Description

If you are a parent or guardian who is caring for a child with a severe disability you may be able to get financial support through the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) Program. This program provides financial support for low-income and moderate-income families to cover some of the extra costs of caring for a child who has a severe disability.

Benefit Amount

Eligible parents and guardians can receive between $25 and $618 a month to help with disability-related costs, such as:

• Travel expenses to doctor appointments and hospitals.
• Special shoes/clothes.
• Parental relief.

How much a family receives depends on:

• The family’s income.
• The severity of the disability.
• The difficulties the child has.
• The extraordinary costs related to the disability.

Eligibility Criteria

You may be able to get this benefit if you are a parent or guardian of a child who:

• Is under 18 years of age.
• Lives in Ontario.
• Lives at home.
• Has a severe disability that creates extraordinary costs.
• Canadian citizenship or Immigration status: Canadian citizen, Permanent resident, refugee status* (example: conventional refugee)

* Check with ACSD on type of refugee statuses eligible.

Application Process

To apply: You can apply online, which gives the option to save, edit and submit your application application.

You can also complete a paper copy of the application by doing the following:

• Contact your local regional office and ask for an application form.
• Complete the application form and return it to the regional office along with any documentation asked for.
• A special agreements officer will review your application and will contact you if they need more information.
• You will receive a letter stating whether or not you qualify for a grant and, if so, how much you will receive.
• Be sure to let your local ministry regional office of any changes so that they can keep your file up to date.

Be sure to fill out one application per child.