Ontario has raised the maximum Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) payments by 6.5%

In July 2023, the maximum monthly amount for ACSD increased by 6.5% to $618 per month per child, based on inflation. This is in addition to the 5% increase applied in September 2022, bringing the total to almost 12% over the last 12 months.

About the program

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 eligible families to cover some of the extra costs of caring for a child who has a severe disability.

Eligible parents and guardians can receive between $25 and $618 a month to help with disability-related costs.

Annual increases to ACSD are now tied to inflation. This means that if prices go up, so will the maximum monthly amount for ACSD. In any year that payments go up, the new maximum will take effect in July of each year.

There are many other supports to individuals and families. Find out about other support programs you may be eligible for.

Eligibility

If you are a parent or a guardian of a child who is under 18 years of age (17 and under), lives at home and who has a severe disability, you may be eligible to receive funding from the ACSD program. Your eligibility and the amount of assistance you receive is based on a combination of factors.

Income eligibility

You may be eligible if your total household income is $74,760 or less. You must also meet other factors of eligibility.

Other factors for eligibility

Along with your household income, your eligibility and the amount you receive from the program is based on the:

  • size of your family
  • severity of your child’s disability
  • extraordinary costs related to your child’s disability

Financial support for disability-related costs

Depending on your household income, the size of your family and your child’s disability-related costs, the ACSD program may provide between $25 and $618 a month to help with costs such as:

  • travel to doctors’ appointments, hospitals and other appointments related to the child’s disability
  • special shoes and clothes
  • parental relief such as respite

In addition to getting monthly financial support through the ACSD program, children with severe disabilities may also receive coverage for:

How to apply

Apply online

You can apply online for the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) program.

You will have the option to save, edit and submit your application later.

You can only submit one application for your child. Submitting duplicate applications will result in delays in processing your application.

If you would like to apply for more than one child, you will need to submit a separate application for each child.

You have 90 days to complete and submit your online application. After 90 days, you will no longer be able to access your application and you will be required to complete a new application.

Download a paper application

You can also download a paper copy of the application to complete and send it to your local ministry regional office.

Assistance with completing the application

If you need help completing your application, you may contact a:

  • community agency
  • health care professional
  • social worker
  • family or friend
  • other individual who may be involved in the child’s regular care and treatment

If you have any questions or need assistance, contact your local ministry regional office.

Please notify your local regional office of any changes to your information so that we can keep your file updated.

Once we receive your application, a special agreements officer will review your application and may contact you if they need more information.

You will receive a letter stating the decision on whether you qualify for ACSD.

Disagreeing with a decision

If you disagree with the decision, you have the right to ask for an internal review within 30 days of receiving the decision. Your decision letter will have information about how to request an internal review.

You should receive a letter telling you the result of the internal review within 30 days of your request received.

If you disagree with the result of the internal review, then you may appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal. The letter informing you of the result of the internal review will also have information about how to request an appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal.