Individuals with personal injury cases pending after August 1, 2017, date the ODSP changes become effective, receive the benefit of the new exemptions. Settlements and awards prior to the effective date cannot be reopened to take advantage of the more favorable exemption guidelines. The new ODSP rules are complicated. For example, any portion of an award or settlement attributable to income replacement, non-earner benefits and future income losses are not exempt. Amounts received for any of those items must be included in a person’s income to determine their continued eligibility for ODSP.