Province moves to compensate invididuals for lost income due to disease outbreak
The Ontario government is going to shell out anywhere from $250 to $6,000 to compensate those who lost income because of the SARS outbreak.
To be eligible for the program, workers in Ontario must have been employed or self-employed an unable to earn income for at least five days between March 14 and June 30, 2003. The payments are designed to help about 30,000 people who were in quarantine or had to care for someone affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Full-time workers will receive a $500 isolation payment and part-timers will get $250. If the workers did not receive enough assistance from employers, private insurance or Employment Insurance to make up for lost wages, they can apply for a "top-up."
Application forms are available by calling (800) 476-9708 or the TTY line at (800) 387-5559. Information is available online at www.sarshelp.gov.on.ca.
According to the Toronto Star, the total cost of the program is expected to be anywhere from $10 miliion to $20 million. Cheques will be issued in about a month.
To be eligible for the program, workers in Ontario must have been employed or self-employed an unable to earn income for at least five days between March 14 and June 30, 2003. The payments are designed to help about 30,000 people who were in quarantine or had to care for someone affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome.
Full-time workers will receive a $500 isolation payment and part-timers will get $250. If the workers did not receive enough assistance from employers, private insurance or Employment Insurance to make up for lost wages, they can apply for a "top-up."
Application forms are available by calling (800) 476-9708 or the TTY line at (800) 387-5559. Information is available online at www.sarshelp.gov.on.ca.
According to the Toronto Star, the total cost of the program is expected to be anywhere from $10 miliion to $20 million. Cheques will be issued in about a month.
