Ontario ACSD Payments Increased in July 2026: What Families Need to…
Published June 20, 2026
Ontario increased the ACSD maximum monthly payment by 1.9% on July 1, 2026. Eligible families may now receive
Published June 20, 2026
Ontario increased the ACSD maximum monthly payment by 1.9% on July 1, 2026. Eligible families may now receive
<h1>Ontario ACSD Payments Increased in July 2026: What Families Need to Know</h1>
<p><strong>July 2026 update:</strong> Ontario increased the maximum monthly payment under the Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) program by <strong>1.9%</strong>, effective <strong>July 1, 2026</strong>. The current official payment range is <strong>5 to $678 per month</strong>.</p>
<p>For families already receiving ACSD, the change raises the maximum available amount. For families considering an application, it is also a good time to check the updated income threshold and make sure you are using the latest information.</p>
<h2>What is ACSD?</h2>
<p>ACSD is an Ontario program that helps eligible parents and guardians with some of the extra costs of caring for a child with a severe disability. It has its own application and eligibility rules.</p>
<h2>What changed on July 1, 2026?</h2>
<ul> <li>The maximum monthly payment increased by <strong>1.9%</strong>.</li> <li>Eligible families can now receive between <strong>5 and $678 per month</strong>.</li> <li>Ontario says this is the fifth increase to the ACSD maximum since September 2022, with cumulative increases of more than 22%.</li> <li>The maximum amount is tied to inflation and is adjusted in July when an increase applies.</li> </ul>
<p>The amount a family receives is not automatically $678. The ministry calculates assistance using household income, family size, the severity of the child’s disability and extraordinary disability-related costs.</p>
<h2>Who may be eligible?</h2>
<p>You may be eligible if you are the parent, guardian or primary caregiver of a child who:</p>
<ul> <li>is <strong>17 or younger</strong>,</li> <li>lives at home with you in Ontario,</li> <li>has a severe disability supported by medical information, and</li> <li>has ongoing extraordinary costs related to the disability.</li> </ul>
<p>The current Ontario program page says a family may be income-eligible when total household income is <strong>$77,640 or less</strong>. This is not the only test: family size, disability severity and extraordinary costs are also considered.</p>
<h2>What can ACSD help pay for?</h2>
<p>Ontario lists examples such as:</p>
<ul> <li>travel to doctors, hospitals and other disability-related appointments,</li> <li>special shoes and clothing, and</li> <li>parental relief, including respite.</li> </ul>
<p>Children receiving ACSD may also qualify for certain additional health-related coverage, including supports connected with assistive devices, mobility-device batteries and repairs, OHIP+ prescription drugs, Healthy Smiles Ontario, hearing aids and vision care. Confirm the coverage that applies to your child with the ministry.</p>
<h2>What should families prepare?</h2>
<p>The current application materials ask for information and documents that may include:</p>
<ul> <li>the child’s Ontario health-card number and a copy of the card,</li> <li>Social Insurance Numbers for the applicant and spouse, where applicable,</li> <li>proof of citizenship or immigration status and Ontario residency,</li> <li>medical and supporting documentation about the child’s condition and disability,</li> <li>a summary of extraordinary disability-related costs,</li> <li>pages 1 and 2 of the most recent CRA Notice of Assessment for the applicant and spouse, where applicable, and</li> <li>the most recent Canada Child Benefit notice.</li> </ul>
<h2>How to apply</h2>
<ol> <li><a href="https://www.tpon.gov.on.ca/indiv/#/acsd" target="blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Apply online through Transfer Payment Ontario</strong></a>. You can save the application and return to it, but it must be completed and submitted within 90 days.</li> <li>If you prefer paper, download the <a href="https://www.tpon.gov.on.ca/indiv/assets/ACSDFormen.pdf" target="blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ACSD paper application</strong></a> and send it with the required documents to your local ministry regional office.</li> <li>Submit only one application for each child. If you are applying for more than one child, complete a separate application for each child.</li> </ol>
<h2>Important note about the paper form</h2>
<p>As checked on August 29, 2026, the downloadable paper form still displayed the earlier figures of <strong>$76,920</strong> and <strong>$665</strong>. Ontario’s newer live ACSD page lists the current figures as <strong>$77,640</strong> and <strong>$678</strong>.</p>
<p>Families using the paper form should rely on the <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/assistance-children-severe-disabilities-program" target="blank" rel="noopener"><strong>live Ontario ACSD page</strong></a> for current figures and contact their <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/regional-offices-ministry-children-community-and-social-services" target="blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MCCSS regional office</strong></a> if anything is unclear.</p>
<h2>If you disagree with the decision</h2>
<p>You can ask for an internal review within <strong>30 days</strong> of receiving the decision. The decision letter should explain how to request it. If you disagree with the internal-review result, you may be able to appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal.</p>
<h2>Official sources and next steps</h2>
<ul> <li><a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/assistance-children-severe-disabilities-program" target="blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ontario: Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities program</strong></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.tpon.gov.on.ca/indiv/#/acsd" target="blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Apply online</strong></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.tpon.gov.on.ca/indiv/assets/ACSDFormen.pdf" target="blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Download the paper application</strong></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/regional-offices-ministry-children-community-and-social-services" target="blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Find your MCCSS regional office</strong></a></li> <li><a href="/resources/103"><strong>ARH: Ontario Autism Funding — A Caregiver’s Map of Every Program You Can Apply For</strong></a></li> <li><a href="/resources/178"><strong>ARH: Respite Care — Ontario</strong></a></li> </ul>
<p><em>This article provides general information, not legal or financial advice. ACSD eligibility and payment amounts depend on individual circumstances and can change. Confirm current details with Ontario’s live ACSD page or your MCCSS regional office.</em></p>