Will ODSP help pay for costs related to my health?

When you get income support from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you get help to pay for most prescription drugs.

People who have certain medical conditions might be able to get a special diet allowance. And a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding can get a nutritional allowance. This is separate from a special diet allowance.

ODSP can also help pay for:

• dental services
• hearing aids
• vision care, including eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses
• assistive devices, including ventilators, walkers with wheels, wheelchairs, communication devices, and specialized software
• batteries and repairs for mobility devices, such as wheelchairs and scooters
• the care and feeding of a guide dog

Mandatory Special Necessities

ODSP also has a benefit they call Mandatory Special Necessities. It can help pay for:

• diabetic supplies
• surgical supplies and dressings
• incontinence products
• the cost of travelling to get medical treatment

If you’re working

If you're working and getting income support, you might be able to claim expenses related to your disability.

These expenses could include the cost of:

• specialized computer equipment and software
• sign language interpreters
• transportation services
• attendant care services

And ODSP might also give you money to pay for some of these things.

If you stop getting income support

If you stop getting ODSP income support because of the money you're making from work, you might be able to get the Transitional Health Benefit. This benefit pays for:

• prescription drugs
• basic dental and basic vision care
• batteries and repairs for mobility devices, such as scooters and wheelchairs

And, you might be able to get Extended Health Benefits if:

• you stop getting income support because you no longer qualify financially, and
• you have a lot of medical expenses or other costs related to your health.