Go to ODSP Tip Sheets

Go to our ODSP NEWS  or  CLEONet NEWS

Other Sources of Information (Links):

The Law

Regulations

Policy Directives

Rates

Appeals - Social Benefits Tribunal

CLEO and CLEONet (online information sites)

Other Links (ISAC, ARCH, HALCO clinics)

Income Tax Preparation

Miscellaneous General Health and Disability Links

Home Repair - Funds Available from CMHC and LIEN

ODSP Action Coalition (Special Diet Info)

CLEONet Latest Resources on Health & Disability

CLEONet Latest Resources on Social Assistance

The Law

Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997 - Provincial legislation

Regulations

ADMINISTRATION AND COST SHARING - Ontario Reg. 225/98

ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES - Ontario Reg. 224/98

EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS - Ontario Reg. 223/98

GENERAL - Ontario Reg. 222/98

PRESCRIBED POLICY STATEMENTS - Ontario Reg. 562/05

Policy Directives

Ontario Disability Support Program - Income Support Policy Directives

Ontario Government site listing directives for income support. These are the policies that apply to most of the day to day decisions made about benefits and rights.

Ontario Disability Support Program - Employment Support Policy Directives

Ontario Government site - listing of directives for employment support

Ontario Disability Support Program - General Information

Ontario Government site - explains information about ODSP and contains links for how to apply for income support (or employment support), and frequently asked questions (FAQs) about ODSP.

Ministry of Community and Social Services - ODSP News Releases

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Current Rates

Social Assistance, Pension and Tax Credit Rates (Apr-Jun 2009) (PDF, 2 pgs) (Prepared by the Statistics and Analysis Unit, Social Policy Development Division, Ministry of Community & Social Services)

Social Assistance Rate Restructuring and Child Benefits Fact Sheet (ISAC) (PDF, 4 pgs) - prepared by the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) (this sheet includes the 2% increase effective November 2007 and changes to benefits for families effective July 2008)

Appeals

Social Benefits Tribunal

The Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT) hears appeals by people in Ontario who disagree with a decision that affects the amount of or their eligibility for social assistance. Their website offers pamphlets on appealing decisions, downloadable forms, practice directions and information about tribunal members. 

View/print the SBT APPEAL FORM.

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CLEO and CLEONet

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) - publications available on social assistance issues, including disability.  Their Social Assistance page has pamphlets on how to do an internal review or appeal as well as pamphlets on the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit, how to get disability benefits, getting an inheritance, and ODSP's extended health benefit, among others.  Their Health and Disability page has pamphlets on Powers of Attorney, HIV testing in Ontario, Home Care Bill of Rights and Patient Rights for those in a hospital for psychiatric assessement.

CLEONet

Visit CLEONet's page about appeals and internal reviews.  You can find the CLEO brochure on appeals and internal reviews here as well as an Internal Review form you can print and fill out.  CLEONet's latest resources on Health and Disability and Social Assistance can be found at the bottom of this page.

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Other

Income Security and Advocacy Centre (ISAC)

The Income Security Advocacy Centre works with and on behalf of low income communities in Ontario to address issues of income security and poverty. The Centre initiates and conducts test case and Charter litigation, law reform and community development related to federal and provincial income security programs such as Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program, Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan.

Visit ISAC to view their Fact Sheet "Are you Entitled to a Retroactive ODSP Payment?" (PDF, 2 pgs) to see if you qualify for any back pay. 

View a complete list of fact sheets.

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ARCH Disability Law Centre

ARCH Disability Law Centre is a charitable specialty legal clinic with a province-wide mandate that is dedicated to defending and advancing the equality rights of persons with disabilities. ARCH represents national and provincial disability organizations and individuals in test case litigation at all levels of tribunals and courts, including the Supreme Court of Canada. They provide education to the public on disability rights and to the legal profession about disability law. They make submissions to the government on matters of law reform and offer a telephone summary legal advice and referral service.  Visit their site for a list of services they offer to callers.  They also publish a newsletter that you can sign up to receive by email.

HIV and Aids Legal Clinic of Ontario (HALCO)

View their PowerPoint presentation entitled "ODSP and OW Benefits Powerpoint Presentation - Nov 1, 2006."  You can view it here online (no special software required) or download it (requires PowerPoint 2003). 

Some of the extra benefits covered by the Ontario Disability Support Plan (ODSP) and Ontario Works (OW) are outlined in this PowerPoint presentation. The presentation slides cover information about coverage for drug and dental benefits, mandatory special necessities, community start up and maintenance benefit, employment start up benefit, OW discretionary benefits, and ODSP "special extras".

Income Tax Preparation

Various organizations offer free help for disabled or low income persons to complete their income tax forms (during tax season).  Visit our Income Tax page for more details about getting help preparing your income tax return.

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Miscellaneous Health & Disability Links

Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit

The Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit serves the County of Prince Edward, Hastings County, Quinte West, and Belleville, Ontario from offices in Trenton, Picton, Madoc, Bancroft and Belleville.  Their mission is to enable the people in Hastings and Prince Edward counties to achieve and maintain optimal health through health protection and promotion, as well as disease and injury prevention.

Community Care for South Hastings

Community Care for South Hastings is a non-profit agency for seniors and adults with physical disabilities. They provide programs and services that assist their clients to remain in their own homes with dignity and respect for as long as possible. Their services include meals on wheels, transportation, home maintenance and repair, friendly visiting, security checks, foot care, activity groups, home help, driver refresher course for those over 55 and more.

Community Care Access Centre (Serving South Eastern Ontario)

Community Care Access Centres are local organizations established in 1996 by the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care to provide access to government-funded home and community services, and long-term care homes.

On May 1, 2007 the provincial Health and Long-Term Care Minister, George Smitherman, announced that clients who receive home care services through their local Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) or others acting on a client’s behalf can use the Long-Term Care Action Line if they have a concern or complaint about the services they are receiving through the CCAC.

The numbers for the Long-Term Care Action Line are 1-866-876-7658 or TTY 1-800-387-5559.  The Action Line had previously only been available to residents of long-term home care facilities and their family members.

In May 2005 Elinor Caplan released a report on improving home care services in Ontario. The creation of such a complaints line was one of her recommendations. Read the full report online (PDF, 104 pgs).  Visit the Ministry of Health's website to read more about Community Care Access Centres and the Long-Term Care Action Line.

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ODSP Action Coalition

The ODSP Action Coalition is made up of community clinic caseworkers, agency staff, and community activists. They undertake campaigns and activities designed to raise awareness of issues affecting persons in receipt of Ontario Disability Support Program ("ODSP") benefits. The Coalition was formed in 2002 as a coalition of lawyers, community workers and consumers. The coalition is leading the campaign to document and publicize problems with ODSP and has engaged in lobbying and advocacy to encourage solutions to those problems.

Visit the ODSP Action Coalition's SPECIAL DIET UPDATE web page to read more about the recent changes to special diet benefits. 

More info and tip sheets on Special Diets is also available at the Income Security Advocacy Centre (ISAC) publications page (scroll down to Fact Sheets/Toolkits at bottom of page). 

Visit the Coalition's Ombudsman Complaints page to read about how to make a complaint to the Ombudsman regarding lengthy delays in processing ODSP applications.  You can contact our clinic if you need help making a complaint.

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Latest Resources on Health from CLEONet

Latest Resources on Social Assistance from CLEONet