Think of them as the "second look" before the external, independent Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT). In 2022-2023, the AU reviewed over 18,000 reconsideration requests. Of those, approximately 20-25% were overturned in the applicant’s favor without ever needing a tribunal hearing. Once a person receives a denial letter from their local ODSP office, they have 30 days to request an internal reconsideration. At that point, the file is stripped from local control and transmitted to the AU.
An AU reversal is the fastest path to benefits—often 60-90 days, compared to 6-12 months for a Social Benefits Tribunal hearing. No lawyers, no cross-examinations, no stress of testifying. odsp adjudication unit
Adjudicators look for specific failures in the local decision: Did the caseworker misinterpret a medical report? Was the Activities of Daily Living scale applied incorrectly? Did they overlook a doctor’s narrative about fluctuating symptoms (e.g., chronic pain or mental health episodes)? Think of them as the "second look" before