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Have you consented to the MyDirectPlan account update?
MyDirectPlan (MDP) recently launched new features to help users better manage their Passport funding.
The new features mean you won't have to input your funding amount each year, plus you'll also be able to:
- view your budget in real time
- see funding used, claims under review, and remaining balance
- always have the most up-to-date funding and account information
If you haven't consented to the new update yet, you will be automatically prompted to do so the next time you log into your MyDirectPlan account. Once you consent to the update, you'll be able to enjoy the new features.
If you have questions about these changes, visit mydirectplan.com/passport-faqs or watch this YouTube video to get started.
If you need help with your MyDirectPlan account, you can email them.
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The Person Managing Funds survey is still open
If you’re a Person Managing Funds (PMF) and you haven’t completed the survey yet, please take a moment to help us improve the Passport program for everyone.
The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete and your input could make a big difference for families and recipients.
| | | | ⚠️IMPORTANT: Your participation in the survey is voluntary, and it won’t have any impact on the recipient’s funding or relationship with the program. | | |
Your Passport funding has increased
As you may have already heard, all Passport recipients received a funding increase on August 17, 2026.
If you were getting $5,500, your new funding amount is $5,665.
If you submit your claims through MyDirectPlan and you have consented to the new update, your account will show your new funding amount when you log in.
Otherwise, your local Passport agency will be in touch with you to let you know your new funding amount. Thanks for your patience while you wait to hear from your agency.
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Before you submit your support worker claim...
The Passport program will only reimburse support worker hours after they are worked. You cannot submit a claim for hours that will be worked at a future date.
The support worker hours form must be signed to confirm that the hours being claimed have already been worked. If you are filing claims electronically using eClaim or MyDirectPlan, the signed form can be uploaded as a supporting document with your claim.
If you need help paying for admissible services, contact your local Passport agency to find out how they can support you.
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What you must include in your mileage log
Mileage logs are used to support your mileage claims, so they must be accurate and match your claim submission.
To be accepted, your mileage log must have:
✅Date of travel (month, day, year)
✅Purpose of travel (what did you go and do)
✅To and from destination (must be full address – street, city, postal code)
✅Distance (how far you travelled in kilometres)
✅Rate (how much you paid for the trip – flat rate or per kilometre)
✅Total amount (the total amount of the claim)
Go to passportfunding.ca/filing-claims to learn more about mileage logs.
| | eCLAIM training video available online! | Looking for a walkthrough on how to submit an eCLAIM? Watch this video for step-by-step training on how to use eCLAIM to submit and manage your Passport claims. | Confused about category limits? | Use this handy guide to see what categories and items have limits and exactly what those limits are. | Who to contact: DSO or Passport? | This guide tells you exactly when to reach out to DSO or Passport so that you can get the right help. | How does the application process work for DSO and Passport? | This chart will show you how the application process for DSO and Passport works from start to finish. | How are you using your funding? | Please take a few minutes to tell us how Passport funding is helping you. | | | |
Mileage that is not admissible under Passport
Not all travel by a Passport recipient is admissible to the Passport program. Funding will cover travel to admissible Passport activities only.
Here is a list of inadmissible travel:
🚫Personal vacations or trips to visit family and friends, including transportation, accommodations (such as hotels, campgrounds, or vacation rentals), and travel or health insurance. For example, an out-of-town weekend trip for sightseeing, leisure, or vacation to visit family or friends is not admissible.
🚫Transportation to and from family visits related to custody arrangements.
🚫Transportation to and from medical appointments (such as doctor, dentist, addiction treatment, mental health therapy, or counselling appointments). For example, a support worker’s mileage to take the recipient to/from a routine dental checkup is not admissible.
🚫Transportation for daily errands, such as banking or shopping.
🚫A support worker’s or driver’s travel to and from their location, including mileage to get to and from your home.
🚫Transportation to and from an undefined location or missing a clear purpose of travel that cannot be connected to a community participation activity.
Learn more on page 15 of the Passport guidelines.
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The date you receive an item or service is important for reimbursements
Your Passport budget renews automatically every year on April 1st and finishes on March 31st – this is called the fiscal year. All services or items you purchase are reimbursed from the fiscal year that they are received in.
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For example, if you paid for a camp in February 2026 that takes place in May 2026, you will be reimbursed from your 2026-2027 budget year, even though the purchase was made during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Similarly, if you purchase a new laptop March 2026 during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, but it doesn’t get delivered to you until April 2026, your reimbursement will come from the new fiscal year budget (2026-2027) based on the date the laptop was delivered.
Once April 1st arrives, you can no longer purchase items or services and claim them under the previous fiscal year’s budget. But, if you have receipts for items or services that you received during the previous fiscal year, you have until the end of the current fiscal year to submit them.
You can learn more about how reimbursements work on page 27 of the Passport guidelines.
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Passport program Myth Busters: Dispelling rumours and bringing clarity, one fact at a time...
MYTH: You can start submitting claims once you get your Service Agreement from your Passport agency.
FACT: No, you cannot. The effective date for your funding to start is the date you sign your agreement, not the date on page 1 of your Service Agreement.
This means you cannot submit items for reimbursement that you purchased before your agreement was signed. Once you sign and return your Service Agreement to your Passport agency, you can begin to submit claims for admissible purchases that happen on or after the date you signed.
It may be helpful for you to write down the date you signed your agreement, or keep a copy of your agreement somewhere you can easily get to, so you can better manage your funding.
If you’ve forgotten your funding start date, you can reach out to your Passport coordinator.
| | Stories from Passport recipients | | |
As it is now the current fiscal year-end, I want to thank everyone that works for the Passport Program. I am extremely grateful for the Passport Program funding that my daughter Elizabeth receives. It has definitely made a big difference in her abilities, confidence, sociability, daily living skills which have all led to a significantly better quality of life for her. Elizabeth loves fitness and physical activity and has a very active lifestyle. She enjoys many sports especially running and many other things such as music, dance, singing, colouring, arts and crafts, camps and social activities. Under the Program, Elizabeth has been able to participate in 5 km local runs, attend summer camps, go to concerts, Sens games, musicals, etc...all of which make her very happy. She has developed new skills and her comprehension has improved. This would not have been possible without the Passport program funding. Thank you.
—Linda (Elizabeth's mother), Ottawa, ON
Thank you for sharing Elizabeth's story, Linda. It's a delight to know that she is making the most of her funding.🏋️♀️🩷
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The Passport program has made a world of difference to our family. Without this help, social activities would be completely out of reach. As a very special treat, my brother was able to attend a Toronto Maple Leafs game at the Scotiabank Centre in Toronto. This was his very first live game and I don't think that I have ever seen him as happy as he was that night! Thank you to Passport funding for making this very special night possible.
—Susan (Murray’s sister), Ancaster, ON
We wish Murray many more happy adventures with the support of the Passport program! 🏒💙
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Visit passportfunding.ca/news to register for upcoming MyDirectPlan training and information sessions with live questions and answers.
Upcoming information sessions:
- Tuesday, September 22, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register here
- Wednesday, October 14, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register here
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Thursday, November 19, 2026 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | Register here
- Tuesday, December 8, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Register here
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