SSAH vs ACSD: What Is the Difference

Last verified: April 2026. Always confirm details on the official page.

What is the difference between SSAH and ACSD

SSAH reimburses you for specific services you pay for — respite, camps, workers, daily supports. ACSD is a monthly cash payment, $25 to $665, that you can spend on whatever extra costs you face. SSAH is receipt-based. ACSD is unrestricted. ACSD is income-tested. SSAH is not. They are separate programs, run by the same ministry, and you can hold both.

The short version

SSAH — funds specific services. You pay, you submit receipts, you get reimbursed. Not income-tested.
ACSD — monthly cash payment. No receipts required. Income-tested.
Both — do not affect OAP, SSAH does not affect ACSD, and vice versa.

Families often get a letter from one of these programs and assume it is the same as the other. They are not. This page explains what each letter means, what each program actually pays for, and why you should apply to both if you qualify.

How do SSAH and ACSD compare side by side

Side-by-side comparison of SSAH and ACSD
Attribute	SSAH	ACSD
Full name	Special Services at Home	Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities
How you receive it	Reimbursement for specific services you pay for	Monthly cash payment to the caregiver
Typical amount	Funding envelope allocated per year, discretionary	$25 to $665 per month, based on needs and income
Income tested	No	Yes — household income must be $76,920 or less
Diagnosis required	No — developmental or physical disability	No autism diagnosis required — severe disability must be documented
What it pays for	Respite, camps, daily supports, specific services	Whatever the family decides — no receipts required
Receipts needed	Yes — you submit receipts to claim	No — the payment is unrestricted
Ministry	MCCSS (regional office)	MCCSS (regional office)
How you hear back	Letter with approved funding envelope	Letter with monthly amount
Can you hold both?	Yes	Yes
Affects OAP?	No	No

What does the letter look like for each program

Both programs are administered by MCCSS, so the letterhead can look similar. Look at the body of the letter for the program name and the funding type.

If the letter mentions SSAH

Names a funding envelope or approved amount for a time period
Refers to eligible services, receipts, or claim submission
Asks you to submit receipts to get reimbursed

If the letter mentions ACSD

Names a monthly payment amount
Does not ask for receipts
May reference household income and review timing

If you are unsure which one you got

Call your regional MCCSS office. They can tell you which program the letter is for and whether you also have an application pending for the other.

When should I apply to each

You can apply to both at the same time. They are separate applications. Neither approval depends on the other.

Apply for SSAH when

You need respite or want to pay for camps, workers, or specific services
You want reimbursement for supports that OAP does not cover
Your household income is above the ACSD threshold but you still need support

Apply for ACSD when

Your household income is $76,920 or less
You face ongoing extra costs that are hard to document with receipts
You want predictable monthly support that does not depend on submitting claims

Do not wait to apply to one before the other

They are separate queues and separate decisions. Applying to both at once does not reduce either chance of approval. Many families lose months of potential funding because they waited to see the outcome of the first application.

What does each program actually pay for in practice

SSAH typical uses

Respite workers and PSWs, including some family members over 18
Summer camps and before/after-school programs
Social skills groups and recreation programs
Tutoring and self-care help
Sensory items when tied to specific support needs

ACSD typical uses

Groceries and household costs tied to the child's care
Clothing, footwear, bedding replacement due to disability
Extra travel to appointments
Costs that do not fit other programs

Neither program covers therapy services. ABA, speech therapy, and OT go through OAP Core Clinical. See OAP Eligible Expenses for the OAP side.

What if I am approved for one and denied for the other

Denials are common when the reason is mechanical — missing documentation, or income outside the ACSD threshold. A denial for ACSD does not affect SSAH, and the reverse is true. You can reapply.

If ACSD is denied

Request an internal review within 30 days if you disagree with the reason
If the denial is income-based, you cannot appeal unless income actually changes
Proceed with SSAH separately if you have not already

If SSAH is denied

Ask the regional office what evidence would support a reapplication
Get any missing diagnostic or functional documentation on file
Reapply at the next intake window — SSAH funding is allocated periodically

Common questions about SSAH and ACSD

›I got approved for SSAH but not ACSD. What now?

Use SSAH as normal. If ACSD denial was because of income, you cannot change that unless income changes. If denial was for another reason, request internal review within 30 days.

›Do I need a new doctor's letter for each?

Usually no — the same medical documentation can support both applications. Both programs require evidence of the disability, not the same form. Your regional MCCSS office can confirm what they need.

›Does OAP affect either?

No. SSAH, ACSD, and OAP are separate. Getting or losing OAP does not change SSAH or ACSD. The reverse is also true.

›Can one application count for both?

No. They are two separate applications. Even though both go through MCCSS, one form does not cover both programs. You need to submit each application on its own.

Common mistakes families make

Assuming ACSD and SSAH are the same program. They are separate. Different money, different rules, different applications.

Only applying to one. They do not reduce each other. Apply to both if you could qualify for both.

Waiting for the first decision before applying to the second. That wastes months. Submit both at the same time.

Giving up on SSAH after an ACSD denial (or vice versa). They are separate decisions with separate criteria. A denial for one says nothing about the other.