Is ODSP Going Up in 2026? July Rate Increase Explained

Every July since 2023, the Ontario government has raised ODSP rates to keep pace with inflation. This is not a one-time adjustment — it is a permanent policy change. ODSP rates are now indexed to the Ontario Consumer Price Index and adjusted annually. So the question is not really whether ODSP will go up, but by how much.

The Ontario government has not announced the specific July 2026 increase yet. Here is what we do know:

ODSP rates are indexed to inflation through the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI). Each year, the government calculates the adjustment based on the previous year's CPI data and applies it effective July 1.

The 2025 increase was 2.8%. Before that, the increases were 4.5% (2024), 6.5% (2023), and 5% (September 2022). Combined, that is a 20% cumulative increase since September 2022.

The July 2026 percentage will be based on Ontario CPI data. Inflation has been moderating — the 2.8% increase in 2025 was the lowest of the four adjustments. If that trend continues, the 2026 increase may be in a similar range, but this is not confirmed. The Ontario government typically announces the rate in the weeks leading up to July 1.

These are the rates in effect right now. They will remain the same until the July 2026 adjustment:

For a detailed breakdown including earnings exemptions and asset limits, see ODSP rates and the $1,000 earnings exemption.

Before 2022, ODSP rates were frozen for years at a time. Recipients watched prices rise while their payments stayed the same. That changed when the Ontario government began indexing ODSP to inflation.

Here is how the process works each year:

Step 1: The Ontario government reviews the Ontario Consumer Price Index for the previous calendar year.

Step 2: A percentage increase is calculated based on CPI changes.

Step 3: The new rates take effect on July 1. Both the basic needs and shelter maximums are adjusted.

Step 4: Your caseworker may notify you, but you can also check ontario.ca for the updated rate tables.

You do not need to apply for the increase or take any action. It is applied automatically to your ODSP payment for July (deposited on the last business day of July — July 31, 2026).

This is an important contrast. Ontario Works rates have been frozen since 2018 — eight years with no increase, despite over 20% cumulative inflation during that period. A single person on OW still receives $733/month, the same amount as in 2018.

ODSP, by comparison, has risen from $1,169 (pre-2022) to $1,408 — and will go higher in July 2026.

For a full side-by-side comparison, see ODSP vs Ontario Works: key differences in 2026.

The federal Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is also indexed to inflation starting July 2026. The current maximum is $200/month ($2,400/year). Based on a projected 2% CPI indexation, the new maximum may be approximately $204/month — though the exact amount has not been published yet.

The CDB is exempt income for ODSP — receiving it does not reduce your ODSP payment. You get both in full.

For eligibility and how to apply, see Canada Disability Benefit explained.

File your taxes. Many benefits — including the GST/HST Credit, Ontario Trillium Benefit, and Canada Child Benefit — are recalculated in July based on your tax return. If you have not filed your 2025 return, file your taxes by April 30 to keep benefits flowing.

Check all your benefits. Many ODSP recipients qualify for additional programs they are not receiving. The CDB alone is worth $200/month on top of ODSP. Use the Benefit Check calculator to see everything you may be eligible for.

Watch for the announcement. The Ontario government typically publishes the new ODSP rates in June. We will update this article with the confirmed July 2026 amounts as soon as they are announced.

We will update this article with confirmed July 2026 rates as soon as they are announced by the Ontario government.