$200/month
The Canada Disability Benefit provides up to $200/month for eligible Canadians with disabilities
Direct answer
Yes. Autism can qualify for ODSP in Ontario. You must be 18 or older, meet the disability definition, and show financial need. A health professional completes the Health Status Report, and the Disability Adjudication Unit decides the disability test.
Government of Ontario: Ontario Disability Support Program · Verified 2026-09-28
ODSP is an adult program (18+). For a child with autism, the Ontario Autism Program and other child supports are separate. See the OAP guide and ODSP vs Passport.
In short
- You must meet both a disability test and a financial need test
- ODSP is for adults 18 and older; OAP and child supports are separate
- Families can start the application up to six months before the 18th birthday
What Is ODSP?
The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) is a provincial program administered by the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. It provides two types of support:
| Support type | What it provides | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Income Support: | Monthly financial assistance for people with disabilities who have low income and limited assets. The amount varies based on family size and individual circumstances. See rates, savings and gifts below. | Government of Ontario |
| Employment Supports: | Funding and services to help people with disabilities find and maintain employment, including skills training, job coaching, and workplace accommodations assistance. | Government of Ontario |
ODSP is distinct from Ontario Works (OW), which is a general social assistance program without a disability requirement. ODSP rates are generally higher than OW rates.
Government of Ontario, Ontario Disability Support Program · Updated
Does Autism Qualify for ODSP?
Yes. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) qualifies as a disability under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997. To meet ODSP's disability definition, an applicant must have a substantial physical or mental impairment that:
- is continuous or recurrent,
- is expected to last one year or more (or likely to recur within that period), and
- directly and substantially restricts one or more activities of daily living (personal care, functioning in the community, or working).
Autism commonly meets these criteria, particularly where significant support needs persist into adulthood. A physician or psychologist must complete the Health Status Report (Form 2) confirming the diagnosis and functional limitations. The Disability Adjudication Unit (DAU) then makes the formal determination.
Having a diagnosis alone is not sufficient, the functional impact on daily living must be documented. Families transitioning a child off the OAP at age 18 should begin the ODSP process well before the 18th birthday, as applications can take months to process.
Government of Ontario, Ontario Disability Support Program · Updated
What ODSP Covers
ODSP Income Support covers both basic needs (food, clothing, personal items) and shelter costs. In addition, ODSP recipients receive extended health benefits:
- Prescription drugs: Covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program.
- Dental care: Basic dental services are covered for ODSP recipients and their dependants.
- Vision care: Periodic eye exams and glasses for eligible recipients.
- Hearing aids and mobility devices: Covered in many cases through the Assistive Devices Program (ADP).
- Other disability-specific items: Certain items related to your disability may be approved on a case-by-case basis.
Employment Supports (separate from Income Support) can fund job coaching, tuition for skills training, interpreter services, and workplace accommodations. You can access Employment Supports even if you do not qualify for Income Support.
Rates, savings and gifts
For a single adult, the maximum is set in two parts: basic needs and a shelter allowance. Together they come to $1,436/month (rates effective July 2026). Your actual payment depends on your housing costs, income and other benefits.
- Basic needs
- Up to $825 a month
- Shelter allowance
- Up to $611 a month
- Savings and other assets
- The limit for a single person is $40,000. The home you live in, your main vehicle, an RDSP and an RESP are exempt. Trusts from an inheritance or life insurance are exempt up to $100,000. See the Henson Trust guide.
- Gifts from family
- Each person can receive up to $10,000 in a 12-month period without it counting as income. Above that, the extra counts as income in the month it arrives.
A person found eligible through Developmental Services Ontario is in a prescribed class. They skip disability adjudication but must still apply and meet every other ODSP rule. Living with family, and how shelter and rent are treated, can change the amount.
Government of Ontario, ODSP eligibility for income support (updated March 10, 2026) · Updated
Ready to apply?
Contact your local ODSP office or call 1-800-387-5514. A physician or psychologist completes the Health Status Report, and you can ask for a review if you are denied. If your child is nearing 18, start up to six months before the birthday.
- How to apply for ODSP with autism: the steps, forms, documents and appeal route.
- ODSP application checklist for autistic adults: the checklist and timeline.
Government of Ontario, Ontario Disability Support Program · Updated
Working while on ODSP
Many autistic adults work part-time or in supported jobs while on ODSP. Part of your employment income is exempt before benefits are reduced. See the earnings exemption rules.
ODSP Employment Supports can fund job coaching, skills training and workplace accommodations, and you can use them even if you do not get Income Support. See Supported Employment in Ontario and Workplace Accommodations for Autistic Adults.
Government of Ontario, Ontario Disability Support Program · Updated
Passport vs ODSP
Passport funding and ODSP are different programs with different rules. Read ODSP vs Passport to see which one fits your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) qualifies as a disability under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act. To receive ODSP, you must meet both the disability definition and demonstrate financial need. A medical professional (typically a physician or psychologist) must complete the ODSP Health Status Report confirming the disability and its functional limitations.
To apply for ODSP, contact your local ODSP office or call 1-800-387-5514. You will need to complete an application, provide identification, and have a medical professional complete a Health Status Report (Form 2) describing your disability and functional limitations. A Disability Adjudication Unit (DAU) will review your application and determine if you meet the disability definition. If approved on the disability test, a caseworker will then assess your financial eligibility.
ODSP provides monthly income support (amounts vary based on family size and circumstances), as well as extended health benefits including prescription drug coverage, dental care, vision care, and hearing aids. It may also cover mobility devices and other disability-related items. Caseworkers can also connect recipients with employment support services. Check the Ontario government website for current benefit rates, as amounts change periodically.
Yes. ODSP has an earnings exemption that lets recipients keep part of their employment income before benefits are reduced. Employment supports through ODSP can also help autistic adults find and keep jobs. Check Ontario.ca for current earnings exemption amounts.
No. ODSP income support is for adults aged 18 and older. A parent can start the application up to six months before the 18th birthday. For a child, look at the Ontario Autism Program and other child supports instead.
Ontario's asset limit is $40,000 for a single person, counting non-exempt assets only. Exempt assets include the home you own and live in, your main vehicle, a Registered Disability Savings Plan and a Registered Education Savings Plan. Ask your caseworker how your own savings and trusts are treated.
Gifts and voluntary payments are allowed. Each person can receive up to $10,000 in total in a 12-month period from gifts, voluntary payments, trust payments, life insurance payments, inheritances and windfalls without it counting as income. Anything above that counts as income in the month it arrives. Gifts used for disability-related items approved in advance do not count against the limit.
ODSP is a provincial program and may be affected by federal benefits. The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), once received, may reduce ODSP payments depending on provincial policy, confirm with your ODSP caseworker. The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) does not directly reduce ODSP. RDSP withdrawals may be treated as income for ODSP purposes after a certain annual threshold. It is important to inform your ODSP caseworker of any new income or benefits you receive.
Government of Ontario, Ontario Disability Support Program · Updated
Start your ODSP application
Call your local ODSP office or apply online. Begin up to six months before age 18.
Updated:
- How to apply for the Ontario Disability Support Program. Government of Ontario
Sources on this page
The source chain stays visible.
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Facts3
Sources3
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
1 in 50
According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
Last system verification: 2026-08-10. Next scheduled update: 2026-11-05.
About this page
Check the author’s context, review method, and how to report an error.