If you are a Privately Sponsored Refugee (PSR), you can apply for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) at any time, even in your first 12 months in Canada.
The ODSP gives financial and employment assistance to people with disabilities:
- Income support - Financial support to help cover monthly living costs, like food and housing.
- Employment supports - Services and supports to help people with disabilities find and keep a job and advance their careers.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
- meet the program's definition of a person with a disability or be a member of a prescribed class
- be at least 18 years of age. If you’re under 18, you can start the application six months before your 18th birthday.
- be an Ontario resident
- not have more money and property than the program allows
- be in financial need
You can apply for ODSP even if you are already receiving financial support through the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) or from your private sponsors.
However, any money you get from RAP or private sponsors will be subtracted from the income support you receive from ODSP.
If the private sponsorship breaks down, you may still qualify for social assistance, as long as you meet all other ODSP eligibility criteria.
How to apply for ODSP
You can apply for ODSP:
- online by submitting one application for yourself and your family members who live with you.
- over the phone by contacting the Social Assistance Contact Centre Toll-free: 1-888-999-1142 or Toll-free TTY: 1-800-387-5559.
- in-person by booking an appointment through your local ODSP office.
The application process has two parts:
- Part one is about your finances, including how much money you make, how much you have saved and what property you might have.
- Part two is about your disability status. This is the medical and daily life part of the application.
