Ontario Disability Support Program

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The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)^[1] is a means-tested government-funded last resort income support paid for qualifying residents in the province of Ontario, Canada, who are at least eighteen years of age and have a disability.^[2] ODSP and Ontario Works (OW)^[3] are the two main components of Ontario's social assistance system. Like most social programs in Canada, the program is funded by the government of the province.^{[citation needed]} The Ministry of Community and Social Services is responsible for ODSP and OW.^[4]

This is unlike Social Security Disability in the United States which is a federally funded program under the umbrella of an Old Age Pension but provides similar benefits — regardless of the state of residence.

The ODSP is defined by provincial legislation, the ODSP Act, and its supporting regulations.^[5] It is managed through policy directives.^[6]

Unlike Ontario Works, ODSP does not require recipients to undertake employment-related activities like job searching, or vocational training. This is determined through a subjective evaluation of four criteria^[2] that are defined within the ODSP Act:^[5]

• The disability is continuous or recurrent;
• It is expected to last for a year or more;
• The disability significantly limits their ability to work, look after themselves, or get out in the community; and
• It has been verified by an approved health professional.

For recipients wishing to work, an optional component provides employment support funding, such as referral to a specialized employment counsellor.^[7]

ODSP is meant to replace the income lost due to the recipient's disability making them unable to work enough to gain self-sufficiency and thus has a higher rate of assistance and asset limits than Ontario Works does.