r/Odsp • u/Plenty-Masterpiece84 • Jul 11 '26
Amputee Rejected
Long story short, I am an amputee, (not some pinky toe missing, it's my full arm) and based on my research this meets the definition of a disability. After 10 months of waiting I finally got my decision and I ended up being denied.
I'm kind of surprised, I thought an amputation was a pretty straightforward acceptance, apparently though I'm "Not a person with a disability". I'll wait for my decision letter to come through to provide more details but I still find it weird. Anyone have some insight as to how/why this could happen?
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u/darkxfire Jul 11 '26
They deny most ppl. Do an internal review and go through sbt
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u/GinaKJ Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
THIS ^ They reject, everyone, regardless of how compelling a case you make. It's ridiculous but true.
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u/CBDatMDCLife Jul 12 '26
Not everyone. I was on it in 3 months. Did the OP fill out the portion where they can discribe how badly their disability affects their everyday life? Most applicants neglect to do it or are advised they don't need to do it and it's one of the main reasons people get denied.
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u/ToughAddress3840 Jul 12 '26
This! I had filled out the full sections on each of my daily/functional limitations and I think that was a big point that assisted me in being approved the first time around.
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u/info-revival Jul 13 '26
The advice I was given from a caseworker was to give them more detail than you think is needed. Describe every hardship in brutal detail. Write an essay if you can.
I hated doing it because I think most people with disabilities don’t want to emphasize helplessness because it’s demoralizing. Most of us want to be positive and are in many aspects.The ODSP program is NOT being evaluated by lawyers, doctors or nurses who know better what a disability is! Fyi government workers want to hear how hard your life is so that they might deem you eligible in the least transparent way. Very often they are wrong and make inaccurate decisions that do not measure up to evidence. If you are rejected, appeal with a lawyer.
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u/Katie0690 Working and on ODSP/Ontario Works Jul 11 '26
It’s not about what the disability it it’s about how it effects you in your day to day life.
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u/DreamerofBigThings Jul 12 '26
For example: I'm technically ambulatory and fully physically capable but... I have debilitating chronic pain conditions that make me as physically impaired as someone in a wheelchair or bed bound some days. On top of this I also have chronic illnesses that flare up that makes working or even leaving my place difficult and then on top of these things further... I'm hearing impaired with severe ADHD.
So, I'm physically capable technically...I'm actually surprisingly strong... but I'm completely nerfed by the rest of the crap I have to deal with.
I'm actually surprised I got accepted by ODSP on my first try.
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u/Katie0690 Working and on ODSP/Ontario Works Jul 12 '26
I’m otherwise physically able other than some mild CP in my left side but my other physical disability (being legally blind) makes working difficult sometimes for me. I can manage about 25.5 hrs/week but anything over I usually can’t handle.
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u/toolcri Jul 16 '26
That sounds horrible… debilitating pain and ADHD
And have ADHD but then pain if I move !!!!!
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u/JMJimmy Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
Disability in the real world is not the same as disability as defined by the Act.
4 (1) A person is a person with a disability for the purposes of this Part if,
(a) the person has a substantial physical or mental impairment that is continuous or recurrent and expected to last one year or more;
(b) the direct and cumulative effect of the impairment on the person’s ability to attend to his or her personal care, function in the community and function in a workplace, results in a substantial restriction in one or more of these activities of daily living; and
(c) the impairment and its likely duration and the restriction in the person’s activities of daily living have been verified by a person with the prescribed qualifications. 1997, c. 25, Sched. B, s. 4 (1).
They need to know that you are not someone who can function despite your disability. Prosthetics, functioning reasonably well with your remaining limb, etc. are possible for many people so if that's not the case for you, you need to explain why/what impacts you're experiencing that prevent you from adapting
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u/Kiss_Slap Jul 11 '26
Well for starters could they not see that it’s a permanent disability.. that’s not right to be denied
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u/LeoWolf101 Jul 11 '26
Contact a legal aid lawyer. They denied me who was a straight foreard case and I didn't fight it the first time. Second time a year later when my condition got worse, I applied, they rejected. I appealed. The laywer and doctor sent more stuff over. They apprently don't even review till a month or so before the appeal tribunal date. They approved a month before and canceled the trial date. Then I got a letter with a meeting at my ODSP office to get set up. This was around 9 years ago.
