5. Be prepared to fill out forms for ODSP
The Ontario Human Rights Commission has released their latest take on mandatory vaccines, passports and testing, here: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/ohrc-policy-statement-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-and-proof-vaccine-certificates. In light of this update, and the new directives that the Province released a few weeks ago, we are in the process of updating our covid testing content. Please re-visit the site to access the updated content when it is available.
Question & Answer
How do I start an ODSP application?At your appointment with the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) worker, you have to fill out and sign a number of forms.
Other adult family members who ODSP says are in your household also have to come to the appointment and complete these forms. ODSP calls this your “benefit unit”.
There’s information below about the forms.
Application for Assistance
This form asks for information about you and your financial situation.
Consent to Disclose and Verify Personal Information
This form lets ODSP check the information that you give them. For example, they can check with your bank, a credit reporting agency, or government agencies, such as the Family Responsibility Office.
But they should only check information that that they need to prove that you qualify financially for .
If you have concerns about information that ODSP wants, contact your community legal clinic.
Consent to Disclose and Verify Information (Canada Revenue Agency)
This form lets ODSP check the information that the has about you.
This includes information related to your income tax returns and any federal government benefits you may get.
Rights and Responsibilities
This form describes what you must do while you’re getting income support from ODSP.
Ask the ODSP worker to go over this form with you before you sign it.
Deciding if you qualify financially
ODSP is supposed to decide if you qualify financially and send you a within 15 business days of your meeting.
If ODSP decides you don’t qualify financially, you might be able to appeal the decision.
If you do qualify financially, you get a with forms that ask about your health.
Completing the Disability Determination Package
The forms have to be completed and sent to the Disability Adjudication Unit within 90 days from the date they were given to you.
If you got the package in the mail, the deadline is 93 days from the mailing date on the envelope.
If you can’t send your forms in within the time limit, contact the and ask them to give you more time.
You’ll have to prove that you have a good reason. For example, if you could not complete the forms because you were in hospital or in jail, they should give you more time.
But if they refuse to give you more time and you miss the deadline, you’ll have to start your application again.
You won’t get these forms to complete if you’re someone who does not have to prove that you have a disability.
