REPORT - Sick and Tired: The Compromised Health of Social Assistance Recipients and the Working Poor in Ontario

An important new report called Sick and Tired: The Compromised Health of Social Assistance Recipients and the Working Poor in Ontario has been released today by the Community Social Planning Council of Toronto, the University of Toronto’s Social Assistance in the New Economy Project, and the Wellesley Institute.

The launch is marked by a forum today, Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired. Forum registration closed early due to high demand, but a summary of the event will be made available soon.

Report's Key Findings:

Among other key findings, the study finds that poor health and chronic health conditions affect low-income Ontarians at much highest rates that for average income-earners, one in ten social assistance (SA)recipients considered attempting suicide in the 12 months prior to the study and that suicide attempts were 10 times higher for individuals receiving social assistance.

It was also found that despite higher rates of poor health and chronic health conditions both the working poor and SA recipients were less likely to have a regular medical provider than individuals in the 'non-poor' group. Cost was cited as a factor by members of these two groups.

The impacts on women's preventative health care are extremely important to note. The report finds that "substantial numbers of poor women" over the age of 40 had never had a pap smear test, breast exam, or mammogram.

Recommendations:

The study makes 10 key recommendations for all three levels of gov't including:

• The provincial gov't take action to ensure equitable access to health care services for all Ontarios, regardless of income or poverty status, and reduce costs as a factor in accessing health care in Ontario
• The provincial gov't establish an independent panel to set OW and ODSP rates to reflect the actual cost of living in the province
• A provincial review of the ODSP program to identify barriers and increase timely access to the program
• Increased support and protection by the provincial gov't for temporary agency workers and the precarious labour force
  

Full Report
The full report can be viewed here:
http://socialplanningtoronto.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/sick-and-tired-for-web.pdf

Links to the full report, a summary and media response can be accessed here:
http://socialplanningtoronto.org/uncategorized/sick-and-tired-report-released/