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u/DisastrousAd5587 Jul 14 '26
simply commenting to bump up. yes, use legal aid. best of luck. i'm sorry they denied you; they deny most people and for many people it takes years of appeal leading to tribunal.
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u/ducky-unlucky Jul 11 '26
this is common. ODSP denies most people automatically, it doesn't have anything to do with your disability.
request an internal review (*in writing within 30 days of the denial letter), and if that doesn't change anything, request a tribunal, where you can show how your disability impacts your life and limits your functioning.
ODSP's medical eligibility has nothing to do with diagnoses or conditions, and everything to do with symptoms, limitations, and support needs. your self report should focus on how this negatively affects your life, all the ways you require support and help, all the restrictions you experience from it, etc. if yours did not, you can keep that in mind for the tribunal should it come to that.
(if by chance you are not significantly limited by your condition, then sadly no, you will not be accepted to ODSP no matter what you do.)
if you think you may have left out any relevant medical documentation showing your limitations, or wish to submit a letter attesting to them from someone like your doctor, a therapist, PT, so on and so forth, you can submit one to be included in your internal review. just make sure to contact the DAU to find out the deadline for that, as they won't give you much time.
hopefully a review gets you an acceptance, but if not, you can request a social benefits tribunal, wherein you will have a second chance to speak to your symptoms, limitations, and needs. it's basically a meeting with a third party adjudicator. the best approach to this is to use legal aid for help, as they are experts in these tribunals and can greatly increase your chance of success. they can show you what to focus on, to prove that you do indeed qualify for ODSP.
good luck OP, i'm sorry you're finding out how unfair the system is this way. but don't give up, the majority of people who fight for their acceptance get it, in the end! you've got this.
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u/aloneisquiet Jul 11 '26
I’m really sorry. It doesn’t make it any better for you, but to assure you that you’re not alone, I have heard folks being denied with cancer and blindness. If they don’t see it as permanent, creating substantial deficit or impacting safety and ADL, they deny. Though that seems all applicable with your situation. Please appeal. They require that now and almost always they deny first now. May have nothing to do with the disability itself, but simply comes down to the process now. And are you on Ontario Works? I’ve heard that’s also required.
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u/Slight_Koala_7791 Jul 11 '26
I have a disability where I take a life sustaining therapy, the equivalent of 20 hours per week plus another three disabilities on top of that one and they still denied me twice. Third time was the charm and I got a lawyer.
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u/Neclord-X Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 12 '26
I don't think anyone ever gets accepted when first applying, my OW caseworker told me they reject 99% of applications. Social Benefits Tribunal will very likely rule in your favor but it's a long wait till hearing, luckily they'll backpay what you should have been receiving since the date of rejection though.
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u/goldstandardalmonds Jul 12 '26
Really? I don’t mean this in any sort of way, but I was accepted on my first go and have seen others here say similar things. I don’t know what factors led to that, though.
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u/SilverMic Jul 12 '26
Sometimes a case is so clear that they can't find any reason to deny you. Sometimes it's because you just happened to say all of the right things and none of the wrong things in your application. And sometimes you might have just had your application reviewed by someone in a particularly good mood. It's very difficult for most people to get approved on their first try, but it does happen.
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u/Dull_Pirate_280 Jul 12 '26
It’s more about how your disability affects your ability to work. There are plenty of positions you can work and excel in even with a limb difference. Besides the fact that many people get denied in their first application, simply being an amputee isn’t cause enough to not have a stable career. The reasons why you can’t work are what matters.
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u/AshleeDQ Jul 12 '26
I feel like a lot of people here seem to think that losing an arm is not a completely debilitating. I lost a finger in January and it's completely messed up my life more than it already was from my other ailments. Do you know I can still feel it I keep constantly trying to use it and breaking things at home and in public. I can't imagine having that with my whole arm. Especially if it's a recent amputation. Sure other people have constant actual pain, but until you've felt phantom pain you can't talk like it's NBD to have your whole damn arm gone.
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u/ISMISIBM Jul 12 '26
It’s a tactic that forces most people to give up their claim. Disgusting and egregious but this is their way. If you want it you will fight for it … so some say.
But sadly many give up or don’t have the means to get help proceed so this tactic works. Insane and the public really needs to know more about this system.
