSUMB issued by the Ministry of Community and Social Services. To help someone apply we suggest:

Write a letter to the OW or ODSP worker. Cite the recipient’s name and ID number.

Explain that the recipient is requesting the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit. Ask for a response to the request in writing. This will be needed later to appeal a denial of this benefit.

Describe the reason(s) the benefit is needed, e.g., moving, replacing bed bug ridden mattress, paying back utilities to prevent being cut off, etc. Briefly explain the story or some details about the situation. For example, if it’s to replace furniture because of bed bugs, describe the process that’s taken place (spraying, notice to landlord, etc). Documentation, such as proof of the extermination, is helpful.

Outline the amount that the recipient needs, and break down the various items if there are more than one. E.g., bed, child’s bed, curtains, bed linens. Use estimates or actuals of the costs, and list everything needed even if it adds up to more than the total possible benefit, as not all items requested may be approved.

Where possible, include something to show how the costs were calculated, for example, a copy of a new lease or receipts for any items already paid for. If the benefit is needed to support a person’s health or well-being, a doctor’s letter can help.

It can be helpful to cite the policy directives (the legislation) related to the benefit, especially in cases where the person needs help to stay in their current residence, or requests a second CSUMB in the 24 month period due to exceptional circumstances.

The information above is very general and does not provide every scenario or type of expense for which someone could qualify for the benefit. Below are links where you can find more specific information and support that may help answer your questions.

More information and support that may help you prepare a request:

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) tips on how to apply:

Ontario Works directives about CSUMB:

ODSP Directives about CSUMB:

City of Toronto info about CSUMB and related supports:

For additional support for applying for CSUMB or appealing a denial of the benefit, try your local community legal clinic:

For other places to get help with some of these costs:

Tips for following up after someone has applied for CSUMB

Following up with someone you helped apply for CSUMB is a critical part of making sure people are getting the benefits they need.

If you wrote to the recipient’s OW or ODSP worker and asked for a response in writing, that letter becomes important in appealing a denial of the benefit. So if they say no, the recipient has 30 days to request what’s called an “Internal Review”. This means a different person than the worker will review the request and decide whether they agree with the original decision.

An internal review must be requested in writing, and within 30 days from the date you receive the decision about the application for CSUMB. Keep both the letter and the envelope as the mailed date is shown on the envelope and may be different than the date on the letter.

The OW or ODSP office is supposed to make a decision on the internal review within 10 days from the date they receive the request.

If the internal review still says no to your CSUMB application, the recipient has 30 days from the date of that decision to file an appeal with the Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT).

If you don’t get an internal review decision within the 10 days, you can go ahead and appeal the original decision to the SBT within 40 days from the date of your request for an internal review.

To appeal to the SBT, you must use their appeal form. You can get one from an OW or ODSP office, a community legal clinic, or by calling the SBT: 1-800-753-3895 or at in the “forms” section.

Missing timelines for an internal review or an appeal to the SBT doesn’t mean you can’t appeal. You will have to request more time and explain why you missed the time limit.

How Can We Stop This Cut?

After helping someone apply for the benefit (or anytime!), why not help them write a letter to their MPP? On the next page of this kit you will find a template. Feel free to use it, change it, just make sure you SEND it!

The Income Security and Advocacy Centre (ISAC) and the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) are running an MPP lobby campaign. On their website is an email people can send to the Ministers of Housing, Community & Social Services and Finance, to ask them to reverse this damaging cut.

Across Ontario legal clinics and other partners are meeting with their MPPs to ask that they support our call for a reversal of this cut. ISAC and ACTO have developed a more in-depth campaign kit for those interested in getting more involved with this part of the campaign – or to get the kit or share what you’re doing.

St Stephen’s Community House folks created a petition to fight the cut. They were going to be presented on October 17, the International Day for the Elimination of Poverty. Unfortunately, because the legislature isn’t sitting, we couldn’t do that. So we’ll keep collecting signatures and make a new plan on when and where to present them. Thousands have been signed! To get your copy, call 416-964-8747 ext 254.

Template Letter

This is a short letter geared toward people who have applied recently for CSUMB. For a longer letter aimed at Ministers, see

[Date]

[Your Name]

[Your address]

[Your MPP’s name] (to find your MPP:

MPP

[Address or email address]

Dear Mr/Ms [MPP’s Last Name],

I’m writing today to ask you to help us fight the cut to the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit that’s part of OW and ODSP. I understand that this benefit will no longer be available as of January 1, 2013.

I have applied for this benefit [recently or in the past]. I have needed this benefit because [briefly describe the part of your situation you wish to share or the type of expense you needed the benefit for]. This benefit made a difference in my life at a very stressful time. I have no money left at the end of the month so I cannot save to pay for big expenses. The CSUMB is critical!

In 2013 and beyond, what will be available to me and others trying to survive on very little money each month when we have problems and need to move, or have bed bugs and need to replace furniture?

This cut should be reversed and I would like to know what you will do to help protect this important benefit.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

[Sign here]

[Your name]

[Your phone number or email or mailing address]

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