ODSP Handbook

What is ODSP Income Support?

This program provides financial assistance to eligible people with disabilities.To meet the requirements, you must:

• be 18 years of age or older
• qualify financially
• have a substantial physical or mental impairment that is continuous or recurrent and is expected to last one year or more.

If you are not sure that you qualify, answer these questions:

• Can I take care of myself?
• Can I take part in my community?
• Can I go to work?

You may also qualify if you:

• receive disability benefits under the Canada Pension Plan;
• are 65 or older and are not eligible for Old Age Security (OAS)
• live in a psychiatric facility
• live in a facility under the Development Services Act or in a home under the Homes for Special Care Act
• are about to turn 18 and currently get a benefit called the "Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities benefit" (this used to be called Handicapped Children's Benefit)

Do you qualify financially? ( How much money do you have?)

• You may not qualify, if you are single and have over $5,000 in cash, RRSPs, or in insurance policies .
• You may not qualify, if you have a spouse or same sex partner and have over $7,500 in cash, RRSPs or in insurance policies.
• You may not qualify, if you have children and a spouse or same sex partner and have over $7,500 + $500 (for each child) in cash, RRSPs or in insurance policies

Booking An Appointment at the ODSP Office

The office will send you a letter that will have the day and time of the appointment, and a list of all the things that you need to bring to the appointment.

If you need special help, (a sign language interpreter, large print forms etc.) let the office know, so that they can make all the arrangements.

Your appointment will take about 1 ½ hours. At this appointment, you'll go over in detail, how much money you make and how many bills you have to pay.

The person you talk to at the ODSP office will have to do some calculating to find out if you qualify for the program.

What you need to do if you qualify for supports:

If you qualify, you will be given a package of 4 forms to fill out. This package is called the Disability Determination Package (DDP). The 4 forms are:

1. Health Status Report

This form must be filled out by a doctor.

2. Activities of Daily Living Report

To find out who can fill out this form, please read the list on the front of the Activities of Daily Living Report.

3. A Medical Consent Form

You must sign this form so that your doctor or medical professional has your permission to release medical information to us.

4. A Self Report
   This is your chance to tell us, in your words, what it's like to live with your disability. Please note: you do not have to fill out this form - but we would like to hear what you have to say!

Send the filled out forms to the Disability Adjudication Unit (DAU). You must have your forms filled out and sent to the DAU in 90 days from the date of your interview.

Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ontario Disability Support Program
Disability Adjudication Unit Box B18
Toronto , Ontario M7A 1R3

When the forms arrive at the DAU, staff will review your file. They will see if you qualify for supports.

Before you get ODSP supports, you have 1 more step to go through: You must go over your money and bills with someone from the ODSP office 1 more time. This is a quick review and can be done by phone. We have to do this, because in the time it took to have your file looked at, things could have changed. 

Once you start collecting ODSP, the money will be put into your bank account automatically. If you do not have a bank account, we will help you make other arrangements.

What you can do if you are turned down for supports:

If the DAU turns you down, you have the right to ask for a review. This is called an Internal Review. If you want an Internal Review, write a letter to the DAU. At the top of the letter put your:

• full name
• the year and date of your birth
• and your case ID (your case ID is the number at the top of the letter that the DAU sent to you-It has some of the letters of your last name, and some of the numbers from the day you were born in it.)

Start your letter with this sentence: I am requesting an Internal Review.

After that, write 1 or 2 short sentences telling us why you want a review. You can add more sentences if you want. Mail your letter to:

Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ontario Disability Support Program
Disability Adjudication Unit Box B18 ,
Toronto , Ontario M7A 1R3

or you can fax your letter to (416) 326-3374

Someone will call you after the Internal Review is done. They will tell you how the review went.

If you do not like what you are told after the Internal Review, there is one more thing that you can do.

You can ask the Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT) to review your case. Ask your local office for more information on how the SBT works.

