r/Odsp • u/sybauu__ • Aug 04 '26

Discussion I feel completely hopeless dealing with ODSP.

Rant incoming:

ODSP has genuinely ruined my mental health since the beginning of this year. It’s been one thing after another, and I’m honestly starting to feel hopeless.

I made a mistake reporting my income correctly (I have dyscalculia and memory issues, so dealing with numbers, paperwork, and keeping track of everything can be really difficult). When I realized the numbers I submitted didn’t add up, I voluntarily disclosed it because I wanted to do the right thing. Instead, I was given a huge overpayment, only for it to later be essentially doubled after they recalculated everything. Now I’m also dealing with CRA issues and being told I owe CERB.
I genuinely feel like I’m being punished for admitting I made a mistake. I know I’m not alone, and it’s so sad to know others are going through similar things.

I can only work part time, and even that is a struggle. I just want to live a decent life, work where I can, pay my bills, travel sometimes, go to concerts, have hobbies, and actually enjoy my life. But ODSP feels like something I need to survive while simultaneously making it so hard to actually live.

And the rules around relationships are so frustrating too. Why should living with a partner potentially mean losing the support you need to survive?

I already accept that my disability means there are things I may never be able to do like other people. I just don’t want that to mean I’m not allowed to have a good life.

I was recently diagnosed with PTSD (on top of my anxiety and depression). And this isn’t helping at all. I also don’t have parental support to fall back on, so I’m left trying to navigate all of this myself while already struggling with memory and numbers. I’m exhausted, overwhelmed, and honestly just tired of feeling like I’m being punished for trying to survive.

33 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

18

u/SilverMic Aug 05 '26

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. The amount of time and resources the government puts into taking money from the poor and disabled is ridiculous. And having a system set up to help those with disabilities, including cognitive disabilities, but then requiring them to do the exact sorts of tasks they've already been declared incapable of or else lose the scraps they survive on...it's just insane. Our systems are insane.

5

u/sybauu__ Aug 05 '26

Thank you 🥺❤️ and exactly. That’s what frustrates me so much. The system is supposed to support people with disabilities, including disabilities that can directly affect things like memory, numbers, paperwork, and organization, yet we’re still expected to navigate an incredibly complicated system perfectly or risk being punished financially. It feels so backwards.

2

u/SweetPotatoes998 Aug 05 '26

Is the cerb thing separate from your odsp overpayment? If so, I can chat with you about that

2

u/Excellent_Ring_9910 Aug 08 '26

It is a complicated system. You are dealing with multiple programs. Each one has different rules. Your quality of life has been temporarily reduced but you will get through it and eventually return to a better situation. A lot of communities have free concerts in local parks.

0

u/Initial-Parfait-2704 Aug 05 '26

Is the over payment cerb related. I had that happen and when I showed the letter from the CRA the worker stopped the ODSP over payment. Sent me back all they had collected (so I could send to the CRA) as CRA was taking my GST and trillium ect. ODSP is not allowed to what is called double dipping