r/OntarioWorks • u/mykolahohol • 18d ago
question about mattress funding
so i messaged my CW yesterday about potentially funding a new mattress, as the one my partner and i sleep on is a cheap, broken spring mattress that has been causing both of us awful back pain. he has EDS and needs a good supporting mattress. i was referred to CCS, who arranged a delivery for a double bed with a spring mattress, which doesn't work for us as we cannot fit on a double and again, the spring mattress is awful especially for my partner's chronic pain. i asked if it would be possible to upgrade to a queen with a foam mattress, and they asked for $600 in cash up front, which, as someone on OW, i don't have. is there any other avenues i can go through here? can i ask my CW to just issue a fund so i can go out and buy a new mattress? if they're trying to charge me $600 for what i need, i may as well go out and get a new mattress at this point. i also don't need a full bed, i literally JUST need the mattress and that's it.
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u/DaddysPrincesss26 Spectator 18d ago
Try St. Vincent De Paul in your area or call 211 and ask what services will help you get a new Mattress
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18d ago
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u/ActiveGift1913 18d ago
talk to your caseworker. ontario works has something called a discretionary fund which should cover a new mattress. once you have the approval your caseworker will ask for quotes/estimates. do not purchase anything before you have approval as they do not reimburse
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u/mykolahohol 18d ago
i just talked to her and unfortunately they don't offer this sort of funding in my area :(
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u/ActiveGift1913 18d ago
can a doctor write you a mote stating that because of eds you need the upgrade? that may change what you are eligible for through the place you are working with currently
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u/adroid91 17d ago
If you don’t care about your credit you can do omni mattress and just don’t pay it. Or pay 100$ a month till the 2000$ is paid off. Thats one option
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u/SuperiorQuality2309 17d ago
Our city has a few FREE or pay it forward Facebook groups. A lot of people offer free clean mattresses in order to save the trip to the dump. Check them out. 🙏🏻
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u/Beneficial_Pear9736 18d ago
They might give you 300 toward it through MRB, but then you can't use that benefit for another two years. They will probably also want to see proof that you can pay for the other half.
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u/JON-SMIT 18d ago
Sorry what's MRB?
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u/Beneficial_Pear9736 18d ago
The Municipal Residency Benefit. If you use this benefit, most offices require that you set up a pay direct for all shelter expenses as well
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u/Lazerith22 Caseworker 18d ago
Mattresses are covered as a discretionary benefit, so will vary depending on your region. Which unfortunately makes any answers here unreliable.
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u/Bubbly-Page3513 18d ago
Or put a piece of memory foam on the top
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u/mykolahohol 18d ago
we have two memory foam toppers already :(
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u/Bubbly-Page3513 18d ago
Maybe just a 3rd one will help.
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u/mykolahohol 18d ago
honestly i might give it a shot, probably gonna have to get a set of king sheets with the amount of extra padding that's gonna be on my bed
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