Please remember, you can't go to the SBT until you have requested an Internal Review.

How much money could you get from ODSP?

How much money you get depends on your situation.

• You could get as much as $ 930 per month if you are single.
• You may get as much as $1417 per month for a family of two.

1.  STEP

STEP is an ODSP benefit that helps you put more money in your pocket when you get a job.

With STEP, you keep your full pay cheque and part of your ODSP cheque.

A single person can earn up to $160 per month at a job and keep their full ODSP cheque.

A family can earn up to $235 per month at a job and keep their full ODSP cheque.

Once you are earning over this amount, your ODSP cheque is gradually reduced as your earnings increase. However, a person who is working is always better off.

If you get a full time job and your earnings are high enough to take you off of the ODSP program, you may still be able to receive health benefits if you have high drug costs.

And remember if you get a job and it doesn't work out-don't worry-you have a safety net. It's called Rapid Reinstatement-it's a way to get back on ODSP Income Support.

Talk to someone at your ODSP office-they'll do the STEP calculation for you and tell you how much more money you could be taking home; they'll also give you further information about Rapid Reinstatement.

2.  Community Start-Up Benefit (CSUB)

You can ask for CSUB if you need some money to find another place to live. This benefit may give you up to $799 if you are single, and up to $1,500 for a family. You can use this benefit only 1 time in a 12 month period.You may qualify if you are:

- starting a new job and need to move

- leaving an institution and need to find a
place to live

- being evicted for reasons outside your control

- leaving an abusive situation

Talk to someone at your local ODSP office for more information about 

1) Remember, you must call the ODSP office when you:

• move-give them your new address.
• make some money, or receive money as a gift or inheritance etc.
• get married, divorced, have a baby, or a child leaves home
• have to go into the hospital
• leave Ontario for more than 30 days

These are just some examples. Anytime you have a change in your circumstances, you must let the ODSP office know what those changes are.

2) .and remember, it is your right to ask for an Internal Review for any decision made by the ODSP. Ask your local ODSP office for information about how to request a review.

Completing a Reporting Card each month

Every month your ODSP office will send you a Reporting Card. There are 2 sections to this card:

1. Fill out the first part if you work.
2. Fill out the second part if your rent changes, or if you are moving.

Getting information by telephone
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) gives out information over the phone. By calling in to the IVR, you can get important announcements from the ODSP and some general information about the program.

That means it is a good idea to call in every month. All you do is call 1-800-808-2268. The phone call is free. IVR can also give you information about your cheque.

ODSP Employment Support

This is voluntary. It helps people with disabilities prepare for, find and maintain employment.

How do I qualify for Employment Supports?

• You may qualify if you have a physical or mental disability that is expected to last a year or more and your disability makes it hard for you to find or keep a job.

You must also be:

• willing and able to work,
• living in Ontario ,
• legally able to work in Canada , and
• 16 years of age or older.

You may also qualify if you are working but are having difficulty keeping your job because of your disability.You do not have to be receiving ODSP Income Support to qualify for Employment Supports.

Who does not qualify for Employment Supports?

• You may not qualify for Employment Supports if you are receiving disability or rehabilitation benefits from other sources. If you are not receiving these benefits but qualify for them, you may not qualify for Employment Supports.
• People who take part in the Ontario Works program are not eligible for Employment Supports. Those people receive employment assistance from Ontario Works.

What type of help can I receive?

ODSP Employment Supports can help you with things you need to get a job, like:

• planning and preparing for a job-this could also include some training
• technical aids ranging from mobility devices and reading aids to adapted computers - and the training to use them
• interpreter, reader, note taker, and intervenor services
• job coaching and help with job searches
• transportation assistance while you are training for a job

How do I apply?

• You can download the application package to complete on your own.
• Call your local ODSP office and ask about Employment Supports.
• If you already receive ODSP Income Supports, you can also ask staff at your local ODSP office to give you an Employment Supports application package.