Government of Ontario: Ministry of Community and Social Services
Ontario Disability Support Program Employment Supports
Employment Support Funding Agreement
This is an agreement between
and the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
This Employment Supports Funding Agreement (ESFA) includes information about your:
Competitive employment plan;
Rights and responsibilities; and
Terms and conditions.
You and the Employment Supports Specialist must sign this Employment Supports Funding Agreement
(ESFA) before you begin to receive services from a service provider.
Competitive Employment Plan
My competitive employment plan will include the following steps:
Step 1 - I have selected a service provider to help me to obtain and maintain competitive employment.
Step 2 - I will work with my chosen service provider to determine whether I am ready and able to prepare for,
obtain and maintain competitive employment. I will work with my service provider to determine the steps of my employment
plan and the goods and services that may be required to achieve my employment goal.
Step 3 - My goal is to be placed in competitive employment or to start a business.
Step 4 - I will continue to work with my service provider in order to retain my job, and where possible, increase my earnings.
Rights
I have an active role in setting employment goals and completing the steps necessary to find and keep a job.
I have access to a range of job placement and retention services, as well as work-related and
self-employment supports in order to help me find and keep a job.
I am entitled to respectful, responsive service from ODSP staff and service providers.
The information I provide to ODSP Employment Supports or service providers will be kept confidential.
ODSP Employment Supports will write to tell me of any eligibility decisions they make and the reasons for making the decision.
I can ask to have decisions related to my eligibility for the program or the suspension or cancellation of my employment supports reviewed by an independent Dispute Resolution Committee.
Responsibilities
I must intend to and be able to prepare for, obtain and maintain competitive employment.
I am responsible for providing all documentation required to demonstrate initial and ongoing eligibility.
If I am in receipt of ODSP Income Support, I will report all employment earnings or
self-employment/business income and expenses to my Income Support office.
Terms and Conditions
I agree to participate in job placement and retention or self-employment activities as determined in an employment plan developed between myself and my chosen service provider.
I understand that I must complete the steps in my employment plan to the best of my abilities in order to continue receiving Employment Supports.
I will let my service provider know of any changes that may affect my ability to complete my employment plan (i.e. change of address, medical concerns,
plans to withdraw from the program, if I start or stop working, etc.).
When I get a job, I will let my service provider know the name of my employer, my job title, my wages, and the number of hours I am working (e.g. copy of pay stub). Each month,
I must let my service provider know if I am still working and provide verification of employment as requested by the service provider. I will also report any self-employment/business
income and expenses to my service provider each month.
I agree to allow information related to financial eligibility for ODSP Income Support to be shared with ODSP Income Support staff.
The Ministry of Community and Social Services has the right to cancel or
suspend my Employment Supports under the Ontario Disability Support Program
Act, 1997, section 36 if (for example) I:
become ineligible for the program
do not provide the necessary information to determine ongoing eligibility
fail to make satisfactory progress toward obtaining and maintaining competitive employment
receive funding directly for the purchase of goods/services but do not use the money to buy approved employment supports.
If I stop participating in the Employment Supports program before getting a job or starting my business, I agree to return
equipment bought with ODSP Employment Supports funding, if requested.
If I leave ODSP Employment Supports before getting a job, starting my business, or I am unable to retain employment, I may
be required to meet specific conditions before reapplying to the program.
If I have any concerns with the quality of services I receive, I will discuss my concerns with my service provider.
If I still have concerns, I may file a complaint with ODSP Employment Supports staff.
If I am not able to prepare for, obtain, or maintain competitive employment, as determined by the Ministry,
I will not be eligible to receive ODSP Employment Supports.
This Employment Supports Funding Agreement will apply for theduration of my participation in ODSP Employment Supports.
I understand my rights and responsibilities and agree to the terms and conditions of this agreement.
* In situations where the applicant is unable to provide consent in writing, by reason of physical or mental
disability, the consent of the trustee, legal guardian or, if there is no legal guardian, the next of kin (with the
applicant's verbal consent), will suffice.