March 2026

It’s happening... Year-end is upon us!

If you’ve been saving your receipts, it’s time to let them go.

Remember, you may experience reimbursement delays due to the influx of year-end claims. We recommend using eCLAIM or MyDirectPlan to submit your claims to help avoid unnecessary delays.

IMPORTANT! You have until March 31, 2027 (next year) to submit your receipts for this fiscal year (2025-2026) and all past years!

The Passport program survey for PMFs(person managing funds) is coming soon!

Thank you to all the Passport recipients who provided their feedback in the recent survey. Your input will help us improve the Passport program for everyone.

If you're the PMF for your loved one, you will have an opportunity in April to give us your feedback on the Passport program.

Keep your eyes on your email and social media for the survey link.

We look forward to receiving your input!

Passport funding is not considered personal income

Passport program recipients cannot report their funding as income on their personal income taxes. Passport funding is a government program that functions specifically to enhance the lives of people living with developmental disabilities in Ontario. The funds can only be used for approved items and services to support independence and community participation, as set out in the Passport program guidelines, as well as respite for primary caregivers and person-directed planning.

While Passport funding is not income for recipients, those who provide services to Passport recipients and are paid through the Passport program—for example, support workers—must report their pay to Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as income.

Got questions? Contact your Passport agency

Find your Passport agency

DSO can’t answer your Passport questions

If you are a Passport program recipient and you have questions about your funding or the Passport program, your area DSO can’t help you.

Once you’ve been referred to the Passport program or are receiving funding, you need to direct all your Passport inquiries to your local Passport agency.

You should update your area DSO if your caregiver situation changes and/or there have been significant changes to your loved one’s direct support needs (e.g. loss of primary caregiver, significant changes to medical and/or behavioural support needs of service recipient). You should also update your DSO if you move or there is a change to your phone number.

There’s a great resource on the website to help you better understand when to contact DSO and when to contact Passport. Visit the Resources page and download DSO and Passport program: Who to contact.

Download: Who to contact

What is Modified Accrual Accounting (MAA) and how does it impact your claims?

Your Passport program claims are paid out of the fiscal year (April to March) that the activity or service occurs in, or that the goods are delivered in.

For example, you sign up and pay for camp in January 2026, but the camp starts in June 2026. You can submit the receipt and get reimbursed in January, but since June is in the next fiscal year, the reimbursement you receive in January will come from the next fiscal year’s funding (2026-2027). Learn more about MAA on page 9 of the Passport program guidelines.

If you’re not sure how much funding you have to start the fiscal year, you can reach out to your Passport coordinator.

Passport program guidelines

How to submit a receipt in MyDirectPlan that has items belonging to multiple categories

If you have one receipt with items that fall under different expense categories, you will need to create a separate expense entry for each item and attach the receipt to each one in MyDirectPlan.

For example, if you purchased 3 items at Walmart and are claiming all of them, you would create 3 separate expense entries and attach the same receipt to each — one per item.

You can also attach more than one file per expense if needed — so if you have multiple receipts or supporting documents for a single expense, you're able to include them all.

Need support? Please reach out to MyDirectPlan by phone or email.

Phone: 844-637-6371

Email MyDirectPlan

What happens if you didn’t spend all your funding by fiscal year-end?

Under the Passport program, unused funding cannot be carried over into the next fiscal year. Passport funding is allocated on an annual basis and is reimbursed only for eligible expenses incurred during that fiscal year.

Unspent funds do not increase the amount you receive the following fiscal year. If you have eligible receipts from the current year, you may still submit them even if the fiscal year has ended, provided they are submitted within the applicable claim deadline period.

If you have questions about your funding, reach out to your Passport coordinator.

Find your Passport agency

How has your Passport funding helped you this year?

Please take a few minutes to tell us how Passport funding has helped you.

Share your story!

Passport program Myth Busters: Dispelling rumours and bringing clarity, one fact at a time...

MYTH: You have to re-sign paperwork every fiscal year to get your funding.

FACT: Passport funding renews automatically every fiscal year.

Your Passport funding amount will renew every single year after you start receiving your funding. Your Passport agency is not going to send you any new paperwork to sign at the start of the fiscal year (April 1). If anything ever changes with your funding, your Passport agency will reach out to you.

IMPORTANT! You need to update your MyDirectPlan account

If you are using MyDirectPlan to submit and manage your claims, at the start of the fiscal year, your balance will show up in your account as $0.00. You will need to manually change it to your approved funding amount for the fiscal year. If you need help with this, please reach out to MyDirectPlan for support. If you’re not sure how much funding you have at the start of the fiscal year, contact your local Passport agency.

News from local Passport agencies

York Region Passport Information Fair – Join us on April 15 in Newmarket!

Connect with local organizations offering programs for adults with developmental disabilities that you can access using Passport funding.

This free, drop-in event is open to the public—no registration required!

Date: April 15, 2026

Time: Drop-in anytime between 2:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Location: 575 Penrose Street, Newmarket

*There will be a Passport program presentation at 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Meet partner agencies from:

Community Living Central York
Community Living York South
New Leaf
Participation House
Reena
Vita Community Living
Your Support Services Network – Passport Program

This is a great opportunity to:

Ask questions
Pick up brochures
Discover day programs, employment supports, life skills programs, respite services and more!

Stories from Passport recipients!

I have suffered with some learning difficulties and other issues that made it difficult for me to be involved in my community and I was always helping others in many ways and not focusing on what I need or want. Well, Passport has turned my life into a 360! I am now purchasing what I like and being more involved with my community and doing things in my community and plan to reach out more.

This program has been a blessing in my life and an answered prayer. I am so blessed to have everyone that helps out with Passport. It has changed my life a lot. I still have a bit to go but with Passport I feel all my dreams and accomplishments will become successful dreams.

Thank you so much for everyone that works for Passport. This program is a blessing in my life. Thank you for every volunteer and for every worker. On the days you feel you haven't accomplished anything I am here to let you know your hard work is appreciated and I am blessed for all your help and support to better my life instead of being scared outside in my community.

This program helped me to start being able to enjoy myself in the community and at home. I would never ever, ever be able to afford the things I get with Passport so thank you so much for everything and know, all workers and volunteers, that your help and support does not go unnoticed. God bless everyone.

Leanne, Hamilton, ON

Thank you, Leanne, for your encouragement! 🙏We’re so happy to hear how Passport funding is helping you. 💖

Devin has always had a dream to go see his favourite football team, the Steelers in Pittsburgh, USA. His mom arranged for him to go with his support worker not only to see the Steelers, but to also take in a game with his favourite hockey team, the Penguins. He was so happy! It was a joy to see him come back so excited, so full of stories and all the fun he had. Thank you to the Passport program for helping in making Devin's dream come true!

Suzanne (Devin's mom), Welland, ON

That's supercool, Devin! Glad you could check one off your bucket list 😉

Upcoming Events

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

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