The Experiences of Social Assistance Recipients on the Ontario Basic Income Pilot

Abstract

This article attempts to fill part of the research void created by the premature cancellation of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot (OBIP), reporting the results of former Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program service users who received basic income in the Hamilton region through a comparison of their experiences related to physical and mental health, food and housing security, financial security, and social and family relations. It shows that basic income led to improvements on a variety of indicators, proving transformational for some. The evidence suggests that when compared to existing income support systems, a basic income modeled similar to OBIP can significantly improve recipients' lives, while at the same time providing a more humane approach to service delivery.