Benefits Guide

ODSP Rates 2026: Updated Amounts and the $1,000 Earnings Exemption

Benefit Check Team6 min readMarch 20, 2026

Quick answer: A single person on ODSP can receive up to $1,408 per month ($809 basic needs + $599 shelter). ODSP is now inflation-indexed, meaning rates adjust annually.

ODSP Rates 2026: Updated Amounts and the $1,000 Earnings Exemption

The Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) provides monthly financial support to Ontario residents with disabilities. Following a 2.8% inflation increase in July 2025 — part of a cumulative 20% increase since September 2022 — ODSP rates are now significantly higher than they were just a few years ago. Here's what you need to know about current rates, the generous earnings exemption, and how ODSP interacts with other benefits.

ODSP rate table (effective July 1, 2025)

Family type	Basic needs	Maximum shelter	Total maximum
Single person	$809	$599	$1,408
Couple (1 disabled)	$1,166	$941	$2,107
Single parent + 1 child	$952	$941	$1,893
Single parent + 2 children	$952	$1,018	$1,970
Couple + 1 child	$1,166	$1,018	$2,184
Couple + 2 children	$1,166	$1,105	$2,271

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These rates took effect July 1, 2025, reflecting a 2.8% inflation adjustment. ODSP rates are now tied to annual inflation, with adjustments effective each July.

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 — 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 — Aisha, single, earning $1,500/month:

First $1,000: exempt
Remaining $500: 75% deducted = $375 deduction
ODSP basic needs + shelter: $1,408
Monthly ODSP payment: $1,408 - $375 = $1,033
Work-Related Benefit: +$100
Total income: $1,133 (ODSP) + $1,500 (employment) = $2,633/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 — the same as Ontario Works rules.

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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 (up to $15,000), 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 new federal top-up

Starting July 2025, the new federal Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) provides up to $200/month ($2,400/year) to working-age adults with a Disability Tax Credit certificate. Crucially:

CDB is exempt as income for ODSP purposes — it does not reduce your ODSP payment
CDB is exempt as income for Ontario Works as well
You need a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate to qualify

For a single ODSP recipient who also qualifies for CDB, this adds $200/month on top of ODSP, bringing the combined maximum to approximately $1,608/month before considering other benefits.

Other benefits alongside ODSP

ODSP recipients automatically qualify for several additional programs:

Ontario Drug Benefit: Prescription coverage with $2 co-pay
Extended health benefits: Vision, dental, and assistive devices coverage through ODSP
Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP): Automatic qualification

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
GST/HST Credit — quarterly tax credit
Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) — new 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.

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FAQ

Did ODSP rates increase in 2026?+

ODSP rates are adjusted each July based on inflation. The most recent increase was 2.8% effective July 1, 2025, bringing the single rate to $1,408/month. The next adjustment will occur in July 2026. Since ODSP is now inflation-indexed, rates are expected to continue increasing annually — unlike Ontario Works, which has been frozen since 2018.

Can I work while on ODSP?+

Yes, and the earnings rules are generous. The first $1,000 per month of net employment income is fully exempt — it doesn't reduce your ODSP at all. Above $1,000, only 75% is deducted, meaning you keep 25 cents of every additional dollar earned. You also receive a $100/month Work-Related Benefit.

What's the difference between ODSP and Ontario Works?+

The biggest differences: ODSP pays nearly double ($1,408 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.

Is the Canada Disability Benefit on top of ODSP?+

Yes. The CDB (up to $200/month) is classified as exempt income for both ODSP and Ontario Works. It does not reduce your provincial benefit. You need a valid Disability Tax Credit (DTC) certificate to qualify. 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).