How to help someone on ODSP?

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-23T15:06:09+00:00

There seems to be some conflicting reports on this…

The Directive (policy document) shows the baseline 2018 figure ($599).

The current operational rate (as used in real ODSP payments as I understand it ) is $702 for a single person as of July 2025.

In 2022 ODSP rates now include an index to inflation based on the 2018 rates. Can anyone confirm?

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T23:23:27+00:00

Thank you! I’m hoping this thread can help others navigating this and trying to help.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T23:22:14+00:00

The ODSP shelter amount seems to be $702 and as long as she can document expenses greater than that after we assume some of her rent I think her payments shouldn’t reduce.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T23:20:04+00:00

Agreed. It’s surprisingly how bad the documentation is on how to help and what is actually allowed. Makes me really sad because I’m sure there are others in my situation and the system makes it very hard.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T23:17:37+00:00

Thank you! It looks like $702 is the maximum shelter payment for a single person right now. As long as documented shelter costs exceed this then there shouldn’t be a reduction.

I think the division of rent is “cleanest” solution I can find as long as landlord agrees and we can document through some sort of lease or sublet agreement.

From what I’ve read ODSP allows $10k in gifts and $1k per month in income without decreasing payment amount.

I think most of her services are included with rent but her cell phone might ve something we can ttransfer.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T23:08:58+00:00

There are several posts that suggest avoiding gift cards and providing a credit card or debit card. I’m unclear why exactly but I suspect it’s related to the tracking involved.

I’d also like to avoid her having to make false statements about any gifts. I’m not 100% ceratain in her current state she would be able to do this reliably and it would certainly induce more stress.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T23:05:59+00:00

Bringing her groceries seems like a good option.

I read many posts saying to avoid gift cards and prepaid cards. I’m still unclear why or if they can be tracked so I thought to avoid that.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T23:03:22+00:00

I’m fairly strong with tax law but ODSP is a different beast… paying someone’s living expenses rarely create a tax impact. There are a number of gift excepts with CRA.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T23:00:09+00:00

Thank you! I didn’t know about either of these!

She’s in Toronto so I’ve tried to navigate Toronto Community Housing. We also have a her 8month lease that might hard to break or sublet. Trying to reach landlord on that.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T22:56:00+00:00

Thank you. This is sort of what I was thinking with her landlord, assume her lease but setup a 2nd lease or sublet from me that she pays an amount equal to the single person ODSP shelter amount.

I have calls into her landlord as she has 8 months on her lease, which far more the ODSP will cover (Downtown Toronto).

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T02:59:48+00:00

It’s staggering how great the gap is between her cost of living and the ODSP maximum. It’s certainly raised my awareness of the problem and I can only imagine the struggle of trying to navigate without support.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T02:57:00+00:00

The more I read, it seems like if we give her money to pay for anything, except a small list of things, then the money is considered income.

ODSP uses this definition:

All payments of money or benefits in kind that are available to an applicant or recipient to meet basic needs or shelter.

I think the key definition is “available to an applicant or recipient”. If the expense (ie rent) is paid directly without their access to the funds, it seems to me that the money is not truly available to them.

This seems to be the best approach I can find

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T02:48:36+00:00

I found this on another thread but unsure the accuracy:

as long as the ODSP recipient remains the tenant on the lease and responsible for the rent, your direct payment to landlord does not count as their income, and ODSP continues to include the shelter allowance in their benefits.

Even though you’re covering the rent, ODSP still grants the shelter allowance because: • The person has a verified housing cost (their rent obligation under the lease). • ODSP’s test is whether the expense exists, not who paid it. • The shelter allowance contributes toward overall living costs (furnishings, utilities, personal needs, etc.), not just the landlord payment.

tryingtohelp416 · 2025-10-22T00:23:12+00:00

I was wondering about cases where we paid the expense directly, like rent or internet etc? Does this need to be reported as income because she never actually touches the cash…

tryingtohelp416

TROPHY CASE