ODSP Payment Dates : When You’ll Get Paid

What is ODSP? 

The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is a social assistance program issued by the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services and offers income and employment support to Ontario residents who have medical conditions or disabilities. 

ODSP has been around since 1997 and has benefited more than 1 million Ontarians in that time. As of October 2020, more than 520,000 Ontarians were beneficiaries of the program. 

The ODSP serves as a last resort to other welfare programs in Canada. This means that you must have tried getting income from other sources before turning to ODSP for financial assistance.

ODSP Payment Dates for 2023

ODSP payments are issued to eligible individuals on the last business day of each month, except in December when payments are made a few days earlier. The remaining ODSP payments date for 2023 are:

• January 31, 2023
• February 28, 2023
• March 31, 2023
• April 28, 2023
• May 31, 2023
• June 30, 2023
• July 31, 2023
• August 31, 2023
• September 29, 2023
• October 31, 2023
• November 30, 2023
• December 2023 is not yet announced

Eligibility Requirements for ODSP

To be eligible for the ODSP, you must first meet the financial requirements and then you will be assessed to meet the disability requirements.

To qualify for the ODSP income support, you need to: 

• be at least 18 years old. If you're under 18 years, you can apply for the program for up to six months before your 18th birthday. To apply for employment support, you need to be at least 16 years old.
• be a resident of Ontario. 
• meet the ODSP definition of a person with disabilities.
• be legally authorized to work in Canada for the employment support to be provided to you. 

Financial Eligibility Requirements 

To be eligible for the ODSP, you must be in financial need. In other words, your expenses should be more than your income and assets. Your caseworker will ask you for documents to show that you need financial assistance. 

These documents will show:

• your income or any amount of money coming into your household. 
• the costs of housing and shelter for your household. 
• assets value of household members. 

You will also need to provide signed consent to your caseworker so that the information can be verified by a third party.

To meet the financial requirements criteria, you need to be assessed by your caseworker for income and asset eligibility.

Income Eligibility 

Your income sources must be reported to and assessed by your case worker when applying for the ODSP. Some examples of income include:

• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits
• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) benefits
• Earnings from a job or training program
• Profits received from a business
• Old Age Security (OAS)
• The Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS)
• Guaranteed Income System (GIS)
• Employment Insurance (EI)
• Loans
• Other payments you and your family already receive or may be entitled to receive.

Your income sources are either exempt or nonexempt. The exempt income does not affect eligibility or the amount you should receive for income support. 

Some types of exempt income include:

• Child support 
• Some federal tax benefits like the Canada Child Benefit (CBB).
• Provincial tax benefits like the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB).
• Income from a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
• Student loans from Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
• Grants that cover education expenses.

Asset Eligibility

The value of your assets also determines your eligibility for the ODSP. When applying for ODSP you will be required to give documents showing any assets owned by you or your family. 

The ODSP has specific income and assets thresholds that can determine your eligibility:

• A single recipient can own up to $40,000 in total non-exempt assets. 
• Couples or common-law partners cannot have more than $50,000 in combined assets. 

Recipients can still own assets while receiving benefits as long as they do not exceed the threshold amount.

Certain assets will affect your eligibility and the amount you should get for income support. These are called non-exempt assets. 

These include:

• Amount of money in your bank accounts. 
• Stocks and bonds. 
• Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). 
• Vehicles owned by you or your family.
• Properties such as houses and lands.
• Trust funds.
• Other assets that are owned by you or your family. 

Some assets are exempt and will not affect your eligibility or how much you receive from ODSP income support. Examples of exempt assets are:

• The house you own or live in.
• Your primary vehicle. 
• Prepaid funerals.
• Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP).
• Inherited trust funds or life insurance policy (up to acceptable limits).
• Cash value of life assurance policies (up to acceptable limits).
• Household essentials and personal items such as furniture and clothes.

Disability Eligibility Requirements 

To qualify for the ODSP, the applicants must have a mental or physical disability that prevents them from being able to work to sustain themselves financially. 

