ODSP calculator
Enter your household, shelter cost and any employment income to see an estimate built from the published directive rates.
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Each person needs their own disability determination.
Rent or mortgage, plus heating and utilities.
How much does ODSP pay?
A single person with no dependants can receive up to $825 a month for basic needs plus a shelter allowance of up to $611, for a maximum of $1,436. Shelter is paid at your actual cost up to that maximum. The first $1,000 of monthly employment income is exempt, plus 25% of anything above it.
How ODSP income support is built
Income support has two components. Basic needs is a fixed monthly amount determined by who is in your benefit unit, covering food, clothing, transport and personal items. Shelter is paid at your actual housing cost, capped at a maximum that rises with household size.
Rates were increased by 1.9% on 1 July 2026 under the annual inflation adjustment, which is why figures published earlier in the year are now slightly low.
Shelter costs count rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, home insurance, heating and utilities. If your total is below the cap you receive your actual cost, not the maximum.
How the calculation works
The same two-component structure as Ontario Works, with more generous figures throughout.
basic needs = $825 single recipient, no dependants$1,189 recipient and spouse$1,644 recipient and spouse, both with a disabilityshelter = the lower of your actual cost and the maximum1 person $611 4 people $1,1262 people $959 5 people $1,2153 people $1,038 6 or more $1,259earnings exemption = first $1,000, plus 25% of the remainderincome support = basic needs + shelter − (income − exemption)
The earnings exemption is the biggest practical difference between ODSP and Ontario Works. ODSP exempts the first $1,000 of monthly employment income outright, then a quarter of everything above it. Ontario Works exempts $200 plus half the remainder.
That means someone on ODSP earning $1,000 a month keeps their full income support alongside their wages. The same earnings on Ontario Works would reduce assistance substantially.
Worked example: a single person paying $900 rent
You live alone, pay $900 a month in rent and utilities, and earn $1,400 a month part time.
- Basic needs, single, no dependants$825.00
- Shelter, capped at the 1-person maximum$611.00
- Maximum before income$1,436.00
- Exemption: $1,000 + 25% of $400$1,100.00
- Chargeable income$300.00
About $1,136 a month in income support, plus your $1,400 in earnings.
Rent of $900 is $289 above the $611 shelter maximum, and that gap comes out of the basic needs amount. Had you earned $1,000 rather than $1,400, the entire amount would have been exempt and you would receive the full $1,436.
Current rate tables
Both figures come from the ODSP policy directives and are combined to produce your monthly income support.
| Household | Basic needs | Benefit unit size | Shelter maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single recipient | $825 | 1 person | $611 |
| Recipient and spouse | $1,189 | 2 people | $959 |
| Both with a disability | $1,644 | 3 people | $1,038 |
| Plus one dependant 18+ | $1,280 | 4 people | $1,126 |
| Plus two dependants 18+ | $1,514 | 5 people | $1,215 |
| — | — | 6 or more | $1,259 |
Dependants under 18 do not change the basic needs amount but do increase your benefit unit size, which raises the shelter maximum. Children are supported mainly through the Canada Child Benefit and the Ontario Child Benefit rather than through ODSP basic needs.
Assumptions and limits
- Applies standard rates only; board and lodging arrangements use a different structure
- Does not test assets, which are assessed separately and can affect eligibility
- Does not model the disability determination, which is required before any payment
- Additional benefits for drugs, dental, vision and assistive devices are not included
- Rates were last increased on 1 July 2026 and are adjusted annually for inflation
What has changed, and when
Rates on this page have not always been what they are today. If you are working on an earlier period, use the figure that applied at the time rather than the current one.
- From 1 July 2026 Basic needs and shelter maximums rose by 1.9% under the annual inflation adjustment. The shelter directive was updated 30 June 2026.
- Ongoing ODSP rates have been indexed annually since 2023, so figures published before a July adjustment run low.
Common questions
How much does ODSP pay a single person?
Up to $1,436 a month, made up of $825 for basic needs and a shelter allowance of up to $611. Shelter is paid at your actual housing cost, so someone paying less than $611 receives less than the maximum.
How much can I earn while on ODSP?
The first $1,000 of monthly employment income is fully exempt, and 25% of anything above that is exempt too. Only the remainder reduces your income support, so working always leaves you better off overall.
Did ODSP rates go up in 2026?
Yes. Basic needs and shelter maximums increased by 1.9% on 1 July 2026 under the annual inflation adjustment. Figures published before that date are now slightly low, which is worth checking on any calculator you rely on.
What if both my spouse and I have a disability?
The basic needs amount rises to $1,644 a month, against $1,189 where only one of you qualifies. Both people need a separate disability determination for the higher rate to apply.
What is the difference between ODSP and Ontario Works?
ODSP is for people with a substantial disability expected to last a year or more, and pays $825 basic needs with up to $611 shelter for a single person. Ontario Works is for people available for work, and pays $343 with up to $390 shelter. ODSP also exempts far more employment income.
Where these numbers come from
- ODSP policy directives — 6.1 Basic needs calculation The basic needs rate table by household composition.
- ODSP policy directives — 6.2 Shelter calculation Maximum monthly shelter by benefit unit size. Updated 30 June 2026.
- Government of Ontario — Income support through ODSP Programme overview, the July 2026 increase and how to apply.
Last verified 2026-08-01 Rates on this page are checked against the sources above at least once a year, and whenever the governing authority announces a change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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