Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Ontario Updates Special Diet Allowance
Ontario is adding three conditions to the list of medical conditions for which social assistance recipients may be eligible to receive a Special Diet Allowance.
This change will help affected individuals with the extra costs of a special diet.
Eligibility is verified through an assessment by an approved medical professional.
The three new medical conditions to be added are:
- Congenital heart defect in patients who have had a Ross Procedure or an arterial switch procedure or coexisting coarctation of the aorta. Congenital heart defect refers to a malformation of the heart, aorta, or other large blood vessels, and is the most common form of major birth defect in newborns
- Unintended weight loss due to interferon treatment for people with hepatitis C
- Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopment disorder that affects mobility and brain development. Social assistance recipients who have Rett Syndrome may be eligible for a Special Diet Allowance if they have a body mass index of less than 18.5
The changes are effective Dec. 1, 2014.
Quick Facts- Eligible recipients can request an Application for Special Diet Allowance form from their local Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program office.
- In 2011, Ontario made changes to the Special Diet Allowance to make it more accountable while helping social assistance recipients who have eligible medical conditions with the extra costs of a special diet.
- In 2013/14, more than 148,000 social assistance recipients received the Special Diet Allowance.
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