Working While Receiving ODSP Income Support
The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recognizes that people with disabilities can work. If you want to work, the ODSP may be able to help you find and keep a job, cover some of your costs of working and provide you with the supports you need.
Employment Supports
ODSP Employment Supports can help you prepare for and find a job - even if you have never worked before or have been out of work for some time.
Once you start working, you can also get support to keep your job or to advance your career.
Depending on your interests and needs, the ODSP can arrange for community service providers to work with you to:
- Place you in a paid job
- Work with you and your employer to make sure your job is a good fit
- Help resolve problems you may have with your employer or co-workers
- Help you to become self-employed
- Help with disability accommodations.
Benefits Available
If you are looking for a job, starting a new job, or participating in a training program, you may be eligible for benefits such as:
- An Employment and Training Start Up Benefit of up to $500 in any 12-month period to help pay for things like work uniforms, equipment and professional fees
- Financial help to cover your child care costs if you must pay for them in advance.
How it Works
You are allowed to work while receiving ODSP Income Support. Having a paying job will increase your total income.
For each month you are employed and reporting earnings:
- For each $1.00 in net earnings you make, the ODSP will deduct 50% from your income support cheque. For example, if your net monthly earnings are $600, the ODSP will deduct $300 from your ODSP Income Support cheque.
- Note: there are no longer any flat rate exemptions on earnings (i.e. $160 for singles or $235 for families)
- You can claim the following work expenses without reducing the amount of Income Support you receive:
- The full cost of licensed child care or up to $600 each month for each child in unlicensed care
- Up to $300 per month for disability-related items you may need to help you in your job such as specialized equipment, sign language interpreting services or attendant care services.
- Plus, you can receive a $100 Work-Related Benefit to help you with costs such as transportation or work clothing.
Between your earnings, your ODSP Income Support and the Work-Related Benefit, you will have more money when you are working than from your income support alone.
Reporting Your Earnings
Let your ODSP worker know as soon as you start to work, so you can find out what benefits you can get.
Each month, you get an Employment/Training Income Report (ETIR) form with your ODSP Income Support cheque or direct bank deposit statement.
On the ETIR, you must report any earnings from a job or training program that you – or your spouse or adult dependants – receive between the first day of the month and the last day of the month. Your local ODSP office will use this information to calculate the amount of ODSP Income Support you are eligible to receive at the end of the following month.
You should send your completed ETIR to your local ODSP office as soon as possible. It must be received no later than the 7th of the month to avoid any interruption to your benefits.
When you send the ETIR to your local ODSP office, remember to attach copies of all the pay stubs and receipts for child care expenses and your disability-related work expenses.
Here’s an example:
Leaving the ODSP for Paid Work
If your earnings reach the point where you can leave ODSP Income Support entirely, the ODSP can provide health benefits and continued employment supports to help you keep your job and advance your career.
If you lose your job, stop working or your earnings decrease, you will be able to come back to the ODSP quickly and easily as long as you qualify financially and meet certain conditions – this is called rapid reinstatement.
You Have the Right to Request an Internal Review
If you do not agree with a decision about your ODSP file, contact your local ODSP office. If you would like advice from a community legal clinic, call Legal Aid Ontario at 416-979-1446 or 1-800-668-8258.
Need More Information?
For more information, please contact your worker through your local ODSP office.
For general inquiries, please contact:
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Telephone: 1-888-789-4199
Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-387-5559
www.mcss.gov.on.ca
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