Government Funding for Adults
While the Ontario Autism Program doesn’t currently extend past the age of 18, there are some government funding options for autistic and/or disabled adults.
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
The Ontario Disability Support Program provides two different types of assistance for adults 18 and older with disabilities in Ontario.
Income support - Monthly financial assistance to help with the costs of basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. Income support also includes benefits like drug coverage and vision care for clients and their eligible family members.
Employment Support - Services and supports to help people with disabilities find and keep work.
Learn if you or a loved one is eligible.
Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) and Passport Funding
Passport is a funding program that helps adults 18 years or older with a developmental disability to participate in their communities. It also helps caregivers of an adult with a developmental disability take a break from their caregiving responsibilities. Passport is funded by the Ontario Government and administered by local Passport Agencies.
Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
The disability tax credit is a non-refundable tax credit that helps persons with disabilities or their supporting persons reduce the amount of income tax they may have to pay. An individual may claim the disability amount once they are eligible for the DTC. This amount includes a supplement for persons under 18 years of age at the end of the year.
Learn if you or a loved one is eligible.
Canada Disability Benefit (CDB)
Who May Apply:
Persons with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64 may apply if they have qualified for the disability tax credit and meet the benefit’s other eligibility requirements.
How to Apply:
A person eligible to apply may do so online, by phone, or in person at a Service Canada Centre.
Applicants will have the ability to receive program and application support with an officer across all Service Canada channels (phone, online and in-person).
What is the Benefit Amount:
The benefit estimator tool can be used to find out how much an individual may receive each month.
When to Expect the Benefit Payment:
If an individual qualifies for payments, payments will start the month after their application is received and approved. If the application is approved in July 2025 or later and an applicant was eligible for payments in earlier months, they will get back payments. There will be no payments for months before June 2025.
Who Administers the Program:
The Canada Disability Benefit program is administered by Service Canada. To find out more on how to apply, contact details and other information related to the benefit, visit the Canada Disability Benefit website.
How to Ask Questions About the Benefit:
Contact a Canada Disability Benefit representative by phone, teletypewriter (TTY), Video Relay Service, or In Person at a Service Canada office.
Visit the Contact Us page of the Canada Disability Benefit for more information.
Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP)
A registered disability savings plan (RDSP) is a savings plan that is intended to help parents and others save for the long term financial security of a person who is eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC).
RDSP Action Committee Information
Henson Trusts
The most well-known and commonly used Trust among families of people with disabilities is the Absolute Discretionary Trust, more commonly known as the “Henson” Trust. It is a special type of Trust arrangement in which the beneficiary is considered not to have any legal claim to the property held in Trust, and therefore, the property is not considered an asset of the Beneficiary when determining eligibility for ODSP. In short, a Henson Trust renders the property invisible to ODSP for as long as the property remains in the Trust.
External Resources
| P4P Planning Network |
ConnectABILITY |
| Pooran Law | Microboards Ontario |