Question about ODSP 

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Determination of Eligibility

An applicant or recipient is eligible to receive income support as a single person or sole-support parent, unless he/she resides with another person who is determined to be his/her spouse.

Where an applicant or recipient is ineligible as a single person or sole-support parent because he/she has a spouse, the applicant or recipient and the person who is the spouse may apply for income support as a couple.

ODSP applicants and recipients continue to have the option of self-declaring someone as a spouse for the purpose of including them as a member of their benefit unit.

If an applicant or recipient has been living with another adult (other than a close relative) for at least three months and has not declared the person as a spouse, an assessment of the relationship is done to determine if the relationship is marriage-like. The assessment is based on the individual's responses to the Questionnaire.

Treatment of Income of the Spouse

A spouse is considered to be a dependant in the benefit unit. The budgetary requirements, income and assets of the recipient and any dependants are to be included in determining the eligibility and the amount of income support for the benefit unit. Therefore, the combined income, assets and expenses of the couple are taken into account to determine financial eligibility and the amount of income support.