Updated July 2026. If you receive Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income support, the two things worth tracking are the monthly deposit date and the annual rate adjustment. Both follow predictable rules. Here’s how the schedule works, current amounts, and answers to the questions ODSP recipients ask most.
When ODSP Is Paid
ODSP income support is deposited on the last business day of each month. When the month ends on a weekend or holiday, payment moves to the business day before. December is the usual exception — the payment typically arrives before the holidays rather than on the 31st.
Upcoming 2026 dates by that rule: July 31, August 31, September 30, October 30, November 30, and an earlier-than-usual December payment. Your exact deposit can also depend on your bank’s processing time.
How Much ODSP Pays in 2026
For a single person, the maximum basic needs plus shelter amount is up to $1,408 per month. Two things about that number:
- It’s a maximum, not a standard amount — your actual payment depends on your shelter costs, family size, other income, and approved benefits. Someone with low documented rent receives less than the cap.
- ODSP rates are indexed to inflation each July, so the amount adjusts annually. Check your monthly statement or the official ODSP page for the current figure.
What ODSP Includes Beyond the Monthly Payment
- Health benefits: prescription drug coverage, basic dental, vision care in many cases, medical supplies, and mobility device batteries/repairs
- Employment supports: help finding and keeping work — using them does not automatically end your income support
- Other allowances: special diet allowance, pregnancy/breastfeeding nutritional allowance, and others depending on circumstances
Working While on ODSP
You can earn up to $1,000 a month from work without any reduction in income support. Above that, ODSP reduces your payment by 75 cents per dollar earned — meaning work almost always leaves you ahead overall. Earnings must still be reported monthly.
Common Payment Problems
- Payment smaller than expected: usually a reported income change, a shelter-cost update, or a recovered overpayment. Your statement itemizes it; your caseworker can explain any deduction.
- Payment missing: confirm the date is actually the last business day, then check with your bank before calling your ODSP office.
- Direct deposit changes: update banking details with your caseworker well before month-end — changes too close to the payment date can delay a cycle.
ODSP vs. Ontario Works vs. Canada Disability Benefit
ODSP is Ontario’s provincial disability program; Ontario Works is the general social assistance program with lower rates. The federal Canada Disability Benefit began paying in 2025 as a supplement for lower-income people with disabilities who hold a Disability Tax Credit certificate — it’s separate money on top of ODSP for those who qualify, and Ontario exempts it from ODSP income calculations. If you’re on ODSP and haven’t applied for the DTC and the federal benefit, that’s likely money on the table.
Related Guides
- Filing taxes in Canada (required to keep most benefits flowing)
- Healthcare in Canada: what’s covered and what isn’t
Program rules and rates are set by the Ontario government and change periodically — confirm current amounts on the official ODSP pages or with your caseworker.
