Searching for Ontario Disability Support Program

An Ontario government program designed to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities and their families who are in financial need, or who want to work and need support.

The program has two parts:

• Income Support - provides financial assistance and other benefits to eligible people. This can include accommodation and basic living expenses as well as prescription drugs and basic dental care
  
• Employment Supports Program - provides goods and services to eligible people with disabilities to help overcome barriers to employment. This program is designed for people with disabilities who want to work but need specific supports to help them prepare for, obtain and keep a job in their community

A person with a disability who wants to work may qualify for employment supports even if they are not eligible for income support

Provides income support and employment support to people with disabilities in financial need, or who want and are able to work and need support * Ontarians 65 years or older who are not eligible for Old Age Security may qualify for ODSP supports if they are in financial need

Provides income support and employment support to people with disabilities in financial need, or who want and are able to work and need support * Ontarians 65 years or older who are not eligible for Old Age Security may qualify for ODSP supports if they are in financial need

Ontario government program designed to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities and their families who are in financial need, or who want to work and need support.

The program has two parts:

• Income Support provides financial assistance and other benefits to eligible people. This can include accommodation and basic living expenses as well as prescription drugs and basic dental care
  
  
• Employment Supports program provides goods and services to eligible people with disabilities to help overcome barriers to employment. This program is designed for people with disabilities who want to work, but need specific supports to help them prepare for, obtain and keep a job in their community

A person with a disability who wants to work may qualify for employment supports even if they are not eligible for income support

Provides financial assistance and other benefits to eligible people with disabilities who are in financial need to pay for living expenses, like food and housing.
Health benefits including:

• prescription drugs
• dental care
• vision care
• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment
• pregnancy and breastfeeding nutritional allowance

Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP Income Support.
Disability-related benefits include:

• assistive devices including mobility devices
• vision and hearing aids
• prosthetics
• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• special diet allowance

Housing Stabilization Fund helps with rent and energy arrears, rent deposit and essential furniture.
Contact or visit the website for more details about ODSP benefits.

Program assists people with disabilities in finding sustainable, competitive employment or to helping to realize self-employment. A person does not need to be in receipt of ODSP in order to be eligible for Employment Supports.
Employment Supports Include:

• job preparation and job search assistance
• employment and training start-up benefit
• child care costs
• work related benefit
• transitional health benefit
• employment transition benefit

Transition Child Benefit is available for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit.
Contact or visit the website for more details about ODSP benefits.

Program helps families who are caring for a child with a developmental or physical disability and provides respite support to the family.

Provides income support and employment support to people with disabilities in financial need, or who want and are able to work and need support * Ontarians 65 years or older who are not eligible for Old Age Security may qualify for ODSP supports if they are in financial need

Income supports for people in financial need who have permanent disabilities or disabilities expected to last longer than one year * employment supports are available and provided by community service providers

The Waterloo Region Community Services Department provides resources on the topics of:

• Income Support (e.g. Ontario Works)
  
• Employment Services/Employment Resource Centres
  
• Children's Services
  
• Seniors Services
  
• Housing Services
  

Helps people with disabilities who are in financial need to pay for living expenses, including food and housing.

ODSP has two parts:

• Income Support: financial assistance for people with disabilities
• Employment Support: helps people with disabilities who want to work prepare for and find a job

Program offers financial assistance to help individual/family with essential living expenses

• benefits, for individual/family, including prescription drugs and vision care
• help finding and keeping a job, and with career advancement

Program offers two types of support:

Income Support: financial assistance provided each month to help with the costs of basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter

• also includes benefits for clients and their eligible family members
• health benefits (prescription drug coverage, dental coverage, vision care, medical supplies, medical transportation, pregnancy and breastfeeding nutritional allowance, extended health benefit)
• disability-related benefits (assistive devices, additional help for hearing aids and mobility devices, guide dog benefit)
• employment incentives and benefits (employment and training start up benefit, coverage for up-front child care costs, work-related benefit, transitional health benefit, employment transition benefit)
• transition child benefit

Employment Supports: services and supports to help clients with disabilities find and keep a job, and advance their careers

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) automated information and payment details, file status 1-800-808-2268 (service not available to TTY users), Mon-Fri 8 am-9 pm, Sat-Sun 12 noon-5 pm

Welfare Fraud Hotline to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud 1-800-394-7867 or welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca

This listing provides an overview of benefits from federal, provincial or territorial governments, and acts as an index to related listings in this directory

For a customized list of federal, provincial and territorial programs and services, see the Government of Canada's Benefits Finder
* does not collect or track information

For a customized list of provincial benefits and programs, see the Government of Ontario's Benefits Finder
* does not collect or track information


FEDERAL PROGRAMS:
For assistance with federal programs, see listings for Service Canada Centres here

Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Retirement Pension
A monthly, taxable benefit that partially replaces income
* those 60 or older may apply if they have made at least one valid contribution to the CPP
* for more information, see separate listing here

May also qualify for the following CPP benefits:
* disability benefit is a monthly payment for those CPP contributors under 65 who have a mental or physical disability
* survivor's pension is a monthly payment paid to the legal spouse or common-law partner of the deceased CPP contributor
* children's benefits provide monthly payments to the dependent children of disabled or deceased CPP contributors
* death benefit is a one-time payment, payable to the estate or other eligible individuals, on behalf of a deceased CPP contributor

Employment Insurance (EI)
Provides temporary income support to eligible unemployed workers while they look for employment or to upgrade their skills
* also provides special benefits to workers who take time off work due to specific life events (illness, pregnancy, caring for a newborn or newly adopted child, caring for a critically ill or injured person, or caring for a family member who is seriously ill with a significant risk of death)
* for more information, see separate listing here

Old Age Security (OAS)
A monthly, taxable payment for those 65 and older
* amount depends on income and years lived in Canada or specific countries after the age of 18
* for more information, see separate listing here

May also qualify for the following benefits:
* Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) - for low-income OAS recipients living in Canada
* Allowance - for low-income legal spouses or common-law partners of GIS recipients, ages 60-64, who meet residency requirements
* Allowance for the Survivor - for low-income spouses or common-law partners, ages 60-64, of deceased GIS recipients

Veterans Affairs Canada
Provides income support and emergency funding to eligible veterans and their families
* for more information, see separate listings for Veterans Affairs Canada offices here


PROVINCIAL PROGRAMS:

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Offers monthly financial assistance with living expenses, including food and rent
* for Ontario residents 18 years or older who qualify financially and meet the definition of a disability
* for more information, see separate listing here

Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS)
Provides a monthly, non-taxable benefit to low-income Ontario seniors
* for those 65 and older, who meet residency requirements, and receive the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) payments from the federal government
* for more information, see separate listing here

Ontario Works (OW)
Provides temporary financial assistance to people who are returning to the workforce
* for Ontario residents in financial need who are committed to finding and keeping a job
* for more information, see separate listings for Halton Region's offices here

Provides social assistance to people in need in Perth County. Support for housing, homelessness and childcare.

Low-income Energy Support Program (LEAP) - click here If behind on electricity or natural gas bill or face having service disconnected, individuals may qualify for emergency financial help through LEAP. Please note for Festival Hydro customers, this does not cover water or sewage fees. Support is available from the City of Stratford Social Services, 519-271-3773 Ext 200.

Income Supports:

Health benefits -- prescription drugs, dental care, vision care

• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 per month
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance
• Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP income support

Disability-related benefits -- assistive devices including mobility devices, vision and hearing aids, prosthetics

• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• Special Diet Allowance may be available

Employment incentives and benefits -- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit
child care costs

• Work-related benefit
• Transitional health benefit
• Employment Transition Benefit

Transition Child Benefit -- for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit

Employment Supports -- job preparation, job search, starting a business

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268, Mon-Sun 24 hrs -- automated information and payment details, file status, service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867, welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca-- to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud

Income Supports:

Health benefits -- prescription drugs, dental care, vision care

• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 per month
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance
• Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP income support

Disability-related benefits -- assistive devices including mobility devices, vision and hearing aids, prosthetics

• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• pecial Diet Allowance may be available

Employment incentives and benefits -- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit

• child care costs
• Work-related benefit
• Transitional health benefit
• Employment Transition Benefit

Transition Child Benefit -- for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit

Employment Supports -- job preparation, job search, starting a business

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268, Mon-Sun 24 hrs -- automated information and payment details, file status, service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867, welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca-- to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud

Income supports for people in financial need who have permanent disabilities or disabilities expected to last longer than one year * employment supports are available and provided by community service providers

Access to Government of Canada services, benefits and documentation

Employment Services - Assistance with career planning and counselling including resume and interview assistance and student and youth employment services * access to online Job Bank

Employment Insurance - Basic income protection program for employed workers

Financial Benefits - Information and forms for federal pensions and benefits including the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Disability Benefits, and Survivor Benefits

Social Insurance Number (SIN) application - Personal identification number for access to various Canadian government programs

Services for Business - Services regarding employees and safety, including records of employment, wage subsidies, labour market information, labour standards, occupational health and safety and workplace equity

COVID-19: Some services hae changed in response to COVID-19. See website for information and to apply online.

