To be eligible for Ontario Works, applicants must be residents of Ontario. Eligibility for Ontario Works is based on an assessment of financial need and an agreement to participate in employment activities.
Detailed information about eligibility for Ontario Works financial assistance and employment assistance is available in the Ontario Works directives.
You can apply for Ontario Works through the new online application for Social Assistance, over the phone with the IBAU call centre or in person or by phone with your local Ontario Works office.
The province has launched a new online application for Social Assistance that will allow some of the manual parts of the application to be done automatically.
Users who complete the application online may still be asked to gather documentation however using the online application may result in less information gathering on your part. Users of the online application can potentially have their applications granted immediately if they meet the requirements.
You may be required to complete and sign all necessary forms, including the application for assistance, and a participation agreement outlining the specific employment activities that support your best route to sustainable employment. You may also need to provide any required information and documents.
To begin the application process you may go to www.ontario.ca/socialassistance and complete an on-line application, contact the IBAU call centre at 1-888-999-1142 or contact your local office at 1-800-667-3145 (toll free) or 705-862-7550
If you live outside the Manitoulin-Sudbury District area and require assistance please locate the District Services Board for your area by clicking HERE
All Ontario Works applicants without Grade 12 education (high school diploma) or equivalent and without proof of a learning disorder are required to complete a literacy screening questionnaire.
In addition, Ontario Works participants whose reading, writing, and/or math skills appear to be a barrier to employment may be asked to complete the screening questionnaire and/or be sent for an assessment. Literacy screening and training can help people on social assistance upgrade their reading, writing and math skills so they can find and keep a job.
As an Ontario Works participant, you have the RIGHT to....
As an Ontario Works participant, you have the RESPONSIBILITY to....
This program is designed to assist parents (who are receiving assistance under Ontario Works) in obtaining the child and/or spousal support that they (and their children) may be entitled to, under the appropriate legislation and Child Support Guidelines.
A little support may be all you need!
With the appropriate support in place, a sole support parent who secures employment, is often no longer in need of social assistance.
This program is established to investigate the eligibility of present and past applicants and recipients. Upon completion of the investigations, decisions are made regarding ongoing eligibility, overpayments or arrears and where warranted, there may be a referral to the police for legal action.
To report a potential fraud allegation, please call the Provincial Welfare Fraud Control Hotline: 1-800-394-7867.
Consolidated Verification Process (CVP) is a standardized method of reviewing the files of all Ontario Works participants across the province to ensure they are receiving the right amount of financial assistance. If your file is being reviewed, here are the steps involved:
Ontario Works is focused on helping people find and keep employment. The program provides a range of employment assistance, such as:
The IVR is a toll-free telephone system that provides general information to participants about Ontario Works and selected information about personal case files including:
Participants can obtain cheque information for the next benefit month, by calling the IVR after the 26th of the current month.
To contact the IVR, phone: 1-800-808-2268.
Basic Financial Assistance includes income assistance provided for the purposes of basic needs and shelter. The amount that you are eligible to receive depends on your family composition, ages of your children, your monthly accommodation expenses and the amount of any income that you may currently be receiving.
The Basic Needs portion of your monthly entitlement is intended to cover such items as food, clothing, personal items etc. The amount of basic needs that you are entitled to receive depends on your family size and the ages of children.
In addition to a Basic Needs allowance you will be issued the amount of your actual shelter costs up to the maximum allowable for your family size. Due to a maximum amount allowable for shelter it is possible that your shelter expenses will exceed the amount that you are allowed. If this is the case you should speak with your worker to discuss options that may be available to you.
Allowable accommodation expenses include but are not limited to:
Accommodation expenses do not include such items as parking, cable TV, and telephone or internet access.
Included with your monthly entitlement all eligible participants will automatically receive a monthly drug card that will cover the cost of most prescription drugs as well as a dental card that will cover emergency dental care for adults and basic dental care for dependent children. Also, eligible participants may receive an additional amount up to $250.00 per month for a special diet. A Special Diet Form is available from your Ontario Works Case Manager a medical practitioner must complete the form indicating that the diet is required for health related reasons.
If you are eligible for Ontario Works assistance you will receive a cheque, direct deposit or a Reloadable Payment Card.
If you wish to have your assistance deposited into your bank account you will be required to provide your Case Manager with a personal cheque marked "void" or if you do not have a bank account with cheque writing privileges your Case Manager will provide you with a form to be completed by your bank.
In order to be eligible for direct bank deposit you must meet the following criteria:
In addition, you should be aware that:
If you are unable to obtain a bank account you can be registered for a reloadable payment card.
Mandatory Benefits:
In addition to regular monthly benefits you may also be eligible for other mandatory benefits such as:
If you or a member of your benefit unit requires any of the mandatory benefits listed above please speak with your case manager.
Discretionary Benefits:
In addition to mandatory benefits participants may be eligible for discretionary benefits such as:
If you or a member of your benefit unit requires any of the discretionary benefits listed above please speak with your Case Manager. Please note that in order for Ontario Works to assist with the requested item you must receive approval prior to purchasing the item. Ontario Works cannot reimburse monies for discretionary benefits purchased without prior approval.
Employment Related and Community Placement Expenses:
Participants who are actively involved in an employment assistance activity or a Community Placement may also receive assistance with any participation related expenses which include but are not limited to:
If you or any adult member of your benefit unit requires any of the above items please contact your Case Manager.
The exemption rate on employment income or amounts paid under a training program is 50%.
This means that no matter how much someone earns, only half of the employment income is deducted from their Ontario Works financial assistance. This exemption only applies in the 4th month of assistance after you have been on assistance for 3 consecutive months.
Contact the Ontario Works office immediately to advise and re-schedule.
The letter will outline the reason for your assistance being suspended. You will need to address the reason(s) as outlined. If you need more information about the suspension, contact your Ontario Works Case Manager.
Yes, always send in your Income Reporting Statement to ensure continued assistance once the suspension has been lifted.
Please contact OW and advise us of your employment. This is important information. You may also be eligible for some additional financial supports to help you get started in your new job.
Any time a client does not agree with a decision made by the Ontario Works Case Manager, a request for an Internal Review may be made by putting the request in writing within thirty (30) days of the original decision. The decision is then reviewed by a Case Manager and a further decision is made and this decision is put in writing to the client within thirty (30) days. If the client still does not agree with the decision, then an appeal may be made to the Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT) and a request may also be made for interim assistance pending the decision of the SBT. If the client loses the appeal, then any interim assistance paid to the client must be repaid.
LEAVING THE PROVINCE COULD AFFECT YOUR ASSISTANCE
When receiving Ontario Works financial assistance from the province of Ontario, you must remain in Ontario. You may leave for up to seven days provided you continue to meet your job search efforts. If you are absent from Ontario for more than seven days, your cheque may be reduced. Please speak to your worker before leaving the province.
If you require child care, please speak to your Case Manager. You may be eligible for funding for informal child care or for the licensed child care subsidy program.
Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB provides subsidy for child care in a licensed centre (or home) to those who financially qualify. Subsidies can be provided to employed single or two parent families or to those who wish to access academic upgrading.
Subsidies may also be available for children with special needs and socially disadvantaged children when referred by a third party.
Child care requirements should never be a barrier to employment. Please speak to your Case Manager.