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| Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) |
Eligibility
In order to qualify for ODSP benefits, you must meet the definition of a “person with a disability”. This means:
You have a substantial physical or mental health problem that is expected to last a year or more
Your health problem substantially limits your ability to work, look after yourself, or carry out daily activities at home and in the community
OR IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS, YOU CAN QUALIFY WITHOUT MEETING THE DEFINITION OF DISABILITY:
People who get Canada Pension Plan disability benefits (CPP-D)
People over 65 years of age who are not eligible for Old Age Security
People who live in certain psychiatric or developmental services facilities, or in some special care homes
People who are discharged from developmental services facilities if they were living there on May 31, 1998
Most people who have been transferred to the ODSP from Family Benefits (FB)
YOU MUST ALSO NEED INCOME SUPPORT
This means that you cannot have income above a certain amount, that amount depends on your family size and housing costs.
You cannot have savings, or assets, above a certain level. That level also depends on family size.
Some income or assets do not count, call EOLC for help in determining if you qualify.
Exemptions on Income: some types of approved loans, payments used for disability-related items or services, gifts or voluntary payments up to $4000 in any 12 months
Exemptions on assets: principle residence, motor vehicle, tools of trade for employment, monetary awards for pain and suffering up to $100 000, special government compensation, locked in RRSPs, inheritance trusts and life insurance policies up to a max of $100 000, loans for the purchase of assets, loans for first and last months rent
You have an obligation to realize all financial resources. Examples: child support, support from sponsors, uncollected debt, student loans, EI benefits, CPP benefits
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| You can only apply for ODSP through Ontario Works or a local ODSP office. If you need money right away, you should apply at an Ontario Works (OW) office so that you can get OW benefits while you wait for your ODSP application to be decided.
If you cannot apply in person you should contact the local OW office and will be given the telephone number of the regional Intake Screening Unit (ISU) to apply
If you are found to be eligible for assistance, you will be sent a disability determination package (DDP) to complete and forward to the Disability Adjudication Unit (DAU) within 90 days
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The Disability Determination Package consists of the following:
1. Health Status Report (HSR)
Only certain health professionals may verify each of the elements of the disability, The Health Status Report must be completed by a doctor, psychologist, optometrist, or nurse practitioner who is a registered nurse in the extended class
2. Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
The ADL form can be completed by a: doctor, psychologist, optometrist, audiologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, chiropractor, or, nurse practitioner who is a registered nurse in the extended class
3. Self Report (SR)
This form is completed by the applicant
Completion of the SR is optional, but you must sign and date the form. The application will be deemed incomplete if the form is not signed and dated
Completing this form may help to explain your disability, but you must make sure that all information provided is accurate and complete.
4. Consent to Release Medical Information (Consent)
This form is completed by the applicant
If the applicant meets the test of a “person with a disability”, the DAU will send notice to the local ODSP office. The local ODSP staff will verify financial eligibility and calculate the effective date of grant.
If DAU believes that the applicant does not qualify, the applicant is advised of their right to request an internal review of the decision
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If you do not send in your completed forms within 90 days, your application will be considered withdrawn and you will have to re-apply.
If you cannot sent in the completed forms within 90 days, you can ask the Disability Adjudication Unit (DAU) to give you more time but you must give them a reason for the extension.
If you are getting OW benefits when you apply to ODSP and you miss the 90-day deadline, you may lose your OW benefits.
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If you are found to be ineligible, you should immediately ask for the reasons in writing
You will have 10 days to object in writing to an ISU decision and ask for an Internal Review – this objection and request MUST be made in writing.
If you miss the 10-day time limit, you should still ask for an internal review. You will need to ask for an extension of time in your written request for an internal review.
You should get a decision regarding the internal review within 10 days of requesting it. If the decision to refuse benefits is confirmed, you have 30 days from the date of the decision to appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT)
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If an application has been denied or a recipient’s benefits have been reduced or suspended, the individual should receive a notice of decision including
the decision, the date of the decision, the reasons for it, and should advise that a request for an internal review has to be made if the applicant intends to appeal to the SBT
An internal review request should include: applicant’s name, date of birth OR case ID number, address, a statement that a review is requested, and the reason for the request
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In order to appeal to the SBT an approved form must be used for the notice of appeal, and it must include reasons for the appeal request. This form is available at the local ODSP or OW office. EOLC can also assist you in filing the appropriate forms.
When you appeal, you can ask the SBT to order interim assistance. If this request is denied, you can write and ask SBT to reconsider.
If the SBT does order interim assistance, the local OW office will have to pay you OW benefits while you wait for your appeal. If the appeal is unsuccessful, you will have to pay back the benefits.
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Income Support
Income Support is made up of two parts: (i) an amount for basic needs, and (ii) an amount for shelter (actual costs up to a maximum)
the amount of income support available is dependant on the size of your family, actual shelter costs, any special needs, and any other income that other family members have
Health and Other Benefits
Each member of the recipient’s family is entitled to certain health and other benefits. This includes prescription drug coverage, some dental, vision and hearing service, and some medical equipment and supplies
Employment Supports
Services are provided in order to remove an individual’s barriers to employment and to assist the person in reaching their employment goals
The most commonly covered expenses relate to training, or setting up small businesses
There is an alternative appeal process for employment supports. If you need help with any aspect of the application process or if you have been denied benefits and would like to appeal that decision, contact EOLC.
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| Interim Assistance is money paid to the applicant while he or she waits for a Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT) hearing
An application for interim assistance is part of the SBT appeal form. The SBT may order the local office to pay the Applicant interim assistance if they are satisfied that the Appellant will suffer financial hardship during the time it takes the SBT to decide the case
If the appellant withdraws the appeal, loses the appeal to the SBT, or does not attend the hearing, the interim assistance is deemed to be an overpayment
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People with disabilities qualify for benefits under the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP). The rules about CPP disability pension are different from the ODSP. Contact EOLC for more information or check out the CPP link on this website.
Depending on your situation, you might be entitled to other benefits such as Employment Insurance sickness benefits, Veterans Affairs disability benefits, or pension benefits from another country where you once lived.
ODSP Offices - South West Region
St. Thomas
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ontario Disability Support Program
Income and Employment Supports
427 Talbot St., 3rd Floor
St. Thomas ON N7M 4V7
Tel: (519) 631-3032
Toll Free: 1-800-561-3886
TDD/TTY: (519) 637-2217
Woodstock
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ontario Disability Support Program
Income and Employment Supports
93 Graham St.
Woodstock, ON N4S 6J8
Tel: (519) 537-5579
Toll Free: 1-800-461-7296
TDD/TTY: (519) 537-8429
London
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ontario Disability Support Program
Income and Employment Supports
217 York Street
Box 5217, Suite 203
London, ON N6A 5R1
Tel: (519) 438-5111
Toll Free: 1-800-265-4197
TDD/TTY: (519) 663-5276
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