March 2021

Summary of directive

To describe the expectations regarding client progress and the circumstances under which a client’s ODSP employment supports will be cancelled or suspended.

Legislative authority

Intent of policy

To ensure employment supports clients are aware of the program expectations while they are working toward their competitive employment goal.

Application of policy

Progress reviews

Among other conditions, continuing eligibility for employment supports is conditional on the client making a committed effort toward achieving their competitive employment goal and using the employment supports provided in a manner consistent with the terms and conditions outlined in the Welcome to ODSP Employment Supports form.

In addition to the client progress/monitoring conducted by ODSP caseworkers, service providers are also responsible for reviewing and monitoring client progress throughout the client’s participation in employment supports. This includes working with the clients to resolve any problems that may arise as the client works through their employment plan.

Service providers should complete progress reviews for clients at regular intervals or at appropriate milestones as agreed upon with the client.

Clients must be able to demonstrate that satisfactory progress is being made toward competitive employment. In determining whether progress is being made, the following may be taken into consideration:

  • the nature of the employment goal
  • changes in the client’s personal needs
  • changes in the client’s disability/health status

Where the client is not making appropriate progress toward their employment goal and the client and service provider are not able to agree to a plan to resolve the issues, the client will be required to address the issues/concerns through the service provider’s complaint process. If, after the service provider’s internal complaint process has been completed, the service provider recommends that employment supports should be suspended and/or cancelled, the ODSP caseworker should be consulted. The ODSP caseworker will then review the situation with the client and service provider and determine what action may be required.

Progress reviews will result in one of the following:

  • changes to the employment plan or alternative action to assist the client to make satisfactory progress toward their employment goal
  • a determination that satisfactory progress is not being made and employment supports should be suspended or cancelled

Progress is considered unsatisfactory when the client repeatedly does not:

  • meet timelines set out in the employment plan as established between the client and the service provider
  • participate in and/or withdraws from an employment activity without a valid reason
  • meet the requirements of an employment activity
  • report on progress, as agreed to, and/or provide agreed to documentation

Suspension or cancellation of employment supports

An ODSP caseworker may suspend or cancel employment supports where the client:

  • ceases to be eligible for ODSP employment supports
  • does not provide the service provider and/or ODSP staff with information required to determine continuing eligibility for employment supports
  • does not use the supports or funds provided in an appropriate manner according to the Terms and Conditions outlined in the Welcome to ODSP Employment Supports form (where funds are provided directly to the client)
  • does not make satisfactory progress towards the competitive employment goal

Prior to making a decision to suspend or cancel employment supports, ODSP caseworkers will first notify the client of the intention to suspend or cancel supports. Notification may be provided in writing, via telephone or face-to-face contact. If the intention to suspend or cancel supports was provided via telephone or face-to-face contact, this communication must be documented in the client’s file. The client will be invited to respond and work with the ODSP caseworker and the service provider, if appropriate, in finding a solution other than suspension or cancellation. Attempts to remedy the matter will be documented.

If no solution is found, the ODSP caseworker has the authority to suspend or cancel employment supports. Prior to the client being notified, an ODSP manager will review the decision.

The decision to either suspend or cancel employment supports will depend on the individual circumstances. For example, deliberately falsifying eligibility information may result in a cancellation of employment supports. Outstanding documentation or poor attendance in a job-training activity may result in a suspension of employment supports until the problem is rectified.

If the ODSP manager agrees with the decision to suspend/cancel employment supports, the client will be informed, in writing, of the decision to suspend or cancel supports. This notification must be made within 30 days of notification of the intent to suspend or cancel.

The notification letter will clearly state:

  • the reason(s) for the suspension or cancellation
  • the date the suspension or cancellation is effective
  • the conditions upon which employment supports may be reinstated, if applicable
  • the obligation to repay the appropriate service provider for any funds directly provided by that service provider that were not used to purchase the approved employment support(s)
  • that the client has the right to request an internal review and the timeframe for requesting it
  • that the client must provide, in writing or another accessible format, the reasons for disputing the decision
  • where applicable, the subsequent right to a further appeal through the Regional Dispute Resolution process

(See Directive 6.2 Internal review and Regional Dispute Resolution)

Where there are reasonable extenuating circumstances, the ODSP manager may extend the period in which the client must request a review.

Employment supports can be suspended or cancelled once written notification has been sent to the client. Where warranted, the ODSP manager may allow supports to continue, notwithstanding the decision to suspend or cancel, until the Dispute Resolution process is complete.

Re-application after suspension or cancellation

A client whose employment supports were cancelled or suspended may re-apply. (See Directive 2.1 Program eligibility)

If the applicant reapplies, they will be required to demonstrate that they have taken action towards resolving the problem that interfered with the completion of the original employment plan. The new employment plan can include conditions such as closer monitoring of progress, shorter timelines to achieve milestones, etc.

Related directives