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Benefits go up for Ontario's seniors and people with disabilities
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Over the next few months, seniors and people with disabilities will see increases to some benefits. And more seniors will be able to get certain benefits because the rules about who can qualify have changed.
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ODSP rates
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The basic ODSP rate for a single person who gets the highest amount of shelter allowance is now $1,368 a month. This is up from $1,308. People will see this increase in their payment on July 31, 2024.
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The 4.5% raise applies only to the core amounts like:
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The 4.5% increase does not apply to several other ODSP benefits that people often get. These include the Remote Communities Allowance, Special Diet Allowance, and the Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Nutritional Allowance. |
Webinar on ODSP appeals
If someone's ODSP application is denied, they can appeal.
CLEO Connect has a webinar recording that explains ODSP appeals. Experts talk about why some people are denied ODSP and give tips on how to support someone through the appeal process. They focus on appealing decisions where the person did not qualify as a person with a disability.
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Changes to GAINS
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On July 1, 2024, the most a single senior can get went up from $83 to $87 a month. For couples, the amount went up from $166 to $174 a month.
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The government will now adjust the GAINS benefit every year in July to keep up with inflation. The benefit amount will not go down, even if inflation goes down.
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Who can get GAINS
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People can now have a higher yearly income and still qualify for GAINS. This change is expected to let 100,000 more seniors qualify for payments.
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Single seniors who make $4,176 in a year can now qualify, up from $1,992.
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Senior couples can now make $8,352 in a year, up from $3,984.
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Yearly income is the total income a person gets, including most Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and private pension payments. There are some sources that do not count as income including: |
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To qualify for GAINS payments, a person must also:
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- be 65 years or older
- have lived in Ontario for the past 12 months or for a total of 20 years since turning age 18
- have been a Canadian resident for 10 years or more
- get the OAS pension and GIS payments
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Applying for GAINS
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Seniors do not have to apply for GAINS. The Ontario government decides who qualifies based on information they already have.
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This means that seniors need to make sure the government has the right information. For example, they need to make sure they:
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- are getting GIS, which some people must apply for, and
- have sent in their income tax returns, even if they have no income. The tax returns show the government who has the income to qualify.
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If someone thinks they should be getting GAINS but they’re not, they can call the Ontario Ministry of Finance at 1-866-668-8297. For TTY, call 1-800-263-7776. They can also contact a community legal clinic for help. |
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More access to health benefits
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Single seniors over 65 can make $25,000, up from $22,200. And couples can make $41,500, up from $37,100.
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Help filling out tax returns
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To get many government benefits, people must send in their income tax returns. For people who cannot afford to pay for help to do this, there are free tax clinics. |
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Related resources
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