New here? Start with our 2-minute guide to OAP registration , no sign-up required.
Registered Education Savings Plans can still help when the education path is uncertain. Before withdrawing or transferring money, confirm the school, program, and plan rules with the RESP promoter.
Maximum CESG per year
Figures above: CRA
Guide values reviewed . Program amounts and eligibility can change; confirm them with the administering agency.
RESP withdrawals depend on the institution, the program, and the student's enrolment status. Ask the promoter to confirm the exact program before enrolment or withdrawal.
Do not assume a whole category qualifies. College, trade, university, private, and continuing-education programs can have different RESP treatment.
Some RESP accumulated income may be transferable to an RDSP for the same beneficiary. The rules are narrow and can require Disability Tax Credit eligibility, residency, plan-holder consent, and specific impairment or plan-age conditions.
An RESP-to-RDSP transfer can reduce RDSP contribution room. It also has grant and bond consequences. Get written instructions from the RESP promoter before closing or transferring a plan.
Some families use both an RESP and an RDSP, but the right order depends on income, Disability Tax Credit status, grants, bonds, and education plans. Confirm the current rules before contributing.
When making RESP withdrawals, coordinate with any OAP funding or other disability-related financial support the student receives. RESP Educational Assistance Payments (EAPs) are taxable income in the student's hands, which may affect certain income-tested benefits.
Employment and Social Development Canada
RESP eligible-school checks and qualifying post-secondary program rules
Canada Revenue Agency
RESP accumulated income payment and RDSP rollover rules
Maybe. RESPs can help if your child later attends a qualifying program. If plans change, ask the promoter about contribution withdrawals, grant and bond repayment, accumulated income, RRSP transfers, and possible RDSP transfer rules.
Ask the RESP promoter for written options before acting. A transfer, withdrawal, beneficiary change, or plan closure can affect grants, bonds, tax, and the RDSP contribution room.
Ask your RESP promoter to confirm the exact institution, program, and enrolment status. Do this before you count on an Educational Assistance Payment.
ACSD pays Ontario families $25 to $678 a month for disability-related costs. Who qualifies, the $77,640 income test, and why the July increase may not change your payment.
Estate planning for Ontario autism families: wills, trusts, guardianship, RDSP, and ODSP-compatible strategies to protect your child's future.
Everything Ontario autism families need to know about Henson Trusts — how they protect ODSP eligibility, setup costs, trustee selection, and common mistakes to avoid.
Financial Resources
Families navigating autism services in Ontario face a documented multi-year wait. Here is the Ontario data — and a two-minute way to push back, when you are ready.
What official government data tracks the Ontario autism waitlist?
VerifiedThe current province-wide waitlist record is the MCCSS FOI data published through the Ontario Autism Coalition data hub. As of May 2026, it shows 91,974 registered children and 22.5% with active funding agreements. Historical FAO, Auditor General, OHRC, and AccessOAP records provide separate context and should be cited for their own claims.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC May 2026 · Open source record
See authorship, freshness, trust signals, and ways to stay current.
Founder & Autism Advocate