Income Benefit Programs for People Living on Low Income and in Poverty – Primary Care Providers' Role

Poverty has a profound impact on health across the life course, with impacts on both physical and mental health. Primary Care Providers can play a key role in supporting patients to connect to income supports. In this session, panelists will provide an overview of social assistance and income benefit programs. They will discuss strategies for completing successful Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Disability Tax Credit (DTC) applications and review the new Canada Disability Benefit. Additionally, they will highlight innovative team-based strategies to address patients' income needs.

 Speakers 

Dr. Gary Bloch, Family Physician and Physician Lead, Equity and Social Interventions, St. Michael’s Hospital Academic Family Health Team, Toronto, ON - 

Anu Bakshi, Staff Lawyer, Income Security Advocacy Centre, Toronto, ON Moderator

Dr. Jobin Varughese, OCFP President, Family Physician, Interim Assistant Dean of Primary Care Education for the School of Medicine at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Brampton, ON

The Health Equity Community of Practice for Ontario Family Physicians Community of Practice has been certified by the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Ontario Chapter for up to 1 Mainpro+ credit. This Community of Practice includes a series of planned webinars. Each session is worth 1 Mainpro+ credit, for up to a total of 6 credits.