Government Programs - Easter Seals Ontario

After reviewing the program’s eligibility criteria above, complete an Incontinence Supplies Grant Program application and see your child’s Doctor or Nurse Practitioner to fill out their portion. Once the application is complete, send to Easter Seals Ontario via email (recommended), by mail, or fax.

*Please note that due to an increase in applications, our processing timeline has increased significantly. We appreciate your patience as we process applications as quickly as possible.

Other Helpful Information

• Remember to keep a copy of your child’s application for your own records.
• If your application is incomplete, it will be returned to you which will delay the application process.
• The grant begins after the application is approved; retroactive payments are not available.

Grants are to assist with the cost of supplies and may not cover all costs. You may qualify for one of the following grants:

Grant Level A – $400/year OR Grant Level B – $900/year, which cover:

• Diapers/Pull ups/Attends/Liners/Swimmers
• Intermittent Foley catheters/Condom catheters/Drainage Bags
• Reusable cloth diapers/liners
• Neither grant level covers the cost of gloves, wipes, creams, bed sheets, clothing (underwear), bed linens, laundry detergent or pads for menstrual periods.
• Children/youth requiring assistance with bowel management may be eligible for an additional grant.

Grant Level C – $500/year

• Cecostomy
• MACE
• Peristeen Irrigation System
• The grant DOES NOT cover enemas, prescriptions, medications (PEG, Restorolax, Dulcolax, other stool softeners or laxatives)

Every child receiving IG is reviewed approximately every two years as per the program’s requirements. The purpose of the review is to confirm current spending of incontinence supplies and to determine whether the grant level should be increased, decreased or cancelled based on receipts provided.

When a review is scheduled:

Review and make any changes/updates to the letter you receive stating your child’s file is on review.

Provide 4 months worth of current receipts with the review form. Receipts must be within the last six months.

• All receipts must clearly show the product purchased, the amount and the date of purchase. Altered, folded, and/or handwritten receipts will not be accepted.
• If your receipts do not adequately reflect your grant level amount, your grant may be reduced or cancelled.
• Families who have more than 1 child registered on the program need to submit receipts for all children registered on the program (requests are assessed on the total expenses).

While your child’s file is on review, you will not receive any payments.

How do I submit receipts?

• By Email or Fax: photocopied or electronically submitted receipts must be submitted in a legible format; receipts that are altered or folded/overlapping are not accepted.
• By Mail: original, complete receipts (do not cut off portions of a receipt or use a highlighter). Receipts are destroyed after they are reviewed. Original receipts can be returned if specifically requested.

What happens if I don’t have receipts?

As per the application and approval letter, all clients receiving the grant are asked to retain receipts for a 2 year period to ensure receipts are available upon review.

• If you have failed to retain receipts, call or email to advise us at igprogram@easterseals.org or 416-421-8778 x314 so that we can advise of next steps.
• If no response to a review is received within 4 months, the grant will automatically be cancelled and you will need to reapply to the program and provide 4 months of current receipts. Retroactive payments will not be available.

The majority of payments are processed through Direct Deposit/EFT (electronic funds transfer) unless you request a mailed payment.

You can sign up for direct deposit by filling out the Electronic Funds Transfer form when you apply or at anytime.

Once approved, your child will be placed on the next payment cycle. The annual grant amount will be paid out in two equal payments. Payment Cycles are as follows:

Cycle 1: January/July
Cycle 2: February/August
Cycle 3: March/ September
Cycle 4: April/October
Cycle 5: May/November
Cycle 6: June/December

You can buy your supplies from any store that sells these products.

We have heard from many families about the difficulty with finding diapers that meet their family’s needs, specifically in terms of cost and finding the right size. Many families struggle with the transition from child diapers to adult diapers and trying to find diapers that fit as their child grows, which can be even more challenging for families who live in remote areas.

Below is a list of suppliers that have been used by families receiving the Incontinence Supplies Grant. These suppliers are all located in Ontario and have an active website where you can see their products. Some have local stores and others offer online shopping and deliver to your home. Benefits vary with each supplier.

Diaper Suppliers

Abena/Westcare
AgeComfort
Calea
Custom Mobility
Diaper-eez
Durham Medical
Four Directions Medical
Glen Erin Pharmacy
Guardian Pharmacy
Healthwick
Incontrol Diapers
King Medical
Koolway Sports
Medical Mart
MEDIchair
My Liberty
Ontario Incontinence Supplies
O.O.S. Medical (Ontario Ostomy Supply Ltd.)
Rip n Go
Shoppers Home Health Care
Starkmans
Universal Diapers

To avoid missing an IG payment, please contact us immediately if your banking information changes, OR if you would like to start receiving payments through direct deposit.

If your child is currently on Level A, you may apply for Level B if:

1. Your child is not physically or developmentally ready to toilet train.
2. Your costs are increasing as your child grows out of child-size diapers and you are spending equivalent to or more than $900 per year on diaper supplies/catheters.

• You must submit the Level B application with a minimum of 4 consecutive months of current receipts.
• Families may remain at Level A and apply for Level B funding if expenses change at anytime in the future.
• Level B increase forms do not need to be filled out by a Doctor/Nurse Practitioner.
• Approved requests will receive the increase on the next payment cycle (retroactive payments are not available).

• Applications and correspondence are available in English and French. Please fill out a French application form and check off interpreter required.
• The program also has staff who can assist in answering any questions you might have. Please contact the program.
• If your main language is other than English or French and you have a support worker/relative/friend who assists you, please include them on the application under Section 1 – Consent to Speak with an Individual/Agency so that we may be better able to support your family.

Please contact us if your child has a new health card version code. Your child’s health card is verified with the Ministry of Health’s database before any payments are issued. If the health card number if not verified, your payment/s will not be issued.

Contact us to request a Change of Payee form.

• Payments will be held until the request is complete.
• The program can only issue one grant payment; it can not be divided between 2 parents. The payee on file is responsible to keep the file up to date with any changes to contact information, health card updates, etc.
• The payee must save all receipts, or collect receipts from the other parent for reviews.
• If there is shared custody the Incontinence Supplies Grant program does not get involved with determining which parent has the file registered in their name. If there is a dispute, the file will remain on hold until the payee is determined.

Contact us to let us know that you no longer require the grant.

If you have recently received a payment, please return it to the program as payments are to purchase incontinence supplies for the next 6 months following the payment.

Please contact us to update any information.

• A copy of any Government issued identification will be required for any name changes.
• If a mailed cheque is returned or direct deposit is returned and we cannot contact you, the grant will be cancelled.

If you have private medical coverage, or employee extended health coverage, the insurance plan may reimburse your additional costs not covered by the grant.

• Call and check your plan’s coverage.
• Keep all Incontinence Supplies Grant Program correspondence as your insurance company may ask you to send them information about the grant funding received from the program.

• You may claim for additional medical expenses on your income tax.
• You can only claim receipts for incontinence supply expenditures that exceed the amount of your grant.
• For more information, visit the Canada Revenue Agency Income Tax Folio S1-F1-C1, Medical Expense Tax Credit subsection 1.87.

If you are receiving funding from the IG program, you are not automatically a client of Easter Seals Ontario as the criteria for IG is set by the Ministry of Health.

For information on the criteria to register as an Easter Seals Ontario client and to access programs and services funded by Easter Seals Ontario, please visit Services.Easterseals.org or email us directly at sevices@easterseals.org.