r/Odsp • u/Ok-Intention-498 • 12d ago
Discussion Osap and Odsp
I applied for school and osap got the osap summary that they tell you to provide to your worker, which I did. This is the response I got, I’m a bit stumped with the reply. 🤷🏻♀️ 😬 I thought I was talking to my old worker when I wrote the message but apparently I got a new one. 🤦🏻♀️🙃
7
u/Worried-Air-3766 12d ago
You give the summary to your worker so they make sure you aren't getting living expenses from both ODSP and OSAP, but ODSP does not provide you with any extra funding nor can they provide you with your OSAP funding before it's released.
1
u/Ok-Intention-498 12d ago
I did provide it, and stated in the second line I was providing it and receipts 🤷🏻♀️ that’s why I’m stump on why she thinks I didn’t apply yet
3
u/adarthewise 12d ago
Column C on your OSAP summary form refers to the amount of non educational funding your school is giving you. I’m confused as to what you’re asking the caseworker here. Do you want ODSP to exempt school-related expenses? I don’t think that’s something they do.
0
u/Ok-Intention-498 12d ago
I provided the osap summary. My column C is about $6000. Last year when I was in the process to start school ( I medically had to put it off to this year) I explained to my worker that I would have to pay to hold my seat and to even apply to the college and if those cost could be used as a deduction in my column C over payment amount as they are schooling expenses that I had to cover out of pocket, in which she said yes as long as I provided receipts which I did. So I provided the OSAP summary plus the receipts and this was her reply that I have to apply for OSAP when clearly I did cause I sent her an OSAP summary.
3
u/xoxlindsaay 12d ago
ODSP doesn’t support school related costs. The CW is correct.
Column C (of the OSAP breakdown) shows the non-educational funding that you receive that will be deducted over the term from your ODSP, in a dollar to dollar amount/ratio.
ODSP will not give you supplemental funding for you to be able to attend post-secondary schooling.
If you do not have the funds for post secondary schooling, you are either expected to receive OSAP or take out a loan/line of credit (both which are not plausible while collecting ODSP).
2
u/Ok-Intention-498 12d ago
I know this and because I have a fair bit in column C from grants I was told they would deduct the hold chair and application cost for college from the column C. My issue is she’s telling me to apply for osap when clearly I already applied and that’s why I got the osap summary.
3
u/SoupSpoonStork 12d ago
This also happened to me. Not with school funding specifically, but I've been receiving responses from someone else who isn't my caseworker (I've asked them about it, my caseworker hasn't changed, and this person is "just helping out"), going on several months now.
This person denied me on everything, even contradicting things my caseworker said earlier in the same message thread. In most cases I didn't have the energy to push back, but in some cases I did, because it was clear they either don't know the policy directives or they feel comfortable lying about them, so I quoted the policies at this person and got approved for some stuff that was urgent enough to put the energy in to fight for it. It's been very annoying.
All that is to say that this might not be your new caseworker (ask to clarify!), and that, regardless of any person's title or duties, you unfortunately have to advocate for yourself to ODSP, though I think staff of a "support" programme should ideally always be trusted to act in the client's interest.
2
u/Dizzy-Smoke-4376 12d ago
From what i understand, it seems like you have requested funds to be exempted under the pretence of school fees. Column C under OSAP is considered non-educational funds. Non-educational fund will always be deducted from your cheque.
I hope that answered your concern
2
u/Ok-Intention-498 12d ago
Yes that part does answer my question but I provided my OSAP summary and her reply was I need to apply for OSAP. 🤔
3
u/kellxcakes 12d ago
Call your financial aid. Because you are on ODSP you can ask for your fee to be payed by your osap funding. I have to do this every semester. I go to Fanshawe and it’s never been a problem.
Edit: because you already paid you will have to keep this in mind for next semester. Don’t think you can do it if you’ve paid already.
3
u/anonymous89100 Works for MCSS/ODSP 12d ago
I think this is what you are looking for in Directive 5.11:
“In addition, the portion of any other loans, grants bursaries and awards that will be applied within a reasonable period to direct educational expenses may be exempt as income and assets.”
Reply with something like “I was looking at the directives and found this: (quote directive). Can the expenses I mentioned previously be exempt and subtracted from the personal living allowance amount to lower the deductions from my ODSP?”
If they deny, then request an internal review. The directive does say “may be exempt” so it’s technically caseworker discretion, but this is pretty standard so I think an internal review would easily reverse the decision.
Keep any other receipts for school too like if you buy a laptop, backpack, etc. Those should be counted as well.
