The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) provides income and employment support to people with disabilities.
To qualify for ODSP, you must:
If you receive Ontario Works (OW) and you have a disability, you may be eligible for ODSP. Advise your caseworker that you would like to apply for ODSP and they will give you application forms called Disability Determination Package (DDP).
If you apply for social assistance online, you will have the option to apply for both OW and ODSP at the same time. If you meet financial requirements, your caseworker will give you the DDP at your first appointment.
If you received ODSP in the past, you may be able to return without starting a new application. Please speak to your OW caseworker or contact your local ODSP office about rapid reinstatement.
The Disability Determination Package (DDP) or application package includes instructions and four forms.
Your health care provider will complete these forms at no cost to you:
Your health care provider has the option to complete the medical forms digitally. You can ask your caseworker to send these directly to your health care provider.
You will complete the other two forms:
After completing your portion of the forms, you can ask your health care provider to submit them, digitally, on your behalf.
A family member, friend, trustee or someone from a community group who knows about your health conditions(s) can help you with your application. 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.
The Disability Adjudication Unit (DAU) is the office that reviews and makes decisions on all ODSP applications. Make sure that your application has all the information on your health conditions(s) as the DAU decision is based on the medical information on the application.
You have 90 days to complete and send the forms to the DAU, either digitally through your health care provider or by mail to the following address:
Ontario Disability Support Program
Disability Adjudication Unit
Box B18
Toronto ON, M7A 1R3
If you have questions or need more time to complete the DDP, you can contact the DAU at 416-326-5079 or toll free at 1-888-256-6758.
Before you send in your application package:
If you get more medical information after submitting your application, you can mail it to the DAU 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.
The DAU will mail you their decision.
If the DAU says yes to your application, your Ontario Works (OW) caseworker will send your file to the local Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) office that will grant ODSP benefits based on the financial information from OW.
If the DAU says no to your application, you have the right to ask, in writing, for an Internal Review, 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 Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (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 Disability Adjudication Unit up to 30 days from your hearing date with the SBT.
Read more about Ontario Works.