1.3 — Rapid reinstatement
September 2023
Summary of Legislation
Rapid reinstatement is a streamlined reapplication process for granting income support to a former ODSP recipient without re-adjudicating the applicant's disability.
A former ODSP recipient is a person who was previously in receipt of ODSP income support and benefits.
Legislative Authority
Summary of Directive
Former recipients who qualify for rapid reinstatement are not required to go through the disability adjudication process. However, they must qualify financially and meet all other eligibility requirements.
If the former recipient qualifies for rapid reinstatement no new application is required if the Application for Assistance Part 1 is less than one year old or was updated within the last 12 months. Otherwise, a new Application for Assistance Part 1 must be completed.
Intent of Policy
- To ensure that former ODSP recipients who are financially eligible are quickly reinstated if they meet the criteria for rapid reinstatement
- To serve as an incentive for ODSP recipients to become employed by reducing the risk of not re-qualifying for ODSP if the employment does not work out
Application of Policy
Applicants Who Were Previously Adjudicated under ODSP with No Medical Review Date
Former recipients who were adjudicated who did not have a medical review date assigned when they were granted ODSP income support are eligible for rapid reinstatement providing they qualify financially.
The reasons for exiting ODSP and the length of time they were off ODSP are not relevant in determining eligibility for rapid reinstatement.
Applicants Who Were Previously Adjudicated with a Medical Review Date
Former recipients who were adjudicated who were subject to a review of their disability when they were granted ODSP income support are eligible for rapid reinstatement providing they qualify financially. However the Disability Adjudication Unit (DAU) will conduct a review of the recipient's disability at a later date as determined by the Director.
The reasons for exiting ODSP and the length of time they were off ODSP are not relevant in determining eligibility for rapid reinstatement.
Applicants Who Were Grandparented from the Former Family Benefits Program (FBA)
Some people who were receiving Family Benefits on May 31, 1998 were deemed to be members of a prescribed class and were transferred (grandparented) to ODSP when the ODSP Act was proclaimed on June 1, 1998.
Effective September 1, 2017, former ODSP recipients who were grandparented from FBA are eligible for rapid reinstatement, if financially eligible, regardless of the reason they exited ODSP, when they exited and the length of time they were off ODSP.
Note: Prior to September 1, 2017, former ODSP recipients who were grandparented from FBA were only eligible for rapid reinstatement if they became ineligible for ODSP because of income from employment, training or the operation of a business.
| Scenario | Rapid Reinstatement Eligibility | |
|---|---|---|
Grandparented from the Former Family Benefits Program (FBA) | Former recipient exits ODSP due to income from from employment Former recipient exits ODSP due to income in excess Former recipient exits due to moving out of the province and returns 16 months later | *Eligible |
Previously ODSP Adjudicated Recipients | Former recipient who did not have a medical review date | * Eligible |
Previously ODSP Adjudicated Recipients | Former recipient who had a medical review date and exits ODSP before the review date has passed.
| * Eligible
|
Previously ODSP Adjudicated Recipients | Former recipient who had a medical review date and exits ODSP after the review date has passed but where a medical review did not occur | * Eligible- Medical review to occur at later date as determined by Director |
* Must be financially eligible
Applicants Who Were Terminated as a Result of a Medical Review
Recipients who were terminated from ODSP as a result of a medical review that determined that they no longer qualified for ODSP as a person with a disability or for failing to submit their Medical Review Package are not eligible for rapid reinstatement. These individuals must reapply and have their disability adjudicated by the DAU, if they are financially eligible.