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What financial assistance can I get if I have a disability?

If you or a family member have a disability that may impact your income or personal finances; there may be options to help you or your family in this list of programs.

Child Disability Benefit - This is a tax-free monthly payment made to families who care for a child under the age of 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions.

Canada Disability Savings Grant - This is a matching grant. That means that the Government also pays into your Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) to help you save.

Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit - This program provides disability benefits to people who have made enough contributions to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and who are disabled and cannot work at any job on a regular basis. Benefits may also be available to their dependent children.

Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) - The DSO helps adults with developmental disabilities connect to services and supports in their communities.

Disability Award - This program provides injured Canadian Armed Forces members or Veterans with a tax-free award for an injury or illness resulting from military service. If you are approved for a Disability Award you may have flexible payment options. 

Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness Benefit - This EI program offers temporary financial assistance by providing sickness benefits to people unable to work because of sickness, injury, or quarantine.

Excise Gasoline Tax Refund - If you have a permanent mobility impairment and cannot safely use public transportation, you can ask for a refund of part of the federal excise tax on the gasoline you buy. A qualified medical practitioner must certify the impairment.

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) - This program gives financial and employment assistance to people with disabilities.

• Income support - Financial assistance provided each month to help with the costs of basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter.
• Employment supports - Services and supports to help clients with disabilities find and keep a job, and advance their careers.

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) - is a long-term savings plan to help Canadians with disabilities and their families save for the future.

Tax Credits and Deductions - There are specific tax credits and deductions available for persons with disabilities, their supporting family members, and their caregivers.

For More Information

• Disability Services and Supports - Disability includes different physical, mental or intellectual conditions. Find out what kind of services you can access as a person with a disability in Ontario. From Settlement.Org.
• Health & Disability Law - Clear language publications about health and disability laws. From Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO).
• Benefits Wayfinder - This bilingual one-stop portal lets you search for federal, provincial, and territorial benefits, as well as COVID-19 related resources. From Prosper Canada.