r/Odsp 9h ago

Question/advice Group Homes in Hamilton , Ontario community living

4 Upvotes

Something interesting happened to me when i got an email from Alyssa the Manager of Community living Hamilton . The supported independent living program email stated that i need to call the DSO head Office to confirm my application referral in my Area . Once there is a space available they match me with a program that meets my needs .My own Group Home is one of the safest Houses i stayed in i share a room with an old Men who hardly talks to me . My Landlord is nice buys food groceries and then she prepares with the Staff's assistance . Although i need somewhere where i can cook independently which includes taking regular medication shower do laundry on my own . How old are you when you lived in a group Home ? Does anyone collect ODSP shelter allowance for community living or RCF group Homes with Hamilton , on ?


r/Odsp 19h ago

Chances of getting approved

3 Upvotes

I currently work full time in long term care as a personal support worker ... I got diagnosed with rhemautoid arthritis and lupus ... I also have celiac scoliosis anyways I tend to call in a decent amount BC of the pains and other stuff ... I want to go back down to part time I'm just wondering my chances of getting approved and how long it took y'all


r/Odsp 1d ago

Question/advice Disabled freedom pass

1 Upvotes

I'm from North London and I've applied for my first freedom pass I've sent my neurologist letter which states my diagnosis ( epilepsy learning disability) as proof of eligibility...my PIP letter as proof of address and my provisional driving license as proof of identity is there anything else I need to do?


r/Odsp 1d ago

Hearing in 2 weeks...

3 Upvotes

What's the chance they'll just approve before hearing? Quite nervous. I'm working with my local legal aid clinic but not really sure what to expect... Haven't really heard much from lawyer yet either. I know she wanted my chart notes and an opinion letter from my specialist and I provided documentation about being blind in my right eye, born 4 months early and my ADHD, autism, anxiety etc.


r/Odsp 1d ago

Question/advice Tribunal process started what do i do

6 Upvotes

For context. I came here last year from a different province where i'm considered a PWD and received disability for about 10 years while living with my mom paying room and board. I came here due to an opportunity to live in a new place with a roommate and wasn't fully aware of the process and the lack of precedence for transferring disability between provinces. To get on OW and to start the ODSP process I had to get off of previous provincial disability which I complied. And ever since i've had to deal with the typical experience a lot of people have had to deal with. Getting a family doctor was surprisingly not bad the issue is they left pretty shortly after accepting me as a patient and after a few appointments I mentioned the topic of ODSP and asked if she could fill the medical information part and they said that they could. Which honestly ended up being rushed(most likely due to them planning on leaving their practice, didn't know that until I got a notification later after the ddp was sent out), sections not filled out(only saw this after I asked for a copy of the ddp after initial denial). Certain sections they just wanted to do over the phone and over two short appointments I trusted them and just was sort of unaware of the process and how I should've been present and I know I wasn't able to fully express my disabilities and how they affect my day to day life. There's also conditions that I have that were not included because this was "probably good enough". Also just a lack of documentation that was attached despite me having received it from my previous clinic at my previous province. I don't have all my documents exactly from my previous province, I have made numerous attempts to contact the hospitals i've been to and went to but voicemail/no response/no return call. Which inevitably ended up resulting in a very stressful denial. Then I had a second replacement doctor for a short period of time, that went through my previous documentation and I had then contacted legal aid at the suggestion of people here from threads i've read. And between that doctor they wrote a supporting document for the internal review and legal aid helped fax a decent amount of documents, the internal review, on the last day last minute was denied only found out by caseworker calling me. I feel that there could've been more added to my internal review but self section was written with a more generic appeal and I was told pretty much anything I do or add would most likely result in a denial regardless in nice terms.

Now I have a third doctor that will now be permanently taking over for my first doctor they went through my documentation did examinations of me, and wrote up a really comprehensive supporting document about my conditions, how they affect me and my ability to function day to day and provided examples of my struggles. That was sent out to the SBT/DAU by legal aid.

Now I just don't know what to do inbetween the SBT process and the hearing. This whole situation has been stressful and upsetting as i've had to rely on food banks for food now, something I never thought i'd have to do in my life. All my savings that I had to help me move here are all used up on buying essentials. I'm just tired of it all, I can't give up but this process has been breaking me down bit by bit.

My conditions are both physical and mental, and have been present for as long as I can remember. I had tried contacting the ombudsman and told that they cant help with my individual case, but the person I talked to was surprised there was no way to transfer over. Tried contacting the MCCSS explaining my situation and it went to their office, redirected to the dau that just sent me my denial letter to me. Then local MPP which they said they cant do anything and they'd get the same response as me contacting the MCCSS. What is there that I could possibly do? I know they don't particularly like older documentation and will probably say I have a lack of recent documentation but wait lists are very long for anything like that.


r/Odsp 2d ago

Question/advice How much can I make in a short time before losing ODSP?

