OSAP Grant for Disabled Students

[Tony]

I am going back to school in Sept. and applied for am OSAP loan. When I filled out the application I clearly indicated that I was on ODSP. Of course, this greatly reduced the amount of money that I will be getting as a loan since I can't take anything from OSAP that is covered by ODSP. That leaves me with a loan for tuition and maybe enough to cover my books.
Without asking or applying for it, I have also been given a grant for $2,000. It is specifically for disabled students. I think it's part of the province trying to make it easier for college and university students to go to and remain in school—there seems to be a lot of new grants and bursaries.
What I'm wondering is, since the grant is only for the disabled does that mean that ODSP can't touch it? I'm not sure how to handle it... I don't want to say anything at all if I don't have to since there may be a knee-jerk reaction that the money has to be repaid, or deducted from upcoming ODSP cheques, even if the opposite is true and I am allowed to keep the grant without penalty. In short, I don't want to get into any fights with ODSP that I don't absolutely have to.
Can anybody shed any light on this?
Thanks,
Tony

[jbkeh]

Hopefully Angela will respond - I'm out of my depth.

Read Directive 5.11

http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/mcss/english/pillars/social/odsp-is-directives/ODSP_incomesupport.htm

Everything seems to hinge on whether the money is deemed to be for
"education" (exempt) or for "living" (deducted 100% and also deemed an
asset).

My understanding is that you can decline anything OSAP that would be
deemed to be for "living expenses".

Where's Angela?

[emily]

Hello,

I also received the grant and have contacted my local ODSP office. My
worker is currently looking into it.

However, from what I can see under directive 5.11, it is stipulated
that:

"An award or grant made to a student enrolled in a post-secondary
school is exempt from income"

Since a grant is not a loan, and the money is supposed to go towards
books, I am hoping that it does not get taken off.

If you find out any information please tell me, and I will do the same.

By the way, you have to provide your OSAP notice of assessment to ODSP
so they can determine how much you continue to receive from ODSP; so at
that point, they will see the grant anyway.

[abrowne]

Tony,

Hi, welcome to the group.  The only part of an OSAP

loan that ODSP is concerned about are any costs that

are specified in the loan contract for "living expenses"

because ODSP pays living expenses.  If you receive

extra help because you have a disability, ODSP cannot

touch that money, as it does not specifically direct it to

"living expenses".

Angela

Tony <nordi...@magma.ca> wrote:

Without asking or applying for it, I have also been given a grant for $2,000. It is specifically for disabled students. I think it's part of the province trying to make it easier for college and university students to go to and remain in school—there seems to be a lot of new grants and bursaries.
What I'm wondering is, since the grant is only for the disabled does that mean that ODSP can't touch it?

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[Lorene]

I also received the grant too. Then when it come to income tax time, I
got a T-4 from that $2000 grant. I had to include that in my income
tax. It is not tax free.

Lorene

[immortal...@yahoo.com]

I received a Millenium Scholarship of $3000 while I was on ODSP. It
wasn't counted as income even though it wasn't just for students with a
disability. One of the reasons was because it could fit under that
$4000/year "gift" money we're allowed to have. So if they won't let you
for the disability reason, they have to because it can be considered a
gift.

[pattie]

The level allowed for "gift money" and Henson Trusts has been raised to
"$5.000.00 per twelve-month period for a single recipient", and that
was legislated in the fall of 2005 (I think).

How do I know this? Eheh. I have Ken Pope's firm on my side, and one
of his lawyers laid it straight out to the bank, my dismissed former
"Trustee" (sister) AND ODSP. She's had many a letter to write on
behalf of clients about this issue! She's blunt, too. Which is what
ODSP apparently needs: Straightforward word of law.

Best of luck in your studies, and you're obviously intelligent and
sufficiently literate to succeed!

Pattie