RDSP vs RESP: Which Is Better for Autism Families?
Direct answer
An RDSP and an RESP serve different goals. An RDSP supports long-term savings for a beneficiary approved for the Disability Tax Credit and may receive federal grants and bonds. An RESP supports post-secondary education and may receive the Canada Education Savings Grant based on contributions. The better fit depends on eligibility and the purpose of the savings.
- Maximum yearly RDSP grant
- $3,500
- Maximum yearly RDSP bond
- $1,000
- RDSP lifetime contribution maximum
- $200,000
Key facts
- Maximum yearly RDSP grant
- $3,500
- Employment and Social Development Canada
- Maximum yearly RDSP bond
- $1,000
- Employment and Social Development Canada
- RDSP lifetime contribution maximum
- $200,000
- Employment and Social Development Canada
- Basic RESP grant
- 20% up to $500 on $2,500 contributed annually
- Canada Revenue Agency
What this means for your family
Start with eligibility, not preference, since only a beneficiary approved for the Disability Tax Credit can open an RDSP, while an RESP has no disability-related eligibility test at all. Ask how each plan is treated by provincial income-support programs before you decide where extra savings should go, since Ontario fully exempts RDSP funds under both ODSP and Ontario Works in ways that matter for a family relying on either program. Think about whether post-secondary education is actually the goal, because an RESP is built around that purpose and its education-linked grant money gets returned to the government if the beneficiary never enrolls. Do not assume an unused RESP is lost money, though, since a promoter can return the family's own contributions tax-free even if the grant portion is not kept. Compare the purpose, the payment rules, and your child's likely path before choosing one plan over the other, or ask whether your family has reason to hold both.
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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RDSP grants, bonds and Ontario income-support treatment
- The maximum yearly Canada Disability Savings Grant is $3,500, with a $70,000 lifetime limit. A beneficiary entitled to that maximum in 2026 can attract it with a $1,500 contribution. Grant entitlement depends on family income and contributions.
- The maximum yearly Canada Disability Savings Bond is $1,000, with a $20,000 lifetime limit. No contributions are needed to receive the bond, and the amount available depends on family income.
- RDSP contributions have a $200,000 lifetime maximum. Ontario's ODSP policy fully exempts RDSPs as income and assets. Ontario Works exempts RDSP funds as assets within the federal contribution limits and fully exempts contributions, reinvested interest, and payments or withdrawals as income.
RESP education savings and payment rules
- An RESP is designed to help finance a beneficiary's post-secondary education. The basic Canada Education Savings Grant is 20% of contributions, up to $500 on an annual contribution of $2,500.
- If the beneficiary does not pursue post-secondary education, the Canada Education Savings Grant is returned to the government. The RESP promoter can return the subscriber's own contributions tax-free, so it is not accurate to say that every dollar in an RESP must be used for education or returned with a penalty.
- The federal sources describe different purposes and rules for RDSPs and RESPs; they do not declare one plan universally better. Compare Disability Tax Credit approval, long-term savings goals, expected education use, and the separate payment rules before choosing how to save.
Frequently asked questions
Neither plan is universally better. An RDSP is for long-term savings for a beneficiary approved for the Disability Tax Credit and may receive disability savings grants and bonds. An RESP is for post-secondary education and may receive education savings grants. The relevant choice depends on eligibility and the purpose of the savings.
Ontario's ODSP policy states that RDSPs are fully exempt as income and assets. It also states that all funds held in an RDSP are exempt as assets when ODSP assesses eligibility for income support.
For a beneficiary under the age of majority, the plan holder can be a parent, legal representative, or public department. The beneficiary must be approved for the Disability Tax Credit, and the federal RDSP page lists additional eligibility conditions.
The Canada Education Savings Grant is returned to the government. The RESP promoter can return the subscriber's own contributions tax-free. Other RESP amounts have separate payment and tax rules, so the result is not a single blanket penalty on all funds.
Sources
Employment and Social Development Canada
How much you could get in RDSP grants and bonds
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Employment and Social Development Canada
Who can open an RDSP and apply for grants and bonds
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How a Registered Education Savings Plan works
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Registered Education Savings Plans information circular
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Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
ODSP policy directive 4.10, Registered disability savings plans
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Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
ODSP policy directive 4.1, Definition and treatment of assets
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Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Ontario Works policy directive 4.7, Pensions, RRSPs and RESPs
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Next steps
Keep going with related guidance, tools, and evidence.
Related questions
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What Is a Henson Trust and How Does It Protect ODSP?
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