ODSP offers:
- money to help you and your eligible family members with living expenses, including food, and rent
- health benefits, including prescription drugs and vision care
- employment support to help you find and keep a job or advance your career
Exempt assets:
Primary Residence
The home you live in is not counted towards your asset limit, regardless of its value.
Vehicle Exemption
Primary Vehicle: The first vehicle, regardless of its value, is exempt.
Additional Vehicles
In some cases, a second vehicle may be exempt if it’s needed for special requirements such as employment or medical treatment.
Personal Items
Clothing, furniture, and other personal effects are not counted as assets.
Tools of the Trade
Tools and equipment necessary for employment or running a business are exempt.
Prepaid Funeral Arrangements:
Funds set aside in prepaid funeral arrangements or trusts are typically exempt up to a certain value.
Registered Disability Savings Plans (RDSP’s) and Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSP’s)
Certain RRSPs are exempt, especially if they are locked-in, which means you can’t access them until retirement. RDSP’s assets and income from them are exempt.
Education Savings
Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP’s) for the beneficiary are usually exempt.
Business Assets
If you operate a business, certain assets required for its operation are exempt, subject to certain conditions.
Indigenous Trusts
Trust funds from land claims or other Indigenous settlements are often exempt.
Trusts continued:
Henson Trusts:
A Henson trust is a special type of irrevocable trust designed to hold assets for a person with disabilities without disqualifying them from receiving government benefits like ODSP.
The trust is structured so that the beneficiary cannot access the trust funds directly; instead, a trustee manages disbursements for the beneficiary’s needs.
Impact on ODSP: Assets held in a properly established Henson trust are generally exempt from asset limits for ODSP, as the beneficiary does not have control over the funds.
Segregated funds
are insurance products that are invested separately from an insurer’s assets.
The treatment of segregated funds depends on whether the funds are considered accessible or under the control of the beneficiary.
Typically, if the funds are structured in a way that the beneficiary cannot access or control the assets directly (similar to a trust), they may be exempt.
- ODSP stands alone as a distinct program with its own application process.
- It can work alongside other government programs, but eligibility and benefits are assessed separately for each.
If you are eligible for ODSP the amount of money you get will depend on your specific situation.
You could receive up to $1,408 a month for basic needs and shelter if you are single.
You may receive more than this for benefits:
- you might get additional money for transportation to medical appointments
- other immediate family members for example, if you have a spouse or child you will receive a larger amount.
ODSP and Special Diet Consideration:
ODSP provides basic support for essential needs, but if a person requires a special diet due to medical, religious, or cultural reasons, they may be eligible for additional benefits or coverage for specific dietary needs.Medical Documentation: To access extra funds or coverage, the applicant or recipient usually needs to provide medical documentation from a healthcare professional confirming the need for a special diet.
In some cases, special benefits are provided through ODSP or related programs like Assistive Devices or Health Benefits, depending on the nature of the dietary requirement
Additional Benefits:
- These might include extra funds to cover specialized foods or supplements
