Help for People with Disabilities
If you have a disability and need help paying for food and shelter, you can apply for financial help. This is called the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
ODSP is provided by the Province of Ontario to eligible people with disabilities.
ODSP offers:
- financial help with living expenses such as food, clothing and shelter for you and your family,
- benefits for you and your family, including prescription drugs and vision care, and
- help finding a job and moving your career forward.
To be eligible for ODSP, you must be in financial need, and you must meet the province's definition of a person with a disability.
It may take some time to become eligible for ODSP. If you are in urgent need of financial help, you can apply for Ontario Works while you are waiting.
ODSP Discretionary Benefits
If you receive ODSP benefits, you may also be eligible for additional help from the Region of Peel.
We can help you pay for items such as:
- rent arrears
- utility arrears
- moving costs
- medical equipment
- dental care
To apply for these items, complete the ODSP Discretionary Benefit Request Form (PDF). Fax your completed form and all supporting documents to 905-793-4833.
You will be contacted by phone within 4 business days to discuss your application.
If you have questions, need an alternate format, or need help filling out this form, call us:
- Brampton and Mississauga: 905-793-9200
- Caledon: 1-800-327-5379 (toll-free)
Other information
The quickest way to apply for ODSP is online. If you can't apply online, you can also apply by phone or in person at the following locations:
Brampton
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ontario Disability Support Program - Income and Employment Supports
Income and Employment Supports
370 Main Street North, Unit 2
Brampton ON L6V 4A4Tel: (905) 460-5025
Toll Free: 1-877-466-5025
TTY: (905) 460-2590
Fax: (905) 455-8900Mississauga
Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ontario Disability Support Program - Income and Employment Supports
Income and Employment Supports
4 Robert Speck Parkway, 14th floor
Mississauga ON L4Z 1S1Tel: (905) 897-3100
Toll Free: 1-800-361-0897
TDD/TTY: (905) 897-3109
Fax: (905) 897-5129
Your Application for ODSP
After you have had your in-person meeting with a caseworker, you will find out within 15 days if you are eligible for income support or not.
If you are told that you are not eligible for income support, and you disagree with this decision, or if you require more money to meet your needs, you have 30 days to appeal the decision by submitting a request for an internal review.
To get more information about the appeal process, visit the Province of Ontario's How to Appeal a Decision page.
Your Application ODSP Discretionary Benefits
If you have applied for ODSP Discretionary Benefits and you disagree with the decision you received, you can request an internal review. It is an opportunity for us to make sure that the rules were correctly followed for your case.
To request an internal review, you should do the following:
- provide your request in writing within 30 days of receiving the decision letter
- say in your request “I am requesting an internal review”
- explain why you disagree with the decision that was made (optional)
- include your full name
- include the nine-digit member identification number that appears on the decision letter
- sign and date the request
You can mail or drop off your request for an internal review to the following address or send it by fax to 905-826-9801. Keep a copy of your request.
Human Services - ODSP Internal Review Request
7120 Hurontario Street, PO Box 3600 RPO Streetsville
Mississauga, ON
L5M-5V2
Once we receive your request for an internal review, your file will be reviewed by another Ontario Works staff member. You may get a call from the person who is reviewing your file. You should send any additional information that you think would help in the review.
Our office must finish the review and give you the results within ten (10) days of receiving your written request for an internal review. You will receive the results of the internal review in writing.
If you would like to seek legal advice about this matter, you can contact Legal Aid Ontario for the community legal aid clinic in your area. Legal Aid Ontario may be reached by calling (416) 979-1446 (within Toronto), 1-800-668-8258 (outside of Toronto) or 1-866-641-8867 (TTY device). You can also contact them online at www.legalaid.on.ca or by email at info@lao.on.ca.
If the decision stands after the internal review, you can not appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal.