| Year Funded: 2012 | Budget: | Funding Agency: Institute for Work & Health (IWH) |
|---|---|---|
| Title: | Income Security and Labour-Market Engagement: Envisioning the Future of Disability Policy in Canada (IWH Project 2195) | |
| Category: | Compensation, Disability Management and Return to Work | |
| Subcategory: | Compensation, Disability Management and Return to Work | |
| Keywords: | workers’ compensation, income security, work disability | |
| Link to research website: | www.iwh.on.ca | |
Issue:
A significant current context of work disability is the changing nature of work, workers, and injuries. Disability programs have different and sometimes conflicting eligibility criteria such that people are shuffled between programs and can fall through the cracks. In the past, efforts to revamp the Canadian work disability policy system have been piecemeal, uncoordinated, and have failed to address core changes to workplaces and the labour-markets. Given the current economic climate, the tendency may be to rationalize, cut budgets, restrict eligibility and downsize programs in order to address short-run constraints. However, such tactics may magnify system inadequacies, increasing disparities and cost shifting. Our initiative lays the ground for evidence-informed, coordinated approach. Our 7-year initiative is a transdisciplinary inquiry into the future of work disability policy and labour-market engagement.
Objectives:
To provide a forum for within- and cross-provincial and national dialogue on challenges and opportunities for improving the work disability policy system for working age individuals.
To identify problems and challenges associated with program coordination and complexity.
To identify relevant and favourable alternative approaches to system design and service provision through select comparisons with countries and small scale trials.
To mobilize knowledge developed within and outside of the initiative in order to inform policy.
To build capacity for research and knowledge mobilization on the topic of work disability policy.
Anticipated Results:
This initiative will be of interest to all stakeholders in the Canadian work disability policy system, which includes Canada and Quebec Pension Plan Disability, social assistance for people with disabilities, Disability tax credits, Employment Insurance, Sickness or Veterans Benefits, private disability pension plans, motor vehicle accident insurance and compensation for victims of crime, as well as employers.
Investigators:
Emile Tompa, Ellen MacEachen, Ron Saunders, Heather Scott-Marshall (Institute for Work & Health)
