Can I work and get ODSP?
Updated September 8You can work and still get from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) as long as:
- you tell ODSP about any money you and members of your make
- you and your household members do not make too much money
If you do not follow these rules, ODSP may stop or reduce your income support. And you may have to pay back some or all of your ODSP.
If you give ODSP the wrong information on purpose, they could charge you with fraud.
How much you can earn
For a person with a disability, the general rule is that you can make $1,000 in in a month before your ODSP goes down.
Net earnings are the money that's left after your employer takes off things like taxes. It's usually the amount that goes into your bank account from your paycheque.
If you make more than $1,000 in a month
ODSP reduces the money they give you by 75% of the net earnings you make over $1,000.
For example, if your take-home pay is $1,500 in a month, ODSP will not count the first $1,000. But they will reduce the money they give you by 75% of the remaining $500.
How much other members of your household can earn
The rule is different for:
- a spouse who does not have a disability
- a child who's 18 years of age or older and not in high school or postsecondary school full-time
If they earn more than $200 in net earnings in a month, ODSP reduces the amount you get by 50% or half of what they earn over $200. Learn more in Step 2.
Rules that can increase the amount you get
There are rules that can let you earn more than $1,000 or a member of your household earn more $200:
- without making your ODSP go down at all, or
- without making it go down by the full amount it could go down.
For example, this can happen if you:
- must pay for child care so you can go to work
- have expenses related to working because of your disability
- live in a First Nations community and earn money from an employment training program