Someone is moving in with me. Can this affect my ODSP?

It might. You must let the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) know as soon as someone moves in with you.

If you don't tell ODSP and they find out about it later, they could decide that you got money you should not have received. This is called an and they can take steps to get the money back.

If they think you broke the rules on purpose, they can ask the police to charge you with fraud.

After 3 months

If you're getting ODSP as a single person or a , ODSP may contact you 3 months after someone has moved in with you to set up a meeting.

Make sure you respond to them right away and go to the meeting. If you don't, ODSP will cut off your assistance.

If ODSP decides you’re spouses

If ODSP thinks you live with someone who is your spouse, neither one of you will be able to get assistance as a single person or as a sole-support parent.

Instead, ODSP will look at the and that both of you have to decide if you can get assistance as a couple.

If you have to apply for assistance as a couple, both of you have to sign all of the forms that are part of the application.

How much you can get

How much you get from ODSP depends on many things. Usually, your monthly payment includes:  

  • a basic needs amount, and 
  • a shelter allowance.

Your basic needs amount is based on who's in your  

The shelter allowance is based on who you live with and the costs related to your housing, like rent or a mortgage.  

There's a limit to how much ODSP will pay for a shelter allowance. The most you can get is called the “maximum shelter allowance”. 

Below is the highest monthly payment for 2024, if you're:  

  • single and living alone, or  
  • living with a spouse who does not have a disability.   
2024 rates  Basic needs amount  Maximum shelter allowance   Total monthly payment for 2024 
Single person  $786  $582  $1,368 
Couple   $1,134  $915  $2,049 

The amount of assistance you get as a couple is less than what you would get as two single people. 

But if both of you have a disability, you may be able to get more money than if only one of you has a disability. 

You may also be able to get more money from ODSP in certain circumstances, including if you: 

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding 
  • live in a remote community 
  • need a special diet 
  • are a single parent

Getting help

If ODSP decides that the person you've living with is your spouse, and you disagree, you may be able to appeal the decision. You can contact a community legal clinic for help. 

 

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