If you have a disability and get the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), you can receive up to $1,436 a month as a single person. That covers basic needs and shelter, at the rate in force since July 1, 2026, after a 1.9% increase.
You can also work. The first $1,000 a month of your take-home pay (net earnings) does not lower your payment. Here are the ODSP rates for 2026 by family type, how work income changes your payment, and the asset limits.
What ODSP pays · 2026
up to$1,436a month
for a single person · from July 1, 2026
Couplesup to $2,148 when one partner has a disability
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Key facts · 5 facts · checked October 22, 2026ShowHide
- Single person: up to $1,436 a month ($825 basic needs plus up to $611 shelter), from July 1, 2026.
- Couple with one partner with a disability: up to $2,148 a month. Single parent with one child: up to $1,927.
- The first $1,000 a month of net earnings does not reduce ODSP; 75% of earnings above that is deducted.
- A $100 Work-Related Benefit is added each month you earn money from working.
- Asset limit: $40,000 for a single person and $50,000 for a couple.
Main source: Ontario Disability Support Program
ODSP rates by family type (from July 1, 2026)
Your ODSP payment has two parts: basic needs and shelter. A single person can get up to $825 for basic needs plus up to $611 for shelter, or $1,436 a month at most. A couple where one partner has a disability can get up to $1,189 for basic needs plus up to $959 for shelter, or $2,148.
Ontario publishes the full rate tables in two policy directives: 6.1 Basic needs and 6.2 Shelter calculation. The rates change every July.
Two rules matter for families. A child under 18 does not raise the basic needs amount. Children are paid for by the Canada Child Benefit and the Ontario Child Benefit instead. A single parent whose children are all under 18 gets an extra $143 a month, called the sole-support parent supplement.
| Family | Basic needs | Shelter, at most | Most per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single person | $825 | $611 | $1,436 |
| Couple, one partner with a disability | $1,189 | $959 | $2,148 |
| Single parent, one child under 18 | $968 (includes the $143 supplement) | $959 | $1,927 |
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These rates took effect on July 1, 2026, after a 1.9% increase tied to inflation. Ontario adjusts ODSP rates every July. You get the full shelter amount only when your housing costs are at least that high. For every family size, see the ODSP shelter allowance maximums for 2026.
The $1,000 earnings exemption explained
ODSP has one of the most generous earnings exemptions of any income support program in Canada:
- First $1,000 per month of net employment income: fully exempt, with no reduction to ODSP
- Above $1,000 per month: 75% is deducted (you keep 25 cents of every additional dollar)
- Plus: $100/month Work-Related Benefit on top of regular ODSP
Example: a single person with $1,500 a month in net earnings and rent of at least $611.
- First $1,000: exempt
- Remaining $500: 75% deducted = $375 deduction
- ODSP basic needs + shelter: $1,436
- Monthly ODSP payment: $1,436 - $375 = $1,061
- Work-Related Benefit: +$100
- Total income: $1,161 (ODSP) + $1,500 (employment) = $2,661/month
Compare this to Ontario Works, where the exemption is only $200/month and the deduction rate is 50%. ODSP recipients have a much stronger financial incentive to work.
Non-disabled spouse: If your spouse is not disabled and is working, their earnings exemption is $200/month with 50% deducted above that. These are the same rules as Ontario Works.
Asset limits
ODSP asset limits were substantially increased in recent years:
| Situation | Asset limit |
|---|---|
| Single person | $40,000 |
| Couple | $50,000 |
| Each additional dependant | +$500 |
Exempt assets include: your primary home, one vehicle, RDSPs (no limit), prepaid funerals, tools of the trade, and certain trust assets.
The $40,000 single limit is four times higher than Ontario Works ($10,000), making ODSP far more flexible for recipients who have managed to accumulate some savings.
How to apply for ODSP
ODSP has a two-part eligibility process:
Part 1, financial eligibility: Assessed by your local ODSP office. Decision typically within 15 business days of submitting all documents.
Part 2, disability determination: Requires a Disability Determination Package (DDP) completed by your health professional, submitted to the Disability Adjudication Unit (DAU). You have 90 days to submit the DDP. The DAU decision takes approximately 90 days.
Total timeline: 3 to 6 months from initial application to first payment.
