Leaving ODSP

[Michael Bertrand]

I have never seen this question addressed, nor can I find it in the directives. Can a person just up and quit ODSP and say they do not require their services any longer or would you have to move out of Ontario or even Canada? Thanks in advance for any answers.

[jbkeh]

There is no law that says you have to accept direct deposit or cash
their cheque.....

Your ELIGIBILITY for ODSP stems from:

a: Being a resident of Ontario
b: A determination of 'disability' from the DAU
c. Your financial status
d. Your adherence to their 'rules'

You RECEIVE ODSP by being both ELIGIBLE and REQUESTING IT
(application).

Violating 'd' gets you suspended in a punitive or coercive sense (the
suspension ends when you comply).
Changing 'c' makes you ineligible until it reverts back below the
critical level.
Once granted, I can see no way to change 'b' without some risk of
being charged with fraud in the original application.
Ending your residency in Ontario would definitely do the trick.

Requesting to withdraw your application (or not cashing the cheques)
might cause an inquiry into your capability for self-determination,
but that would require a very conscientious worker.

[tr41nwr3ck]

You got me looking!

There used to be a subject in the Directives that I faintly remember
about not "alienating" ODSP payments (which I take to mean that the
cheques had to be taken as issued), but I can't find it now. It has
been replaced in '08 by a section detailing how child support would be
deducted from ODSP, along with the usual section about ODSP not being
subject to seizure or garnishment, and of course jbkeh's references
all apply with regards to the ODSP eligibility model which is based on
"budgetary requirements".

Good question!

On Jul 16, 8:00 am, jbkeh <j...@teksavvy.com> wrote:
> There is no law that says you have to accept direct deposit or cash
> their cheque.....

>

[northerner]

I was off for many years. I dropped off a dated and signed letter
telling my worker I was not longer requesting benefits effective X
date. That as it. Several years later I had to reapply as the new
program of rapid reinstatement was not yet in effect. It was a simple
process even then to get back on, nothing like getting approved the
first time when I was denied over and over and only approved days
ahead of a tribunal hearing. the second time around it was under a
month and I was approved again. I removed myself due to moving in
common law with a partner who had good earnings. I did not put my
reason for leaving on my letter, it was none of their business given
that i was no longer asking them for a thing. I did however have to
explain when I was reinstated.