Rights and Responsibilities
Ontario Works provides financial and employment assistance to people in financial need. Eligibility for assistance depends on the number of members in your benefit unit, your shelter costs, income, assets and participation in approved employment assistance activities. If you are eligible for assistance, you will receive assistance each month for as long as you are eligible.
Your Rights
Any time that you meet with your Caseworker, you can bring someone with you. This person can be anyone you would like to have there.
We will inform you in writing of any decision that we make regarding your eligibility or amount of assistance including suspending or cancelling your assistance.
If you do not agree with the decision that we make, you will have the right to ask for an internal review. You must ask for an internal review within 10 days. We will notify you of the result of the internal review. If you do not agree with the result, you can file an appeal with the Social Benefits Tribunal. If you did not first ask for an internal review, the Social Benefits Tribunal will not hear your appeal. There are a very limited number of decisions for which there are no rights of appeal. You will be informed of your appeal rights when decisions concerning your eligibility or amount of assistance are made.
Your Responsibilities
You are required to attend an employment information session at the second stage of the application process.
You may be required to take a literacy-screening test at the second stage if you have not completed grade 12 or its equivalent. If you provide proof of a learning disorder, you are not required to take the literacy-screening test.
If you are applying to the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) through Ontario Works and you have assets above the Ontario Works asset limit, and you have not previously used the one-time asset exemption, then you are required to complete an Agreement to Reimburse. If you are determined to be ineligible for ODSP, you must repay some or all of the assistance that you have received.
You will be required to meet with your Caseworker at least every 3 months to review your participation in employment assistance activities and every 12 months to review your financial information.
Contact your Caseworker promptly if:
You receive a message that your Caseworker needs to speak to you.
There are any changes in your circumstances.
You are planning to leave the province for any period.
If you begin to receive income or your income changes
Respond promptly if you receive a request for information or a form to complete. All members of your benefit unit who are 18 years of age and older are required to participate in employment assistance activities including a looking for work or better-paying work. Activities that may be approved include:
Independent job search
Employment placement
Education or training program
Supports to self-employment
Learning, Earning, and Parenting program
Job search support (i.e. resume workshop)
Community placement
Addiction treatment program
Self-employment activity
Literacy training program
Keep receipts and statements so that your Caseworker can verify your income, expenses and assets. Keep receipts and statements such as:
Pay Stubs
Hydro, water, and heating costs
Bank account books/statements
Fire insurance
Rent or mortgage payments
Income tax assessment or returns
Childcare costs
Obtain and report all available income that you or a member of your benefit unit is owed or receives, including any earnings and training allowances. Each month you will receive an income reporting form that is used to report all changes to your income. If you or any member of your family begins to receive income or your income changes, you must report this income to your Caseworker, and the completed statement must be received in your Caseworker's office by the due date. Your Caseworker will review your income history regularly. Examples of sources of income include:
Earnings
Sponsor payments
Interest or dividends
OSAP
Sale of assets
Training allowance
WSIB
Roomer/boarder income
Pensions
Insurance/accident claims
Child/spouse support
Inheritances or lotteries
Employment Insurance
Money owed to you
Self-employment income
Farm income
Childcare income
Compensation for victims of crime
Report all your assets. An asset is property of all kinds, including cash or anything that you own that can be converted into cash. The total dollar value of your assets affects your eligibility for assistance. The equity that you have in real estate other than your primary residence is included as an asset at the time of application. Examples of assets include:
Primary or other residence or real estate
Life insurance
Collections or valuables
Investments
Vehicles
Money in a bank account
Remember to tell your Caseworker immediately if you or anyone in your benefit unit:
Sells or transfers an asset
Borrows money
Buys a new asset
Opens or closes a bank account
Report your living arrangements and any other changes. Tell your Caseworker immediately if there are changes in your current living arrangement such as:
Your address or phone number changes
Your rent or other home cost changes
Your dependent leaves school, return to school, starts work, leaves home or returns home
The number of people in your benefit unit changes
You or a member of your benefit unit leaves Ontario for a period greater than 7 days
You and your spouse are responsible for repaying all overpayments you may have. If you leave social assistance, you and your spouse are still required to repay the overpayment.
You are responsible for following the rules of the Ontario Works Program including honest reporting of all circumstances and changes of circumstances that affect eligibility.