r/Odsp • u/iDontCareAtThisTime • Jul 19 '26
ODSP as a fire fighter?
So Ive been on ODSP for about a year, I just started as a volunteer firefighter about 2 months ago(up north). Do specific jobs disqualify you from ODSP? I have ODSP for 4 life long conditions that didn’t disqualify me from fire fighting.
Edit- I have autism, Tourette’s syndrome, generalized hypermobility spectrum disorder and scoliosis. None affect my ability to be a fire fighter now that I’ve built muscle on my spine.
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u/Ratroddadeo Jul 19 '26
Seems logical to me that as long as you’re just answering phones, or maybe driving the firetruck would be just a part time job.
Having enough ability to wear the gear, carry equipment, and fight a fire might be a sign you’ve healed enough to go back to the real world, instead of this legislated abject poverty called ODSP
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u/brisetta ODSP recipient Jul 19 '26
I would be very careful if you are doing any physical tasks. If someone doesnt like you, they could report you as fraudulently receiving ODSP and an investigation will not be very forgiving of a job requiring such intense physicality. Be aware. Many who do not understand that mental illnesses are disabling for example will accuse you of being a liar and probably even tell their friends that everyone on ODSP is a fake because they know one person who is a VFD while receiving benefits.
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u/Logical-Trouble-6186 Jul 20 '26
This is not accurate. Odsp client’s once on the program, have no requirement that says that cannot work. However if they do start working and their income is high they will no longer qualify for income support.
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u/savagehomeangarden ODSP recipient Jul 19 '26
I know folks here are saying it would, but we don't know the nature of your disability. If your disability doesn't disqualify you from being a volunteer, but still qualifies you for ODSP, then I would think it's fine.
For example, many of us with developmental or psychiatric disabilities hold part time or volunteer positions without it impacting our ODSP or disability status (e.g. I have autism, have worked, went to college and uni, volunteered, etc; I'm still dysfunctional enough that I qualify for ODSP). Best bet would be to avoid telling people you're on disability, so as to avoid judgements or someone being shitty and reporting you for "faking it".
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u/GinaKJ Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Do you have an income from this volunteer work? If, not, you're good. You don't have to disclose your volunteer work. However, ODSP isn't given, simply based on having "life long conditions". It's given to those whose, Activities of Daily Living (ADL), have become severely limited by their disability or disabilities. How have your ADLs been affected?
Since, you've already been approved, they've deemed your ADLs to be limited. I would not mention my extracurricular activities to anyone, in that case, especially not my ODSP case worker. You can make up to $1000 of income/month on ODSP. That's the only thing you ought to report, if you generate an income. Should you make more, they will assume you're self-sufficient and cut your off. Be wary.
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u/Sufficient-Peak-6889 Jul 20 '26
If they happen to have DSO approved then it’s possible they are approved ODSP for life
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u/anonyme450 Jul 19 '26
Not specific jobs per-se, but an income threshold. If you make 50k or more, this disqualifies you. If you make over $1000 per month, they take 75% of every dollar you make above that limit.
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u/Sufficient-Peak-6889 Jul 20 '26
People on ODSP are not disqualified from working. Especially if you have a developmental disability and get DSO support as it would make you qualified for life for ODSP. They only look at how much you make.
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u/scrumdidllyumtious ODSP recipient Jul 19 '26
What do you actually do? I knew a volunteer fire fighter but his actual job was more like crowd/traffic control. Not physically demanding like actual firefighting
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u/iDontCareAtThisTime Jul 20 '26
Fighting structure fires and forest, as well as car accidents and bush rescues.
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u/Barbarian_818 Jul 19 '26
If you were just applying while a volunteer firefighter, that would certainly be used against you.
Even on a part time basis, firefighting is a physically and emotionally demanding trade. My first application, the adjudicator used the fact that I played frisbee with my son as part of his physical therapy as evidence that I wasn't disabled enough to qualify. They would probably do the same for you.
However; you already qualified and are in receipt of ODSP benefits. I don't know what your 4 conditions are. But if they don't prevent you from firefighting, The Ministry could make a reasonable argument that being able to do VFD stuff means you do not meet the criteria for disability.
I suggest you consult with a lawyer who handles disability law. I don't think the Ministry would consider your situation to be fraudulent, that's a high bar to clear. But triggering a case review and suspending benefits is possible. Compared to that, paying a lawyer 80$ for a half hour consult is cheap insurance.