If you're receiving support through the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you may be eligible for additional benefits beyond basic financial assistance. ODSP offers various programs to help with employment, health-related expenses, assistive devices, and more. This guide covers the extra benefits available to individuals on ODSP and how they can support your well-being and financial stability.
I wanted to mention that all the information in this article is based on information from the Government of Ontario’s website in February 2025.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal or financial advice. Please consult with a qualified professional for personalized guidance regarding your specific situation.
Employment and Training Support
The Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit provides up to $500 every 12 months to assist with costs related to beginning, changing, or maintaining employment, participating in an employment assistance activity, or engaging in any other approved activity that supports employment sustainability.
The Up-Front Child Care Benefit helps cover child care costs that must be paid in advance to allow recipients to begin, change, or maintain employment, training, or another approved work-related activity. This ensures parents have the necessary child care support to enter the workforce.
The Employment Transition Benefit is a one-time $500 payment available for recipients who leave ODSP due to earnings from employment, training, or self-employment. This benefit provides financial assistance to help with the transition to independent income.
The Transitional Health Benefit ensures that individuals who lose ODSP income support due to earnings but lack employer health benefits can continue receiving coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, and mobility device repairs. Coverage continues until comparable employer benefits become available.
Assistive Devices and Medical Benefits
The Assistive Devices Program (ADP) provides financial assistance to individuals with long-term physical disabilities to obtain basic, personalized assistive aids and devices that support independent living. ODSP covers the consumer contribution for ADP-funded assistive devices up to the approved amount, including annual lease payments for high-technology communication devices. Additionally, ODSP will cover the cost of an assessment for an assistive device under ADP if no other funding source is available.
The Hearing Aid Benefit covers the costs of hearing aids, alerting systems, and other hearing-related devices for eligible ODSP recipients and their family members. Additional funding may be approved under exceptional circumstances.
The Mobility Devices Repair Benefit provides financial assistance for repairs and replacement parts for wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and lifting devices. ODSP will cover essential repairs completed outside regular hours or on weekends if necessary.
Health and Dental Benefits
The ODSP Dental Benefits program ensures recipients and their spouses (18 and older) have access to necessary dental care. Children under 18 receive dental coverage through the Healthy Smiles Ontario Program. Those with specialized medical conditions or disabilities may qualify for additional dental services under the Dental Special Care Plan.
The ODSP Drug Benefits program provides coverage for prescription medications through the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program. If a required medication is not listed in the ODB Formulary, coverage may be requested through the Exceptional Access Program (EAP). Children and youth under 25 receive automatic enrollment in OHIP+, ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.
The Extended Health Benefits (EHB) program allows individuals who no longer qualify for ODSP due to increased income but have high health-related expenses to continue receiving coverage for prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, and medical supplies.
Special Benefits and Financial Assistance
The Guide Dog Benefit provides $84 per month for recipients who require a certified guide, hearing, or service dog. The dog must be trained and certified by an accredited facility, such as one recognized by Assistance Dogs International or the International Guide Dog Federation.
The Mandatory Special Necessities (MSN) Benefit covers diabetic supplies, surgical supplies, dressings, and necessary medical transportation costs exceeding $15 per month. These expenses can either be added to the monthly ODSP income support payment or covered through direct payments to service providers.
The Transition Child Benefit (TCB) provides up to $207 per child per month for ODSP recipients who have primary or shared custody of a child and do not receive the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) or National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS). Recipients must make reasonable efforts to obtain these benefits, and repayment is required if retroactive payments overlap with previously issued TCB benefits.
The Employment Transition Benefit provides a one-time lump-sum payment of $500 for ODSP recipients who transition to employment. To qualify, recipients must be ineligible for ODSP income support for at least two months due to their earnings. The benefit is available only once every 12 months.
The Transitional Health Benefit continues to provide prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, and mobility device repairs to ODSP recipients who lose income support due to employment but lack employer-provided health benefits. This benefit covers the recipient, spouse, and dependent children, while dependent adults are not eligible.
Why These Benefits Matter
These additional ODSP benefits help individuals with disabilities manage daily living expenses, access necessary medical care, and transition into employment without losing essential support. By understanding and utilizing these programs, ODSP recipients can ensure they receive the financial and health-related assistance needed to maintain stability and independence.
If you're on ODSP, make sure to explore these benefits and contact your caseworker for details on eligibility and application requirements.
If you would like more financial resources, you can check out my Ebooks on programs both on the provincial and federal level on Ontario Without Barriers.