Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) recipients can earn up to $1,000 monthly from working without seeing any reduction in support payments. For every dollar earned above the $1,000 threshold, 75 cents is deducted from their monthly cheque.
In addition, clients may be eligible for an extra $100 each month they have earnings from employment (including odd jobs), a training program, or from a business to offset the costs of working, also known as the Work Related Benefit. Students and those under the age of 18 do not qualify for this benefit.
Are the any other benefits available to ODSP clients who work?
- Child care expenses can be deducted from employment earnings for ODSP recipients, their spouses, or dependant adults. This means that ODSP recipients can keep more of their monthly support payments.
- Disability related employment expenses such as specialized equipment, transportation, and sign language interpreting can also be deducted from employment earnings. Documentation proving expenditure is required.
- Full time students can work and have 100% of their earning exempt from ODSP claw backs. The student can be in high school or post secondary school so long as the program is eligible and they are taking a full course load, that is, 60% or 40% for persons with a disability.
- Employment and Training Start-Up Benefit is a $500 lump sum payment available to ODSP recipients once a year. The goal of the benefit is to ease the transition from ODSP support payments into employment or self-employment (ie – starting a business). Clienteles must ask their worker for this benefit.
- Employment Transition Benefit is a $500 lump sum payment available when the client leaves the ODSP program because their employment earnings makes them ineligible for ongoing income support. Clienteles must ask their worker for this benefit.