The Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) program, formerly known as the Handicapped Children's Benefit (HCB), provides help to parents to assist with some of the extra costs of caring for a child who has a disability. The purpose of the benefit is to help children who have disabilities live as normal a life as possible at home and in the community. In order to qualify for this program, financial and medical criteria must be met.
What funding and/or service(s) are provided under the ACSD program?
Financial assistance ranges from $25 to $460 per month depending on the family's gross annual income and the number of other children in the family;
A child is eligible for a dental card; and
The program may help parents with extraordinary costs related to a child's condition. Examples include travel to doctors and hospitals, special shoes and clothing, parental relief, wheelchair repairs, hearing aid batteries, and financial assistance for basic dental care, drugs, eyeglasses, and hearing aids.
Who is eligible for this program?
The child must be under 18 years of age and live at home with a parent or a legal guardian. The income of a family will be evaluated to determine qualification.
The child must have a severe disability that results in a functional loss.
Extraordinary costs must be present which are incurred directly as a result of the disability.
Ministry Ontario Children and Youth Services ACSD Website
Apply online:
