March 2025

Your Passport funding will automatically renew on April 1!

 

Passport funding automatically renews for the same amount on April 1 and there is no need for a new agreement. Passport agencies do not send out any documentation to confirm funding amount at the start of the fiscal year. 

Do you use MyDirectPlan to manage and submit your Passport claims?

If you use MyDirectPlan, you will need to set your 2025-2026 budget line to your available funding for the year. If your budget line in the MyDirectPlan platform is at $0, it doesn’t mean that you do not have any funds available. You need to manually enter the amount of funding you have available for the year and then MyDirectPlan will track your remaining balance for that fiscal year based on the claims you submit.


If you’re unsure how much funding you have for the fiscal year (April to March), contact your local Passport agency: passportfunding.ca/contact-us.

MyDirectPlan Support

Don’t save up your receipts and expenses!


There’s no need to save up your expenses and receipts to submit them at month-end. You can submit purchases and expenses as you incur them.


For example, if you have expenses from January 1-13, you don’t need to wait until January 31 to submit it, you can submit it for reimbursement right away. Also, if your receipt is for a service from January 1-13 the start and end date on the Purchase of Service (POS) invoice form should be dated January 1-13, not January 1-31. The POS should always show the purchase date.


If you need more support submitting claims, check out the POS Invoice Form step-by-step guide, or contact your Passport agency: passportfunding.ca/contact-us.

POS Invoice Form guide

The Passport website has a multi-language accessibility tool

Use the “Speak” button on the Passport website to access the read aloud feature for the site and to change the content into other languages.

Accessibility tool guide

How has Passport funding helped you?


We'd love to hear about how you're using your Passport funding to become more involved in your community and participate in activities that are important to you. Email us at info@passportfunding.ca.

Share your story

The year-end tipsheet is on the Website


We’ve added the tips from a Passport Coordinator on how to prepare for year-end (shared in our last newsletter) to the Resources page on the Passport website.

Year-end Tipsheet

Is it possible to get an increase in your Passport funding?

Your Passport agency is not able to increase your funding amount.


How funding amounts are determined

Once you complete your DSO assessment, your funding amount is automatically determined by a Ministry system. The system considers a variety of factors such as behavioural, medical, and personal support needs, and caregiver circumstances when determining how much funding you’re eligible for.


If there is a change in these circumstances after your DSO assessment, you need to contact your area DSO to let them know. If it is determined that you’re eligible for an increase in funding, your local Passport agency will let you know. 

 

Things that won’t change your funding amount

Your funding is not determined by your income, increasing cost of services or cost of living. Once you have used all your annual Passport funding, no additional invoices can be reimbursed for that fiscal year. You are encouraged to plan and budget for your expenses based on your annual funding amount.


Do you have more questions about how the Passport program works? Get answers at passportfunding.ca.

Passport funding FAQs

How future services or events are reimbursed


If you pay for a service or event that takes place in the future you will be reimbursed when you submit your claim. All reimbursements are taken from the funding amount in the fiscal year that the service or event takes place. For example, if you purchase a day program in January 2025 that will take place in June 2025, you can submit your purchase for reimbursement in January, but the amount will be taken out of your funding that starts in the new fiscal year on April 1.


If you need more help understanding how funds are reimbursed, see page 27-28 of the Passport Guidelines or contact your Passport agency: passportfunding.ca/contact-us.

Passport Guidelines

Entering the date for online orders in the POS Invoice Form


For online purchases, the start and end date should be entered as the date you made the purchase. Items and services are reimbursed from the funding amount in the fiscal year that the item or service is received. For example, if you purchase an item online on March 28, this is the date that should be listed as the start date and end date on the Purchase of Service (POS) Invoice Form. If the service or item is received or delivered on or after April 1, the claim will be reimbursed from your funding amount in the new fiscal year. You may be asked to provide proof of shipping or delivery date.


If you need more support with submitting a claim, contact your Passport agency: passportfunding.ca/contact-us.

Contact your Passport agency

Stories from Passport recipients!

Jamie’s story, as shared by his sister

I [Shari] was a full-time caregiver for my brother [Jamie] who recently passed. I will be forever grateful that he was so fortunate to receive funding from Passport services. My brother was able to live his best life surrounded by people that loved him and gave him the care he deserved because of this funding.


Thank you so much to the wonderful Passport team. A special thank you to the coordinators I have had the pleasure to deal with throughout his years of funding. He was so blessed to receive this funding 😊

- Shari, Sudbury

Tyler’s story, as shared by his Dad

I'd like to use this opportunity to thank the Passport program for being there for us. You have made a huge difference in our lives at a critical time. My son Tyler is 35 and physically disabled with a cognitive delay. While on the waiting list for supportive housing, he moved in with me, making me solely responsible for most of his care and well-being on a daily basis. This came at a time that I was hoping to start living my life on my own terms, just having entered retirement. 

Thanks to a generous allocation, Passport funding allowed us to build a network of community supports that are enriching his life and moved him towards greater independence and having a life on his own. The funding greatly facilitated his transition to living by himself when he moved into an independent living unit with 24/7 personal care support in 2021. The funding continues to be a critical factor in allowing him to live a meaningful and happy life that is full of community engagements, activities and social interactions. Thanks to Passport he is a very well adjusted, happy and emotionally flourishing young man with a father who is able to support him with a big smile on his face. The value of your contribution to our success cannot be overstated. Thank you!

– Kees, Sault Ste. Marie

Upcoming Events

Visit passportfunding.ca/news to register for upcoming eCLAIM and MyDirectPlan training and information sessions with live question and answers.

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