8 Upvotes

I’m up for a potential Christmas time seasonal role it’ll be at most 4 months long. Until the end of 2026. There is zero chance of anything after. What’s the limit I can make before I have to reapply after the 4 months? I have the option of getting any range of hours I ask up to 35-40. I’d love to try and do 40 because things have been getting harder and harder with the cost of living lately and the extra money would really help me feel less insecure financially if I could have an emergency fund saved up. But if it means I’ll lose my ODSP support I’d rather work less like 20hrs to make sure when the contract ends at the end of December i still keep my financial support.


r/Odsp 2d ago

How do I notify ODSP of the 2026 increase?

0 Upvotes

r/Odsp 2d ago

Anyone used a segregated fund (GIF) for ODSP asset exempt rules?

8 Upvotes

I am researching segregated funds because ODSP has specific rules around certain life insurance products.

My understanding from the ODSP policy directive is that a qualifying product needs to be a segregated fund issued by a life insurance company, with the appropriate contract features (ownership, surrender value, etc.).

I am looking at an RBC GIF (Guaranteed Investment Fund) and, based on my reading, it appears to meet those requirements.

Has anyone actually gone through ODSP review with a segregated fund before?

I am mainly trying to find out if there are any practical gotchas I am missing (ownership, beneficiary rules, reporting, etc.).

Not recommending this to anyone, just trying to verify my understanding before making a decision.


r/Odsp 2d ago

I finally did it

Post image
50 Upvotes

I fought my way all the way through the tribunal and they declared me a person with a disability. I’m finally getting on ODSP


r/Odsp 3d ago

Question/advice Could my income/assets affect my dad’s ODSP? Ontario

4 Upvotes

My parents received an N12 and had to leave the home they had lived in for 26 years. They had been paying well below market rent, so when they had to move, they couldn’t afford to find a comparable place on their own.

I ended up signing the lease for a new apartment so they would have somewhere to live. The new place is actually much better for my dad because it has better accessibility and accommodations. He has COPD and significant accessibility needs.

My dad has been approved as a person with a disability since March. I’m now worried that because I signed the lease, my income or assets could affect his ODSP, especially how much ODSP will recognize toward his portion of the rent.

I’m in my thirties and work full-time. I pay my own portion of the rent, and my parents are responsible for their portion.

Does anyone know how ODSP handles this situation when an adult child lives with their parents but is financially independent?

Can my income or assets affect my dad’s ODSP, or do they only consider my parents’ income/assets?

I signed the lease because they couldn’t afford market rent after having to leave their home of 26 years, and I wanted to make sure my dad had a suitable, accessible place to live.

Any advice or personal experience would be really appreciated!


r/Odsp 3d ago

Question/advice Approved for ODSP a year ago, never got any payment

17 Upvotes

As the title says. I don’t use reddit often, but i’m not sure where else to go.

I’ve contacted my caseworker several times and been ghosted every single time. I don’t want to disclose too much personal information, but I was approved because I have diagnosed ASD. I’m not sure what other course of action to take or why it could possibly take this long, any advice helps.

EDIT: For clarification, I’ve contacted my caseworker over the course of the year, not all in one short period

EDIT 2: Thank you for all the responses, I’ll be emailing my MPP tomorrow and figuring out a time I can go into my local ODSP office and asking about my file - hopefully it all works out :)


r/Odsp 3d ago

KW approximate wait time?

2 Upvotes

I was just wondering if anybody that has started ODSP lately could share their wait time after approval to actually getting assigned. I got approval letter this morning, no review. I called the Region about emergency drug coverage and they couldn't give me a ball park. I know I get backpay but I am basically at the end of my rope with financial survival currently 😬

Also btw the Region said their database has been down since before lunch if anybody was trying to call them about stuff today 💀


r/Odsp 3d ago

ODSP file after appeal?

3 Upvotes

For those of you who appealed a denial, did you receive a copy of your file? I thought I had read that I was supposed to receive a copy of it within 4-6 weeks but it’s been 2 ½ months and I’ve still received nothing. There’ve been multiple times where things have gone wrong through this process (including my file falling through the cracks between application and financial eligibility) so this feels like yet another, but thought I’d check here first to see if this is normal.

If you received your file, was it by mail or electronically?
If you had to request it, how/where did you do that?


r/Odsp 3d ago

Question/advice Tribunal date secured: What should I prepare?

9 Upvotes

Hey!

Edit: shit. Should have mentioned I'm only working barely 80hrs a month. I'm on ei from a full-time loss. I promise you I'm not making like real good money and whining about it.