The ODSP Act provides a clear definition of disability and according to the Act, this means that:

• the applicant has a continuous mental or physical condition that is expected to last for a year or more. 
• the effect of the disability directly impairs the applicant's ability to work, care for themselves, or function as a member of the community. 
• the impairment, its duration, and restrictions have been verified by an approved and qualified health care professional. 

When you apply for the ODSP, your caseworker will give you a Disability Determination Package (DDP) which must be submitted in 90 days. The DDP will then be reviewed by specialized ministry staff.

However, members of the Prescribed Classes do not need to go through the disability adjudication process to qualify for the ODSP.

ODSP Disbursement

You can receive your ODSP payments through any of the following methods:

Direct bank deposit

A direct bank deposit is usually the preferred option as it is the quickest and simplest of the three payment methods. This method guarantees that your funds will be available to you on the ODSP payment dates, and normally shows up in your account coming from Canada Fed.

Reloadable payment card

This card functions like a regular debit card. Every month, on the payment dates, the ODSP payments will be loaded to the card and you can withdraw the funds at any ATM, or POS, or use it for online transactions. 

Cheque

Cheques are used in special cases. For instance, you might be allowed to receive payments by cheque if you live very far from the bank or any ATM or you do not have access to a debit card. 

Nevertheless, when receiving payments by cheque, you might receive the payments on days different from the actual payment dates, depending on the mail service in your area. 

ODSP Payment: Benefit Details

The ODSP benefits are categorized into income support and employment support. 

ODSP Income Support

The income support offers monthly payments to eligible recipients. The maximum amount paid is $1,169 per month depending on your situation. This payment covers the basic needs, and cost of shelter and may also cover the health benefits of the recipients.

ODSP Basic Needs Allowance

The basic needs allowance is designated to cover the cost of essentials like food, clothing, and other personal items. The allowance paid is based on your family size, the age of your family members or dependents, and whether your spouse or partner also has a disability. 

The maximum amount payable for basic needs for a single individual with no dependents is $672 per month. 

If the spouse is not disabled, the maximum amount is $969 per month and $1,341 per month if the spouse is also disabled. If only one spouse is disabled, the maximum amount paid if the couple has two dependents above 18 years is $1,367. For each additional dependent over 18, the recipient gets $211.

The maximum amounts paid for each scenario are given below;

Number of dependents other than a spouse (18 years and above)	Number of dependents (0 to 17 years)	ODSP Amount Received By Recipient	ODSP Amount Received By Recipient and Spouse(One Disabled)	ODSP Amount Received By Recipient and Spouse(Both Disabled)
0	0	$672	$969	$1,341
0	1	$815	$969	$1,341
1	0	$1,041	$1,157	$1,529
0	2	$815	$969	$1,341
1	1	$1,041	$1,157	$1,529
2	0	$1,230	$1,367	$1,739

If the recipient lives in Northern Ontario and has no year-round road access, an additional payment is provided:

Number of Dependents	Amount Received By Single Recipient	Amount Received By Recipient and Spouse
0	$272	$431
1	$430	$530
2	$526	$628

You may also receive $102 for each additional dependent.

ODSP Shelter Allowance

The ODSP shelter allowance covers rents, mortgages, and other shelter-related costs such as property taxes, home insurance, utilities, and condo fees. 

The maximum shelter allowance paid out is calculated depending on the maximum amount of actual shelter costs that are determined by the number of people in the family. 

For a single ODSP recipient, the maximum shelter allowance provided is $497 per month. 

If there are two people in the benefits unit, the maximum amount increases to $781. 

The maximum shelter allowance you might receive depending on your situation is provided: 

Benefit UnitSize	Maximum Monthly Shelter Allowance
1	$497
2	$781
3	$846
4	$918
5	$919
6 or more	$1,026

If the recipient meets certain criteria and qualifies for a second residence, they may receive $455 or the cost of maintenance of the second residence, whichever amount is lesser.

Board and Lodging Allowance

ODSP recipients who receive food and shelter from the same source have their income calculated differently from those who do not. In such a case, the recipient receives only the ODSP basic needs and shelter allowance as one combined payment, the amount received is affected by the number of family members, age of family members as well as location of residence. The maximum ODSP amount received is as follows: 

• $825 for a single recipient and increases for each.
• $1,230, if you have a spouse is included in the benefit unit.
• $1,644, if both spouses each have a disability.
• A $71 automatic payment for a special boarding allowance per benefit unit. 

