The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) provides income and employment support to people with disabilities. You can apply for ODSP while receiving Ontario Works, but it is not a requirement to be on Ontario Works to apply for the program.
To qualify for ODSP, you must:
The Disability Determination Package (DDP) includes:
The Health Status Report and the Activities of Daily Living forms should be completed by your health care providers who know your health situation best. You do not have to pay the health care provider(s) to fill out the forms. Health care providers are paid by the provincial government to complete these forms. Letters of support from additional health care providers can also be included with your application. If you need help finding a health care professional to complete the forms, contact Health Care Connect at 1-800-445-1822.
You fill out the Consent and Self Report forms. The Consent form lets the Disability Adjudication Unit (DAU) get information for your application. The DAU is the office that reviews and makes decisions on all ODSP medical applications. The Self Report is your chance to explain, in your own words, how your health impacts your ability to work, look after yourself or carry out daily activities at home and in the community. A family member, friend, trustee or someone from a community group who knows about your health problem(s) can help you fill it out. Please talk to your OW caseworker if you need help with the Self Report. If you decide you do not want to fill out the Self Report, you still have to sign and return it. Your application cannot be processed without it.
Once you receive the medical application, you have 90 days to complete it and return it to the DAU. If you cannot get all the medical information you need within 90 days, you can ask for more time to return the application. Once the medical application has been completed, mail it to the DAU in the envelope provided.
Before you mail in your package:
If you have questions or need more time to complete the DDP, you can contact the DAU at 416-326-5079 (Toronto) or toll free at 1-888-256-6758.
Make sure that your application has all the information on your health problem(s) as the DAU decision is based on the medical information on the application.
The DAU will mail you their decision. If the DAU says yes to your application, your OW caseworker will send your file to the local ODSP office. The local ODSP office will then grant ODSP benefits based on the financial information from OW.
If the DAU says no to your application and you don’t agree with this decision, you have the right to ask the DAU, in writing, for an Internal Review (IR), within 30 days of receiving the decision.
If the answer to the Internal Review is also no, or you do not get an answer within 10 days of your request, you have the right to ask for an appeal hearing with the Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT). The SBT is an independent body that hears appeals of OW and ODSP decisions.
Your request must be in writing and within 30 days of the date of the decision. A hearing to discuss your medical situation will be scheduled. You have the right to bring a legal representative to your hearing. A representative from a community legal clinic may be able to assist you. Ask your OW caseworker for a community legal clinic in your area.
You can give more medical information to the DAU up to 30 days from your hearing date with the Social Benefits Tribunal.
If you are receiving Ontario Works (OW) and believe you may be a person with a disability, you have the right to apply to ODSP from OW. Ask your OW caseworker for the ODSP application, called “Disability Determination Package (DDP).”
If you received ODSP in the past, you may be able to return to ODSP without starting a new application. Please speak to your OW caseworker or contact your local ODSP office about rapid reinstatement.
If you get more medical information after you mail in the DDP — for example, test results or medical reports, or there is a change in your health — mail this information to the DAU. You can do this at any time during the application process.
You do not have to fill out the ODSP medical application form if you are:
Your application would only require confirmation of financial eligibility. Please speak to your OW caseworker about making a referral to ODSP.