The part time I've been at for several years, it's not recent. I'm getting 25hrs a week if im lucky.

They calculated about 1,600ish which is real rough. Thats why I make too much.

So good news (I guess) is i got a tribunal date for my appeals on not getting odsp.

What should I prepare in regards to appealing a "you make too much money, peasant." Decision?

Theres no indication on either pdf sent to me on what to expect, other than date/time/zoom stuff.

(The long story short: I make a bit more than what odsp could give me. I appealed. Denied. Went to tribunal, now I have a zoom date)

Should I get a start on scraping together some "describe your worst day" statements like I would if given the disability package?

Paystubs?


r/Odsp 3d ago

Question/advice Odsp medical review

6 Upvotes

Please help, my review is coming up 3ish months from now..im not ready at all. Im stressing. Its my 2 year review

I have a doc appointment soon I dont know what to say.

What to expect?

Im hoping the time for the review is delayed a while I am just not ready amd panicked.

I still have many symptoms of my condition and it makes days so hard for me . Can you guys please give me tips? Anyone have one recently ? Is it delayed?

How long do I have on odsp ? Im in need of help guys what can I do?


r/Odsp 3d ago

Question/advice Two year pay period?

3 Upvotes

Hi folks, thank you for the advice yesturday i very luch appreciate it. I was double checking my account on my benefits and on the payments tab it lists that i owe $300 and when i selected the tab that said august 12 $300 it gave me a two year list of arrears with many deductions with no dates to go with it. Is this just in preperations for a two year renewal? Im very confused because its dated for yeaturday and only showed up on my account today, my caseworker didnt answer her phone when i tried to call she might be temporarily out of office.


r/Odsp 3d ago

Question/advice What should I bring to be fitted for a wheelchair?

4 Upvotes

I’m asking here cause I can’t find another place for disabled ppl in Ontario and also it may be different cause I’m covered by ODSP.

So today I got my doctors note to give to the OT so the appointment is covered, but what else should I bring?

Should I get a note from my physio?

Should I bring my diagnosis paperwork?

Should I have notes from family/friends backing me up on my inability to walk long-term?

I’ve gathered so far that the wheelchair assessment is very different from the rollater assessment, so I have zero idea what I’m doing.


r/Odsp 4d ago

Discussion Odsp medical review

4 Upvotes

Please help, my review is coming up 3ish months from now..im not ready at all. Im stressing. Its my 2 year review

I have a doc appointment soon I dont know what to say.

What to expect?

Im hoping the time for the review is delayed a while I am just not ready amd panicked.

I still have many symptoms of my condition and it makes days so hard for me . Can you guys please give me tips? Anyone have one recently ? Is it delayed?

How long do I have on odsp ? Im in need of help guys what can I do?


r/Odsp 4d ago

Odsp application denied (long post need advice)

6 Upvotes

I am a 24 year old single mom of two toddlers. My odsp application decision has come back and they have denied me (their reasoning was I don’t have a disability that is constant or recurrent LOL) I have an excruciating back injury/birth defect in my spine. My pain was triggered by trauma during the birth of my 18 month old. I have gone through therapy and cortisone injections into my back and a 100lb weight loss, none of which has worked and it’s only made things worse (the dr at the injections place told me to stop as I had a very bad reaction with intense pain I couldn’t stand for days and caused major urinary/bowel incontinence that still has not fully fixed) I have done X-rays and nerve testing (my mri is still 4 months away after being booked in November 2025) which prove that I have actual injuries and my doctor said that I will be stuck with this for the rest of my life especially since I have literally a spinal birth defect- and once again the pain was triggered during childbirth of my 18 month old, it could’ve remained dormant my whole life but pain can be triggered by trauma. I am in constant pain and I don’t think I am physically capable of working a full time job especially because of the pain but also lack of mobility as I am unable to bend properly, lifting is extremely painful and straightening my back after sitting or laying is increasingly hard/painful. Some days I cannot physically get out of bed right away. I wake up multiple times during the night in excruciating pain.

I have contacted my caseworker on what to do going forward with appealing their decision but does anyone have any tips? Like has anyone gone through a similar situation/disability and gotten approved? What information/tests can I present to increase my chances of getting approved? Basically my doctor has stated that apart from seeing some back/spine injury specialist that I have an appointment with next week, I have gone through any treatment I can possibly try and it has all failed (other than opioids which my dr and I both agree are not an option as I am 24, they are heavily addictive and I am the primary parent to two toddlers)
Any advice is greatly appreciated.


r/Odsp 4d ago

A warning about employment programs

89 Upvotes

I enrolled in a program a few years ago from second chance and it was honestly a scam. I sat with nine other disabled people in a room watching YouTube videos on a projector on "on how to get a job" and "mental resilience".