How to start:
- Contact your local ODSP office
- Call the ODSP application line
- If you're currently on Ontario Works, your OW caseworker can help initiate the process
While you wait: You can receive Ontario Works payments during the ODSP application process. If approved for ODSP, you transition automatically.
Prescribed classes (skip disability adjudication): Some applicants can bypass the disability determination entirely: CPP Disability recipients, people 65+ without OAS, and those with a qualifying letter from Developmental Services Ontario.
Canada Disability Benefit: a federal top-up
The federal Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) started paying in July 2025. From July 2026 to June 2027, it pays up to $204.20 a month to people aged 18 to 64 who are approved for the Disability Tax Credit. How it works with ODSP:
- CDB is exempt as income for ODSP purposes, so it does not reduce your ODSP payment
- CDB is exempt as income for Ontario Works as well
- You need to be approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and you and your spouse must have filed your 2025 tax returns
For a single ODSP recipient who also qualifies for the CDB, this adds up to $204.20 a month on top of ODSP. The two together come to up to $1,640.20 a month from July 2026 to June 2027, before other benefits.
Other benefits alongside ODSP
ODSP recipients automatically qualify for several additional programs:
- Ontario Drug Benefit: prescription coverage, you pay up to $2 per prescription (nothing if you are 24 or under)
- Extended health benefits: Vision, dental, and assistive devices coverage through ODSP
- Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP): you qualify automatically and apply through your caseworker
Additional programs to check:
- Ontario Trillium Benefit (OTB): monthly payment for property tax and energy costs
- Canada Child Benefit (CCB): if you have children, paid separately on top of ODSP
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit): quarterly payments
- Canada Disability Benefit (CDB): federal benefit (see above)
A single ODSP recipient with one child could receive ODSP + CDB + CCB + OTB + GST/HST Credit + OESP, potentially exceeding $3,000/month in combined support.
FAQ
Did ODSP rates increase in 2026?
Yes. ODSP rates are adjusted each July based on inflation. The 2026 increase was 1.9%, effective July 1, 2026, and it brought the single rate to $1,436 a month, up from $1,408. The next adjustment is due in July 2027. Ontario Works is different: its rates have been frozen since 2018.
Can I work while on ODSP?
Yes. The first $1,000 per month of net employment income is fully exempt, so it does not reduce your ODSP at all. Above $1,000, 75% is deducted, meaning you keep 25 cents of every additional dollar earned. You also receive a $100 Work-Related Benefit each month you earn money from working. Report your earnings every month by the 7th of the next month.
What's the difference between ODSP and Ontario Works?
The biggest differences: ODSP pays nearly double ($1,436 vs $733 for a single person), has a much higher earnings exemption ($1,000/mo vs $200/mo), higher asset limits ($40,000 vs $10,000), and is now inflation-indexed. ODSP requires a disability determination, while Ontario Works does not. You can receive OW while your ODSP application is being processed. See <a href="https://benefitcheck.ca/blog/odsp-vs-ontario-works-2026-differences-guide">ODSP vs Ontario Works in 2026</a>.
Is the Canada Disability Benefit on top of ODSP?
Yes. The CDB pays up to $204.20 a month from July 2026 to June 2027, and Ontario treats it as exempt income for both ODSP and Ontario Works. It does not reduce your provincial benefit. To qualify, you must be 18 to 64 and approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC), and you and your spouse must have filed your 2025 tax returns. The CDB is also non-taxable.
Can I keep my savings while on ODSP?
ODSP allows single recipients to hold up to $40,000 in assets ($50,000 for couples). Your primary residence, one vehicle, RDSPs, and certain other assets are fully exempt regardless of value. This is significantly more generous than Ontario Works ($10,000 limit).
How much do you get on ODSP with one child?
A single parent with one child under 18 can get up to $1,927 a month from ODSP, at the rates in force since July 1, 2026. That is $825 for basic needs, plus the $143 sole-support parent supplement, plus up to $959 for shelter for two people. The child does not add to basic needs, because the Canada Child Benefit and the Ontario Child Benefit are paid separately for children.
How much does a couple get on ODSP in 2026?
A couple where one partner has a disability can get up to $2,148 a month: $1,189 for basic needs plus up to $959 for shelter, at the rates in force since July 1, 2026. When both partners have a disability, a higher basic needs rate applies, with special limits. Check directive 6.1 Basic needs on ontario.ca or ask your caseworker for your exact amount.