Ontario Works assists individuals who are in financial need. Financial assistance provides support for expenses, such as basic needs and shelter. To be eligible for Ontario Works, you must:

• Live in Ontario.
• Be in financial need.
• Be willing to make reasonable efforts to find, prepare for and keep a job.

Apply online here.

After your application is completed, if you are determined to be eligible, you will be contacted by your local office within a couple of weeks to complete additional forms and discuss your next steps. During the appointment, which will likely last one to two hours, your Caseworker will:

• Complete additional forms and assessments
• Inform you of your rights and responsibilities as a participant in this program: see Rights and Responsibilities
• Discuss additional services or supports that you might qualify for
• Connect you to your local Employment Ontario Agency for help with your job search or employment plan

If you disagree with a decision while receiving Ontario Works, you can ask for the decision to be reviewed. The formal review process involves:

• An Internal Review and, if necessary,
• An Appeal.

 

When a decision is made about your eligibility for Ontario Works Assistance, you will be sent a Notice of Decision letter that will:

• Advise of a decision about your case and outline the reason(s) the decision was made
• Tell you what steps you can take to address the matter
• Let you know how to request an Internal Review if you do not agree with the decision and would like to appeal.

Your Internal Review Decision letter will tell you whether you can appeal the decision to the Social Benefits Tribunal.

 

Please note: If you do not receive an outcome of the internal review within 30 days, you may appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal directly as indicated on the Notice of Decision letter.

MyBenefits Residents who receive Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) may access their file information through MyBenefits

Through this 24/7 online service, Social Assistance recipients can:

• Message their caseworker and view message history.
• View payment status, history and information.
• View and print proof of assistance.
• Report shelter and utility expenses.
• Report income and track the status of earned income submissions.
• View profile information (e.g., phone number, email, etc.) and report changes.
• View letters.
• Send documents.

Please note: Once a MyBenefits account is created, you will stop receiving letters in the mail about your file, as this information will be available online.

To access MyBenefits, you will need to provide:

• Your date of birth
• The email address that is on file
• Your nine-digit member ID (Your member ID can be found on your monthly statement and the letters you receive about your file.)
• Visit MyBenefits and click on the “Access my benefits” button. New users can either create a My Ontario Account, which uses an email address and password to sign in, or use Verified.Me, which uses your online banking.

Report Ontario Works fraud here.

• Email Consent
• Request for Internal Review
• Child Care Receipt
• Direct Deposit Form
• Income Statement
• Medical Travel Request Form
• Pay Direct Authorization
• Special Diet Form

•  Access Mental Health and Addiction
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• ConnectWell Community Health
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• Benefits for Family and People with Disabilities
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• Financial Benefits for Children (Canada Child Benefit and Child Disability benefit)
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• How to Replace your Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate
• How to Replace your Social Insurance Number card
• Provincial Education and Training Supports
• Ontario Disability Support Program