If you left Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Income Support, but need to come back for financial help, you may be eligible for rapid reinstatement.

Rapid reinstatement makes it faster and easier for you to start receiving ODSP Income Support again without having to go through disability adjudication.

You have to qualify financially and meet certain conditions.

Different rules and conditions apply depending on:

• whether eligibility had been grandparented from the previous Family Benefits Allowance (before June 1, 1998) or adjudicated through the Disability Adjudication Unit (on or after June 1, 1998), and
• the reason for leaving the ODSP.

For previous Family Benefits Allowance recipients (before June 1, 1998):

• If you left the ODSP for paid work

  If you received the Family Benefits Allowance (before June 1, 1998) before being transferred to the ODSP, you may qualify for rapid reinstatement if you:

  • are eligible for ODSP Income Support, and
  • left the ODSP for paid work, such as:
  • a part-time job
  • a full-time job
  • a paid training program, or
  • self employment.

  If you left the ODSP for paid work, there are no time restrictions. You will be able to come back at any time.

• If you left the ODSP for other reasons

  If you:

  • received the Family Benefits Allowance (before June 1, 1998) before being transferred to the ODSP, and
  • left the ODSP for a reason other than paid work
  you are not eligible for rapid reinstatement.
  
  You will have to go through the disability adjudication process if you re-apply for ODSP Income Support.

For people who were found to have a disability on or after June 1, 1998:

• If you were not given a medical review date

  If your disability was adjudicated under the ODSP (on or after June 1, 1998) and you were not given a medical review date, you will qualify for rapid reinstatement as long as you are eligible for ODSP Income Support.

  It will not matter why you left the ODSP, whether for paid work or other reasons. You will be able to come back at any time — there are no time restrictions.

• If you were given a medical review date

  People adjudicated under the ODSP are given a medical review date if their disability is likely to improve.

  If your disability was adjudicated under the ODSP (on or after June 1, 1998) and you were given a medical review date, but you left the ODSP before the review happened, you will qualify for rapid reinstatement as long as you are financially eligible for ODSP Income Support. You will still have to have a medical review of your disability, but you will be able to come back and receive income support first.

  It will not matter why you left the ODSP, whether for paid work or other reasons. You will be able to come back at any time. After you come back, you will have your medical review.

  However, if you already had a medical review that determined that you no longer qualify for the ODSP, you are not eligible for rapid reinstatement. In this case, you will need to re-apply and be adjudicated again.