The AU can:
The impairment must be significant, not minor or fleeting.
You must request this within 30 days of the denial. A different adjudicator within the DAU will look at your file again. odsp adjudication unit
The Ford government has proposed streamlining the AU into a digital first-review system, aiming for 60-day turnaround times by 2025. But critics warn that automation could harm applicants with complex, non-linear disabilities. Meanwhile, the backlog grows.
In summary, the ODSP Adjudication Unit is a vital part of the Ontario Disability Support Program, responsible for making medical determinations and adjudicating disability claims to ensure that individuals with disabilities receive the necessary financial support. The AU can: The impairment must be significant,
The condition must be expected to last one year or more.
Staff check that the forms are complete. If a doctor has missed a signature or a section is blank, the package may be returned, causing significant delays. The Ford government has proposed streamlining the AU
Think of them as the "second look" before the external, independent Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT). In 2022-2023, the AU reviewed over 18,000 reconsideration requests. Of those, approximately 20-25% were overturned in the applicant’s favor without ever needing a tribunal hearing.
An AU adjudicator—typically a senior policy expert or lawyer—examines the original application, the denial rationale, and any new medical evidence submitted. Unlike a tribunal, there is no hearing. No testimony. No witnesses. Just paper and silence.
Data suggests three types of claims succeed most often at the Adjudication Unit:
Once a person receives a denial letter from their local ODSP office, they have 30 days to request an internal reconsideration. At that point, the file is stripped from local control and transmitted to the AU.