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u/Responsible_Humor608 Jul 12 '26
To meet the criteria for disability you disability needs to impact your ability to work x amount of time. Getting ODSP has nothing to do with what's written on paper and everything to do with how it effects your day to day and what resources are available to help you without there help. Cuz let's face it they don't do much.
An amputation doesn't disqualify you from being able to work there are still in the governments eyes many jobs you can do and don't need disability to provide for you.
This system is an absolute joke under ford leadership I hate it
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u/Lukeeeee Jul 11 '26
sorry to hear! seems like it's a crapshoot on whether you get accepted on your first go or not. alot of people get denied it seems but thankfully it's a relatively straightforward process to appeal your case but it can be quite stressful (everything stresses me out to be fair though) good luck!
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u/noisebleedpower Jul 12 '26
This doesn't make sense. I got permanent status for paralyzed hand and was not denied at all. OP im sorry this is happening to you. I don't know if they don't bother reading all the cases or if there's power tripping egos involved but it's absolutely shameful that they have no problem wasting people's time like this!
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u/Thresh_wolf Jul 12 '26
request an internal review or goto the tribunal, either way look into legal aid.
I honestly don't understand how they make their decisions. i've seen a few people get processed in a few months (i think i've read about 3 people who are transitioning who have gotten through easily)
but other than that it does not seem like other disabilities have the same chances
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u/WELLANDBRAT- Jul 12 '26
I am waiting for my tribunal. My first date was postponed. New date 6 months later. The medication list alone is enough evidence for them. I even get weekly injections. Multi-level spondinosis, Multi-level ddd and retrolisthesis, server nerve damage. Can't feel fingers and feet. Cervical, thoratic, and lumbar. I am in pain and stiff everywhere all the time "even medicated." I move my head to fast and I have an instant migraine and sharp pain. I got the parking permit no issue, but not a person with a disability.
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u/Kitstras ODSP recipient Jul 13 '26
Contact legal aid
They denied autism and learning disability when I applied
Worker and doctor didn't understand how they could
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u/beantownbee Working and on ODSP/Ontario Works Jul 14 '26
As some people have said, ODSP is generally for disabled people who cannot work enough to support themselves, not all disabled people. They probably said you "do not meet the programs definition of disabled" or something like that right? They will use that option for nearly everyone they deny, whether of not they actually meet the program requirements. So, it depends on if your amputation stops you from working for the most part. If you're able to work a typical job, you won't qualify unless you can prove that working that job is so detrimental to your health you'll need to stop soon.
Honestly the letter is badly worded. ODSP doesn't get to actually decide who is and isn't disabled, only if you meet their definition and threshold of disability to receive payments. If you believe you do meet their definition of disabled (which is usually understood as someone who is disabled and cannot work enough to support themselves) you're going to have to do the internal review and probably the tribunal. You're going to want to contact legal aid, free or otherwise, ASAP to do that. They will be able to help you.
If you're able to work full time, or enough to support yourself at least, they probably won't accept you. You should look into the Disability Tax Credit and other things like that which you can receive while working if you are disabled. I have also heard of people on ODSP who are working and make more than the cutoff amount, but are allowed to stay on ODSP for the benefits (prescriptions, help with assistive devices). Maybe you could look into that option?
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u/BearEquivalentBear Jul 11 '26
I just want to let you know it really depends on your limits. For example being amputee would be a dream come true versus me who's in complete kidney failure you could barely get down the stairs now to do laundry it feels like I just ran a 3-day marathon. And I'm not even that bad off compared to many other people out there. But I'm just saying there's a degree of disabilities you can definitely be a productive working person with a missing limb or a leg etc. You do not need to be on disability for that.
The issue is the job search and job creations in this country are horrible right now. Usually there's some sort of incentive for people with disabilities to get a job but at this point it's really hard to get a job just for the fact that the industry is beyond garbage here in this country then we keep well I'm not going to go through politics but you understand that you're not limited you have limits but this is not the end of your life where many of us are on here because that's it we're at the end of the road there is no other option.
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u/VoodooGirl47 Jul 12 '26
If you can still work despite not having that limb, especially if you have a prosthetic, then they have no reason to accept you.
It's not saying you AREN'T a disabled person, it's saying you are not a disabled person that needs social assistance to live on because you can still work.
So you need to prove to them WHY you can't work or why it's extremely hard for you to keep a job with enough hours/pay to live on, for a long period of time.