New Ontario Regulations and Statutes in Force as of July 1, 2025 that May Impact Seniors and People with Disabilities

This July 1, 2025 the Government of Ontario is passing along some changes that should be noted by seniors and people living with disabilities. To make it easier, we have listed them for you herein.

Source: Ontario Newsroom

1. Canada Disability Benefit Payments are no longer considered part of Income:

To help keep money in the pockets of those who need it, Ontario is amending regulations under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997 and the Ontario Works Act, 1997 to fully exempt Canada Disability Benefit payments from being considered as income under Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program and the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities program. As a result, clients will not have their monthly payment reduced or lose access to health benefits provided through social assistance.

2. Gas Tax Cuts

The government is providing relief to households and businesses by amending the Gasoline Tax Act and Fuel Tax Act to make the temporary cuts to the provincial rates of tax on gasoline and fuel permanent. This rate reduction, first established in 2022, was set to expire on June 30, 2025.

3. Ontario is reducing costs for seniors by amending various regulations to exempt Canada Disability Benefit payments as income for purposes of:

• The Seniors Co-Payment Program annual deductible waiver and co-payment fee reduction for the Ontario Drug Benefit

• The Trillium Drug Program for households with high drug costs in relation to household income

• Determining the reduced co-payment for the Hospital Chronic Care Co-payment Program

• Determining the reduced accommodation amount for the Long-Term Care Home Rate Reduction.