Employment Support 

The ODSP offers employment support to individuals and recipients who are able or willing to work. The employment support enables ODSP recipients to get a job, start a business, get trained, and also assist them with childcare costs. 

The ODSP partners with more than 150 community-based service providers across the province. This is aimed at enabling beneficiaries of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) to prepare for work, start a job, advance their careers or even start a business. 

The following are some benefits you can get from these service providers; 

• Job coaching.
• Computer training programs.
• Creating a business plan. 
• Learning money management, marketing, and planning a budget. 
• Enrollment for certifications, and licenses.
• Job training.

Employment support benefits do not cover other benefit programs provided by other organizations. 

Eligibility

Eligibility for ODSP employment support is not dependent on your eligibility for income support as the two are independent of each other. You are automatically eligible for employment support if you already receive ODSP income support. Also, if you're not already receiving ODSP income support, you're still eligible for employment support. 

To qualify for ODSP employment support, you must; 

• be 16 years old or more. 
• be legally allowed to work in Canada. 
• be a resident of Ontario. 
• have a prolonged mental or physical disability that is expected to last for a year or more and prevents you from working or keeping a job to sustain yourself. 

If you complete and meet all the eligibility requirements, the next thing to do is to complete the Application for Employment Support and the Verification of Disability impairment, which should be done by an approved healthcare professional.

ODSP Health and Disability Benefits

The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) offers the following health benefits to its beneficiaries and their families.

Prescription drug coverage

This benefit covers drugs that are listed in the Ontario drug formulary and prescribed by an approved and qualified healthcare professional.

Coverage for dental care

This covers the costs of and provides basic dental services to eligible recipients and their families including extra services if your oral health is affected by your disability or medications.

Children under 17 years old will receive free dental services from Healthy Smiles Ontario. Adults will be given basic dental care together with any other treatment that should be given as a result of the effect of the disability on the dental health of the recipient or as prescribed treatments. 

Medical supplies insurance coverage

This covers the cost of syringes, blood glucose monitors, medical supplies for diabetics, and other surgical supplies. You would just have to inform your caseworker of what you want to buy.

• Vision care and hearing benefits: If you do not receive vision coverage from the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP), the ODSP vision coverage may provide you and your family with regular basic eye examinations and checkups, covers the costs of prescription eyeglasses, assistance with the cost of eyeglass repairs along with major eye examinations if the recipient's medical condition affects their eyes. It also offers regular ear examinations and checkups. 

• Coverage for medical transportation: This covers the costs incurred if you spend more than $15 a month traveling to and from a doctor's appointment. 

• Nutritional allowance for pregnant and breastfeeding women: The ODSP offers monthly benefits to pregnant or nursing mothers or the family members of recipients of the ODSP income supports. The ODSP may provide about $40 per month to help with the costs of a regular diet and $50 per month to aid the costs of nondairy diets if you are lactose intolerant.

• Extended health benefits: This covers people who are ineligible for income support payments but have high medical costs and expenses. 

• Transitional health benefits: This covers the cost of prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, medical appointment transportation, medical devices, and medical supplies for recipients leaving ODSP to work.

ODSP Application Process

You can apply for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) online, over the phone, or in-person at your local ODSP office or any ODSP office across Ontario. 

To begin your ODSP application process, you should have the following; 

• Your Social Insurance Number (SIN). 
• Birth certificates for yourself and your dependents. 
• Cards that are provided by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). 
• Documents showing your immigration status (if any). 
• Your bank account information. 

You will be required to provide verifiable documents showing your financial situation. This will be assessed by your caseworker. 

Application for ODSP benefits depends on the type of support you want to enroll in, that is, either income support or employment support.

How to Apply for Income Support 

To apply for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income support, you have to complete two phases of the application process;

Phase 1: Financial Eligibility 

To qualify for the ODSP you need to first be financially eligible for the ODSP. During your first visit to the ODSP office or first phone call or online form, you will be assessed for your financial eligibility by a caseworker. You'll be notified within 15 business days after your first meeting with your caseworker. 

