How do I start an ODSP application?

To get income assistance from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you must qualify both:

financially, and
usually, as a person with a disability.

If you’re not getting Ontario Works

If you need money right away, start by applying to Ontario Works (OW). It can take months to find out if you can get ODSP.

If you do not need OW, start your ODSP application by:

using the online application, or
calling the Social Assistance Contact Centre at 1-888-999-1142. For TTY, call 1-800-387-5559.

This first part of the application asks you for personal information and information about your and . ODSP uses this information to decide if you qualify financially.

Get help to apply

If you need help filling out the application, your local ODSP office may be able to help. Call first to make an appointment.

You can also contact your local community legal clinic for help.

After you start your application, the ODSP office should contact you within 15 days to give you an appointment to finish it.

If you’re getting OW

If you're already on OW, you have to apply for ODSP through your OW office.

And because you're getting OW, you should qualify financially for ODSP.

If you qualify financially

If ODSP decides that you do qualify financially, they'll send you a . It includes forms that ask about your health.

Sending in the completed forms is how you prove that you’re a person with a disability.

If you do not qualify financially

If ODSP decides that you do not qualify financially, you may be able to appeal that decision. For help and advice about appealing, contact a community legal clinic.

Fill out the Disability Determination Package

If you're appealing ODSP's decision, you can go ahead with the next step in your application. This means filling out the Disability Determination Package to show that you're a “person with a disability”.

Get the package from the ODSP office, fill out the forms, and send them to the .

It's important to do this. If you win your appeal, you can start getting ODSP from the date that the Disability Adjudication Unit got your completed application.