Helps people with disabilities who are in financial need pay for living expenses, like food and housing.

The program provides eligible people with disabilities with:

Income Support - helps people with disabilities who are in financial need pay for living expenses, like food and housing.

Employment Supports - helps people with disabilities who can and want to work prepare for and find a job.

If a person is receiving ODSP Income support, the individual and their family may be eligible to receive health benefits including prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, medical supplies, transportation to medical appointments.

Extended Health Benefit If someone does not qualify for ODSP income support due to excess income from other sources, they may qualify for the Extended Health Benefit. It may help with the cost of prescription drugs, basic dental care, vision care, medical supplies, transportation to medical appointments, assistive devices including hearing aids.

Access to Government of Canada services, benefits and documentation

Employment Services - Assistance with career planning and counselling including resume and interview assistance and student and youth employment services * access to online Job Bank

Employment Insurance - Basic income protection program for employed workers

Financial Benefits - Information and forms for federal pensions and benefits including the Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Disability Benefits and Survivor Benefits

Social Insurance Number (SIN) application - Personal identification number for access to various Canadian government programs

Services for Business - Services regarding employees and safety, including records of employment; wage subsidies, labour market information, labour standards, occupational health and safety and workplace equity

Income Supports:

Health benefits -- prescription drugs, dental care, vision care

• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 per month
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance
• Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP income support

Disability-related benefits -- assistive devices including mobility devices, vision and hearing aids, prosthetics

• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• Special Diet Allowance may be available

Housing Stabilization Fund, 416-397-5550 -- help with rent and energy arrears, rent deposit and essential furniture

Employment incentives and benefits -- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit

• child care costs
• Work-related benefit
• Transitional health benefit
• Employment Transition Benefit

Transition Child Benefit -- for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit

Employment Supports -- job preparation, job search, starting a business


Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268, Mon-Sun 24 hrs -- automated information and payment details, file status, service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867, welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca-- to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud

Income Supports:

Health benefits -- prescription drugs, dental care, vision care

• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 per month
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance
• Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP income support

Disability-related benefits -- assistive devices including mobility devices, vision and hearing aids, prosthetics

• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• Special Diet Allowance may be available

Housing Stabilization Fund, 416-397-5550 -- help with rent and energy arrears, rent deposit and essential furniture

Employment incentives and benefits -- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit

• child care costs
• Work-related benefit
• Transitional health benefit
• Employment Transition Benefit

Transition Child Benefit -- for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit

Employment Supports -- job preparation, job search, starting a business

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268, Mon-Sun 24 hrs -- automated information and payment details, file status * service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867, welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca -- to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud

Income Supports:

Health benefits -- prescription drugs, dental care, vision care

• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 per month
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance
• Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP income support

Disability-related benefits -- assistive devices including mobility devices, vision and hearing aids, prosthetics

• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• Special Diet Allowance may be available

Housing Stabilization Fund, 416-397-5550 -- help with rent and energy arrears, rent deposit and essential furniture

Employment incentives and benefits -- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit

• child care costs
• Work-related benefit
• Transitional health benefit
• Employment Transition Benefit

Transition Child Benefit -- for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit

Employment Supports -- job preparation, job search, starting a business

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268, Mon-Sun 24 hrs -- automated information and payment details, file status, service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867, welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca -- to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud

Income Supports:

Health benefits -- prescription drugs,,dental care, vision care

• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 per month
• Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance
• Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP income support

Disability-related benefits -- assistive devices including mobility devices, vision and hearing aids, prosthetics

• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• Special Diet Allowance may be available

Housing Stabilization Fund, 416-397-5550 -- help with rent and energy arrears, rent deposit and essential furniture

Employment incentives and benefits -- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit

• child care costs
• Work-related benefit
• Transitional health benefit
• Employment Transition Benefit

Transition Child Benefit -- for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit

Employment Supports -- job preparation, job search, starting a business

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268, Mon-Sun 24 hrs -- automated information and payment details, file status * service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867, welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca -- to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud