A Guide to ODSP Payments and More 2025

The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is a social assistance program that provides financial support to eligible residents of Ontario who have disabilities.

It’s meant as a last resort to help people who have exhausted all outlets, such as seeking a job, the Workplace Safety Insurance Board (WSIB), and the Canada Pension Plan Disability benefit (CPP-D).

The payments are meant to help cover expenses like housing and food, and it also provides basic insurance including drug coverage and vision care.

ODSP payments are made monthly on the last business day of the month – the December payment is usually made earlier in the month.

For 2024 ODSP payment dates, check out this table:

There are three ways you can receive your ODSP payment: by direct deposit, by reloadable payment card, or by paper cheque.

The easiest, quickest and safest way to receive your ODSP payment every month is by signing up for direct deposit.

That way, your payment will automatically be deposited in your bank account on the dates outlined above.

If you don’t have a bank account, another option is a reloadable payment card.

It works similarly to a debit card, but without being associated to a bank account.

The ODSP payments get electronically loaded onto the card, and you can use a PIN to withdraw money from any ATM, for online shopping and to pay at stores.

While direct deposit and reloadable payment cards are the most commonly used payment methods, you may also be eligible to receive the payment in the form of a cheque every month.

However, they are only issued this way under exceptional circumstances, such as (but not limited to):

• If there are no accessible bank branches or ATMs near your home to allow for the use of your bank/debit card
• If you have trouble accessing shops in your area that accept bank/debit cards as form of payment
• If you have a disability that hinders you from using a bank/debit card
• If you don’t have the identification documents needed to open a bank account
• If your living situation doesn’t allow for easy use of a bank/debit card or reloadable payment card, such as if you live in an institution or group home
• If you live on a First Nations reserve and can’t use direct deposit

If you want to receive your ODSP payment by cheque and want to see if you qualify for any exceptional circumstances, contact your case worker.

How Much Will I Receive?

If you’re eligible for ODSP, you could receive $1,308 a month to help with your shelter and basic needs.

But ultimately, this amount will vary depending on your circumstances.

The amount paid out to you will be split between two different factors: shelter and basic needs. 

The basic needs portion of your ODSP payment is meant to help support you with the cost of food, clothing, and other necessary personal items.

This amount will depend on:

• How many people there are in your family, and how old they are
• Whether your spouse is living with a disability

The shelter portion of your ODSP payment is meant to help support you with the cost of your rent or mortgage, heating, utilities such as hydro and water, home insurance, property tax, and condo fees.

This amount will depend on:

• Your current shelter costs depending on the number of people in your family, up to a certain maximum

ODSP Eligibility

To qualify for ODSP, you need to meet these requirements:

• Be a minimum of 18 years old (but you can start the application process up to 6 months prior to your 18th birthday)
• Be a resident of Ontario
• Be in financial need, in other words not have enough money to cover you and your family’s living costs
• Have a disability, or be a member of a Prescribed Class of people who don’t need to go through the disability adjudication process to qualify for ODSP

Your financial eligibility will be assessed first, followed by your disability status (unless you are a member of a prescribed class, in which case you won’t need your disability assessed).

If you meet the financial qualifications, you’ll receive a package of forms to fill out with your health care practitioner about your disability, and then your eligibility for ODSP will be assessed.

Keep in mind that even if you are not eligible for ODSP income support, you may still be eligible for ODSP employment support, which helps Ontarians with disabilities find and/or keep a job, and advance their careers.

You can learn more about ODSP employment support eligibility and the application process here.

How To Apply for ODSP

The ODSP application is a 5-step process:

• Apply for ODSP online: Fill out some personal information on behalf of you and your family, including income information and expenses. The process generally takes between 20 to 30 minutes.
• The ODSP office closest to you will contact you within 15 business days and schedule an intake interview. In this interview, you may be asked to show bills and other documents supporting your claims.
• Meet with your case worker to review your application: If additional documents are not needed, they will let you know with another 15 business days whether you are eligible for ODSP.
• Submit your disability determination package (DDP): If the office determines that you are financially eligible for ODSP, then you’ll receive the DDP. It needs to be filled out by your doctor or a health care provider and mailed to the Disability Adjudication Unit – there will be an envelope with an address included in the package. Then, they will review your completed package and let you know within 90 days whether you’re disability-qualified.
• Once the decision is made, your local ODSP office will contact you to arrange a meeting with your case worker. If you’re eligible, they will outline when you can expect your payments and help you create a plan.