If you are considered financially eligible for income support, you will receive a Disability Determination Package (DDP) to continue with the second phase of the application process. 

However, if you are financially ineligible, you may decide to file and submit a request for an internal review.

Phase 2 – Disability Determination: 

After receiving the Disability Determination Package (DDP), you will have to complete it and submit it within the required time. The DDP has two main sections which will need to be completed by approved health professionals. These sections include: 

Health Status Report

This section gives information on the medical condition, required treatments, expected duration of the disease condition, and other related information. 

Activities of Daily Living Index

This section gives details on how the disease condition directly affects the applicant's ability to work, care for themselves, and function in the community. 

Approved healthcare professionals that can take part in the completion of both phases of the Disability Determination Package (DDP) include registered nurses, ophthalmologists, optometrists, psychological associates, physicians, and psychologists. 

However, professionals like occupational therapists, audiologists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists, and social workers can only complete the Activities Of Daily Living Index phase. 

Applications should be submitted within 90 days of receiving the package and may be reviewed in 10 business days or longer depending on their complexity. 

How To Apply For Employment Support 

The financial eligibility process does not apply during enrollment for employment support. The financial eligibility conditions are exclusive only to the ODSP income support. Nevertheless, applicants must fill out and complete the ‘Application For Employment Support' form. 

The form can be downloaded from the ODSP website. Alternatively, you can call or visit any ODSP office and request for the form to be sent to you. The Application for Employment Support form, unlike the financial eligibility form for income support, cannot be completed online. 

After submitting the form, you will undergo the Verification of Disability or Impairment process which will have to be completed by one of the approved health care professionals. 

This process is not necessary if you already receive the ODSP income support as the disability would have already been verified. 

Applicants for both income support and employment support have to sign a ‘consent to release medical information. 

Income support applicants must also sign the consent to disclose or verify information from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). 

ODSP Benefit Payment Amount 

The amount of money you are entitled to receive as a recipient of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) depends on many factors such as;

• The number of family members or family size. 
• Age of dependents. 
• Disability status of spouse (whether or not the spouse also has a disability). 
• Your living arrangement (if you rent or own your home, or if you have a board or lodging arrangement). 
• Your location of residence (those who live in more remote areas receive an extra allowance). 

The amount of money received as ODSP benefits depending on your family size is given below:

Number Of Dependents Other Than A Spouse	ODSP Amount Received By Single Recipient	ODSP Amount Received By Recipient And Spouse
0	$272	$431
1	$430	$530
2	$526	$628

You will receive an extra $272 if you are single with no dependents, or living in a remote community. You will also receive an additional $102 for each additional dependent.

Based on basic needs, the ODSP payment amount is shown below;

Number of Dependents	Amount Received By Single Recipient	Amount Received By Recipient and Spouse
0	$672	$969
1	$815	$969
2	$815	$969

Based on the shelter allowance, the ODSP payment amount is given below;

Number of Dependents	Amount Received By Single Recipient	Amount Received By Recipient and Spouse
0	$497	$781
1	$781	$846
2	$846	$918

The total ODSP amount received per month is shown below:

Number of Dependents	Total ODSP Amount Received By Single Recipient	Total ODSP Amount Received By Recipient and Spouse
0	$1,169	$1,750
1	$1,596	$1,815
2	$1,661	$1,887

If both spouses have a disability and are qualified for ODSP, they get the double disabled rate which is up to a maximum of $1,971 per month. 

If you are given board and lodging from the same source, you will be paid a room-on-board allowance which is $835 for a single person on $1,230 for a couple with one disabled spouse. 

If both spouses are disabled and are qualified for the ODSP, the amount paid under a room and board arrangement is $1,644. 

ODSP Payments Increase And Changes In 2022

Although the Ontario government announced that it will increase the ODSP payments by 3% annually for three years along with other changes, most of the proposed changes to the ODSP have been put on hold and no updates have been given on when the benefit amounts will be increased. 

The last effective change to the ODSP was the enactment of a one-time 1.5% increase in ODSP rates in September 2018, which was lower than the initial plan. 