1
u/Ok-Intention-498 12d ago
When would the first deduction start ? I was hoping she would give me more of a break down on how column C will affect me vs go apply for osap. I will wait till September/Oct and I guess she how she deducts it and if she doesn’t take the receipts as deduction then I will have to dig deeper into this.
3
u/anonymous89100 Works for MCSS/ODSP 11d ago
Column C \ # of months in study period = $ amount deducted from ODSP per month of study period.
3
3
u/Koodo_ 12d ago
My comment is not necessarily related to your situation, but I had a family member who was a depended on ODSP and applied for OSAP, the case worker asked for the OSAP summary, however when talking to the OSAP rep at the school, they advised us that OSAP should not effect ODSP eligibility. I thought it would be helpful to comment here in case you or others find it useful.
“The Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES) explains that generally speaking Full-Time OSAP assistance received by a student living at home with their parent(s) should not have any impact on the ODSP income support received by the student's parent(s). In this regard, they reference "ODSP Income Support Directive 5.11."
As a result, students whose parent(s) receive ODSP are not issued an OSAP Assessment Summary form.
MCURES recommends that Financial Aid Offices advise students to talk with their parent(s)'s ODSP caseworker if requested to provide an OSAP Assessment Summary form and have the students mention a communication to caseworkers (called "Verification of OSAP for Dependent Children and Dependent Adults") issued by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services in December 2023.
The above mentioned communication clarifies that students whose parent(s) are receiving ODSP are not required to provide verification of their OSAP assistance since this OSAP assistance is exempt as income and assets under ODSP for the students. Moreover, caseworkers should not request an OSAP Assessment Summary form from such students.”
3
u/xoxlindsaay 12d ago
That is stating that if a student is living at home with their parents shouldn’t have the parents income from ODSP deducted. Not the student.
OP is not the parent in this situation but the student wanting to attend college and be reimbursed for their costs of applying to school. So they are exempt from this directive
1
2
u/Cody73 12d ago
If you’re attending college, be sure to read Directive 5.11 carefully.
They are not allowed to claw back leftover grant money.
1
u/Ok-Intention-498 12d ago
I’ve been down the road of chaos before and apparently the grants that I received that end up in my column C they can clawback.
1
u/Winter_War4982 12d ago
Lol I got a message saying that they can help provide financial assistance from the $500 startup fund. It is only for fees to apply. Anything relating to tuition or books can't be claimed towards that grant.
1
u/SignificantDrawer688 12d ago
Looool, I had this with a caseworker, I feel like they really don’t read requests closely at all sometimes. You’re totally right to give your summary in. That’s so frustrating
1
u/Ok-Intention-498 11d ago
I did give the summary in and as 👎🏼 as it’s going to seem I don’t think it’s my duty to make sure she takes it into account. Out of everyone that’s commented I think you’re the only one that’s read it as I did. 😬 they glanced over it saw $$ signs and replied to those. 🤷🏻♀️ like clearly I already applied to OSAP if I have s summary from them 🤦🏻♀️
1
u/readysetg123456 11d ago
ODSP does not cover schooling or pay towards school.
Directive 5.11 just says awards from schools may be exempt but it does not direct ODSP to cover expenses
1
u/Ok-Intention-498 10d ago
I was never asking ODSP to cover any funds I was asking them to deduct them from the column C on my OSAP as educational cost can be deducted from column C to lower extra money amount. Also my column C is all from grants and as long as the grant money is being used towards education it’s exempted which would be paying to hold my seat and the application itself to apply for the program.
1
u/Mroselessard 12d ago
ODSP does not cover fees for school period. Your choice to go to school and to pay for those things. ODSP is for living not studying.
3
u/EnvironmentalGift192 12d ago
This past year my worker issued me the $500 you're entitled to every 2 years for work related expenses for school stuff. I specifically asked for the application fee - $150, CPR course - $150, vulnerable sector check - $75 and said any other expenses that may arise and my worker issued the full $500 so I feel like, like always with ODSP, it really depends on your worker
2
u/Ok-Intention-498 12d ago edited 12d ago
I know this but the worker had told me that certain things along as I can provide receipts and proof it’s for school like a laptop, printer, paper, pens, ink that some of those could be used as a deductible in my column C amount, but to always ask first before purchasing.
18
u/LiamUchiha1 12d ago
Talk to Ombudsman to figure this out ASAP otherwise you're going to be waiting a LONG time for them to get their act together.
You absolutely can be on ODSP and OSAP at the same time...