NOTE:  the information about the Special Diet allowance on this site dates from 2006.  It is always important to check the Ministry of Community and Social Services policy directives and other sources sucha as community legal clinics for up to date information.

The Coalition created a Special Diet Committee in the spring of 2005 to encourage OW and ODSP recipients to apply for the Special Diet Allowance. When the rules were changed in November, 2005 and hundreds of people were no longer eligible or received considerably less, the Committee lobbied to have the old rules reinstated. The Committee also pushed for the new Special Diet Schedule to be reviewed and urged medical practitioners to make submissions regarding medical conditions that should be added and situations where the amounts indicated didn't cover the costs of the special diets prescribed. The Committee also produced materials for OW and ODSP recipients explaining the changes and tips for applying for the new Special Diet Allowance or filing appeals. The Committee ended in the Fall of 2006 so that members could focus on increasing social assistance rates. Legal work around the Special Diet Allowance will continue within the legal clinic system and information will be posted to this website if there are any updates or changes to the Special Diet Allowance.