Ontario Works

The provincial government of Ontario also provides a social assistance program called Ontario Works. The Ontario Works program is also managed by the Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services. 

Ontario Works is aimed at helping people who struggle with their living expenses by providing financial assistance to help cover the costs of essentials and health benefits and also helping them find a job. The program offers help to both the disabled and the non-disabled. 

Eligible individuals can receive up to $733 per month to cover basic living costs and shelter costs. You can also get additional amounts for family members. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Ontario Works program, you must:

• be 16 years old or older.
• be an Ontario resident.
• have assets within the acceptable threshold limits.

Ontario Works Payment Dates For 2023

The Ontario Works payments are made on the last business day of the previous month to eligible individuals.

Here are the Ontario Works payment dates for 2023:

• January 31, 2023
• February 28, 2023
• March 31, 2023
• April 28, 2023
• May 31, 2023
• June 30, 2023
• July 31, 2023
• August 31, 2023
• September 29, 2023
• October 31, 2023
• November 30, 2023
• December 2023 is not yet announced

Transition Child Benefit

The Transition Child Benefit is an additional benefit paid out to eligible ODSP Income Support recipients to help with the costs of child care.

To qualify for the Transition Child Benefit program, you must be a recipient of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Income Support and also meet the following criteria:

• You have children under 18 years of age.
• You are not a recipient of the Ontario Child Benefits (OCB) or the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS).
• You receive less than the maximum benefit amount of the Ontario Child Benefits for one of your children. 

You do not have to apply for this benefit program to be automatically added to your ODSP payments should you meet the eligibility criteria. 

Work-Related Benefit

The Work-Related Benefit is given to each family member when you and your family earn money from a job or make profits from your business. 

To be eligible for the program: 

• you, your spouse, or your children should be 18 years or older. 
• the money you or your family members earn should be non-exempt.

If the money you earn is exempt, that is, does not affect your income support amount, you will not be eligible to receive the benefit.

Employment Transition Benefit

This benefit is available to recipients and their family members who are leaving ODSP for paid work. 

The maximum benefit amount paid is $500. This benefit is meant to help you transition from income support to being employed.

The Employment Transition Benefit is given once in 12 months. However, the amount paid per family is $500, regardless of how many family members are working.

Other Provincial Disability And Income Assistance Programs

All Canadian provincial governments offer their disability benefits and income assistance programs. Some of them include:

• Alberta Working Parents Benefit
• British Columbia PWD Benefit 
• SAID Benefit
• British Columbia Income Assistance
• Nova Scotia Income Assistance Benefit
• Manitoba EIA Benefit 
• VAC Disability Benefit 
• Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Payment Dates FAQs

Is the ODSP amount increased every year?

No, the ODSP amount is not increased every year because it is not indexed to inflation. It was last increased in September 2018 at 1.5% but there have been no plans made to increase the amount in 2023. 

How much can someone on ODSP have in the bank?

You can only have a maximum amount of $40,000 in the bank if you're single and a maximum amount of $50,000 for a married couple. However, if you have other assets, they will be added to the value of your assets. 

Can I collect ODSP and CPP disability? 

No, you cannot collect both ODSP and Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits (COPD). Although you may be eligible for both at the same time, you cannot receive both payments. If the CPP-D monthly amount that you are to be paid is higher than the one you are paid by the ODSP, you may have to forfeit the ODSP payment in favour of the higher CPP-D payment.

Does an inheritance affect your ODSP payment?

Yes, an inheritance may affect your ODSP payment if it is a nonexempt asset such as stocks and bonds, or properties. However, if it is an exempt asset like the home you live in, it will not affect your ODSP payment amount. 

What is the ODSP rate for a single person? 

The maximum ODSP rate for a single person is $672 for basic needs and $497 for shelter costs giving a total ODSP amount of $1,169. Single recipients can receive extra ODSP amounts if they reside in a remote community. 

Can you work while on ODSP?

Yes, you can work while on ODSP. The ODSP encourages recipients to work and also provides them with additional aid to help these beneficiaries start working. Furthermore, working, while on ODSP, will provide you with additional support financially.