ODSP vs Passport: What Is the Difference for Autistic Adults?
Direct answer
ODSP and Passport serve different purposes. The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) provides monthly income and health benefits to adults with disabilities. The Passport program funds community participation, skills, and caregiver respite for adults with a developmental disability. An autistic adult can qualify for both, and the programs can be held at the same time.
- ODSP eligibility age
- 18+
Key facts
- ODSP eligibility age
- 18+
- ontario.ca - Ontario Disability Support Program
- Apply for Passport through
- Developmental Services Ontario
- ontario.ca - Passport program
- Can be combined
- Yes
- ontario.ca program rules
What this means for your family
Ask about both programs at once, since ODSP and Passport do different jobs and an autistic adult can qualify for each at the same time. Write down every source of income and asset before you apply for ODSP, because that program is means-tested and your financial picture affects the outcome, not just the disability determination. Have a conversation with a planner before your child becomes an adult, since money held in a properly structured trust or a Registered Disability Savings Plan is generally treated differently from ordinary savings when ODSP reviews your file. Remember that Passport pays for community participation, skill building, and caregiver respite, not income, and you apply through Developmental Services Ontario, while local Passport agencies run it, separate from ODSP. Confirm current amounts and eligibility rules on ontario.ca before you rely on either program, since the figures the province publishes are reviewed periodically and can shift.
The numbers behind this answer
Every answer on this site sits on the same verified counts. These are the current figures.
Ontario's figures, as of May 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026).
Registered
91,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,711Have active funding
22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Show as table
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
About This Article
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Last updated:
ODSP: income and health benefits
- The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is income support for adults with a disability that is expected to last a year or more. It provides a monthly payment plus health benefits such as drug and dental coverage. Eligibility depends on both the disability determination and a financial (income and asset) test.
- Autistic adults can qualify, but ODSP is means-tested, so income and assets matter. Money held in a properly structured trust or a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) is generally treated differently from ordinary savings - worth planning before an adult child turns 18.
Passport: community participation and respite
- The Passport program funds community participation, life-skills development, and caregiver respite for adults with a developmental disability. You apply through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO), and local Passport agencies run the program. Passport pays you back for approved supports and services; it is not paid as income.
- Because ODSP and Passport do different jobs - income versus activity and respite funding - families can apply for both. Confirm current amounts and eligibility on ontario.ca, since program figures are reviewed periodically.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. ODSP provides income and health benefits, while Passport funds community participation and respite. They serve different purposes and can be held at the same time.
Passport funds are used to purchase approved supports and services rather than paid as income, so they work differently from ODSP payments. Confirm the current treatment with DSO or your ODSP caseworker.
Adults 18 and older with a developmental disability, confirmed through Developmental Services Ontario, may be eligible for Passport funding.
Sources
ontario.ca
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
ontario.ca
Passport program - Developmental Services Ontario
Next steps
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