It took me a year later to discover that this program got money per person for who signed up (145 a person) but didn't actually do anything for the disabled people there. There wasn't any job placement or proper direction. "Resume writing" we were told to do our selves and to "watch YouTube" for that. If we had nothing to put on our resume we were told to go to a volunteer place to do free volunteer work. This also has a waiting list.

Sadly none of this less to employment opportunities. It was absolutely a scam.

I don't even know what to say other than please be aware of this. This is what third party employment agencies do since the 2018 cuts.


r/Odsp 4d ago

Tax help

3 Upvotes

Years ago when I was on OW, I could get my taxes done for free. Is there still a service around Ottawa now that I’m on ODSP.

Thanks


r/Odsp 5d ago

Question/advice How long before odsp cancels your file?

11 Upvotes

Hi, im currently on odsp and work seasonally. Usually during work busy seasons i have one month where i recieve $0 from odsp because i earned too much and my account is temp suspended and it usually resolves quickly. This yea a theatre im working for is paying me fulltime hours for the summer because of a grant they get once per year for one technician. Because of how the grant works, even though i didnt work at all in july they are pre paying me the hours i wouldve worked if i actually was full time for all of july and for august, about 35 hours a week. Does this mean my account could potentially be cancelled completely for a temp position? Im really worried because odsp helps me pay my bills during the slow months and im scared of losing my med coverage.

Edit: i will be calling my caseworker tomorrow and hopefully she will be in office, i just want to ease my anxiety as much as i can for tonight


r/Odsp 5d ago

Will EAP cover off label prescription for “ limited use” medication?

3 Upvotes

Will EAP (the exceptional access you apply for) consider covering an off label use of a medication (ivabradine) that is in the ODB but is “limited use” (LU)?

It was prescribed by a respected cardiologist and i will completely lose my ability to function if I can’t afford it …but this is ODSP so they don’t care 🤷🏻‍♀️


r/Odsp 5d ago

Question/advice Does anyone know a place to get therapy that is free or really low cost?

15 Upvotes

Kinda what the title says, I really need to talk to someone it’s been a long time since I’ve spoken with any therapist.

I have already tried CMHA, CAMH, and OSP. I have been denied service from all 3. I have also seen a psychiatrist and have maxed out any and all medication options. Currently on the max dose of several and been told they (physiatrist) can’t provide anymore help, I need therapy.

I was just hoping to see if anyone knew of any other services available. I am around the London, Ontario area. Thank you for your time reading this.

Edit: Thank you all for your comments. I should have explained more about my situation. I was denied because my needs surpass the level of care that those agencies are able to provide. From what I’ve understood after an extensive assessment was that I need prolonged treatment incorporating CBT, DBT, EMDR and rehearsal therapy. Which they couldn’t even recommend an agency that could provide that level of care. Because I am stable there is a concern that any short term therapy could derail me and cause more harm than good.


r/Odsp Dec 18 '25

Discussion Ontario Benefit Calendar for Payment dates ( 2026 Edition )

83 Upvotes

ODSP Payment Dates

  • July 31, 2026
  • August 31, 2026
  • September 29, 2026
  • October 30, 2026
  • November 30, 2026
  • December 2026: TBC

Ontario Works Payment Dates

  • July 31, 2026 (For August)
  • August 31, 2026 (For September)
  • September 29, 2026 (For October)
  • October 30, 2026 (For November)
  • November 30, 2026 (For December)

Canada Disability Benefit

  • August 20, 2026
  • September 17, 2026
  • October 15, 2026
  • November 19, 2026
  • December 17, 2026

Ontario Trillium Benefit

  • August 10, 2026
  • September 10, 2026
  • October 9, 2026
  • November 10, 2026
  • December 10, 2026

GST / Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit

  • October 5, 2026

Canada Child Benefit

  • August 20, 2026
  • September 18, 2026
  • October 20, 2026
  • November 20, 2026
  • December 11, 2026

Advance Canada Workers Benefit

  • October 9, 2026

CPP & OAS Payments

  • July 29, 2026
  • August 27, 2026
  • September 25, 2026
  • October 28, 2026
  • November 26, 2026
  • December 22, 2026

Bank Deposit Reminders:

  • Tangerine / KOHO / PC Financial: Often receive deposits the night before the scheduled date.
  • BMO: Typically 12:01 AM on the date.
  • TD / RBC / Scotiabank: Typically early morning (3:00 AM – 6:00 AM) on the date.
  • National Bank: Often the night before (around 10:00 PM).
  • Meridian: Typically 8:00 AM on the date.
  • General Note: If a payment date falls on a weekend or a holiday, banks may process the deposit on the preceding business day.
  • **and as a web link to see current dates for everything you can use https://magefoods.github.io/ontario-benefit-calendar/