A landmark class-action lawsuit has been filed against the Ontario Government claiming millions of dollars wrongfully withheld by the Ministry of Community and Social Services from severely disabled applicants for benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program. The lawsuit is on behalf of thousands of poor disabled Ontarians who have applied for ODSP benefits since 1997. ODSP was established as a program that provides income to needy persons with severe disabilities.
Sarah Shartal, a lawyer who acts for persons with severe disabilities, says: "The Province has created a legal quagmire that cheats very poor disabled people out of benefits that they are entitled to by law." Shartal wonders why it takes the Province a whole year to make a decision that private disability insurers make within two weeks. "The delays are killing people," says Shartal.
The lawsuit alleges that the Ontario Government has deliberately set up an overly complicated administrative system that delays the processing of ODSP applications and unjustly enriches itself at the expense of ODSP applicants. ODSP applicants have suffered loss of benefits and interest as a result of lengthy delays in processing their applications. The Province has profited by withholding retroactive benefits and the accumulation of interest it earns on the money wrongfully withheld from the Plaintiffs.
For information call Roach Schwartz and Associates at 416-657-1465. Web page http://www.roachschwartz.com/roach.asp
See also Carol Goar's June 11, 2007 column in the Toronto Star p.AA6 - http://www.thestar.com/article/223338 |
