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Ontario Works Frequently Asked Questions about Ontario Works ODSP benefits Frequently asked questions about ODSP Appeals of Ontario Works & ODSP decisions Legal Help Relevant Links for Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program
Ontario Works provides financial assistance and certain benefits for qualified low income people. Eligibility is based on financial need.
To apply for assistance, call your nearest Ontario Works Office. In York Region, Ontario Works offices are located at:
24262 Woodbine Avenue
Keswick, Ontario, L4P 3E9
(905) 989-1883
(705) 437-2133
62 Bayview Parkway
Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 3W3
(905) 895-5166
(905) 881-2524
3901 Highway 7, Suite 501
Woodbridge, Ontario, L4L 6B2
(905) 850-3490
(416) 741-3536
50 High Tech Road, 3rd. Floor
Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4B 4N7
(905) 762-2095
1-866-208-0049
No. A transient or homeless person can apply for benefits and is deemed to reside in the geographic area where he or she applies.
Your cheque is made up of a basic needs allowance and a shelter component. These amounts are based on the size of your family and the amount of your shelter costs and are paid up to a specified limit. Most forms of income, with some limited exceptions, will be deducted from your monthly entitlement.
Yes but a portion of your earnings will be deducted from your Ontario Works cheque. If you are just applying or have been on benefits less than three months, all of your earnings will be taken into account in determining your eligibility. To find out more about the earnings rules, contact your local Community Legal Clinic.
It depends on your situation. Most people are required to participate in some type of employment assistance activities. Employment assistance activities can include such things as working, training, going to school or volunteering. There are some exceptions for persons over 65, single parents with children who are not yet school age and persons with certain level of disabilities.
Yes, but a lien can be put registered by Ontario Works on your permanent residence if you have been on assistance for a total of 12 months in any 5 year period.
You may be entitled to interim assistance. You can apply for this on the appeal form you use to file your appeal with the Social Benefits Tribunal. The Social Benefits Tribunal will decide whether you are entitled to interim assistance based on the criteria of financial hardship. You should provide any documentation proving financial hardship with your request for interim assistance (ie. proof of rent arrears, eviction notices, evidence of other debts, etc.) If interim assistance is ordered, your local office will be directed by the Social Benefits Tribunal to pay you assistance. There is some risk in receiving interim assistance because if the final order of the Tribunal determines you were entitled to less assistance than you received as interim assistance, the excess will be considered an overpayment.
A person aged 16 and 17, living outside the parental home, may be eligible for assistance if there are "special circumstances" to justify the assistance, the person's living arrangements are conducive to meeting the conditions of eligibility regarding education or training, employment and community participation. Normally, the person must also be attending school full time.
"Special Circumstances" can include things such as abuse at home, safety risk for person to remain at home, parents incapable of providing adequate care and support for person, etc.
Contact your local Community Legal Clinic if you have further questions on this subject.
You may be entitled to a Community Start Up Benefit if you will be establishing a new permanent residence. To qualify, the Administrator of Ontario Works must be satisfied that you will need financial assistance to establish the residence, and you are either being discharged from an institution which provided for your basic needs and shelter, or you can satisfy the Administrator that it would be harmful to your health and welfare to stay in your current place of residence.
The maximum amount of this benefit is $799 in addition to your regular cheque for a single person and $1500 in addition to your regular cheque if a recipient has one or more dependant children. Normally, you can only qualify for this benefit once in a twelve-month period.
If you are denied this benefit, this is a decision which can be appealed. Seek legal advice if you are in this situation.
The ODSP program provides financial assistance and certain benefits for people over the age of eighteen who meet the legislated definition of "disability" and who qualify financially.
You may also qualify if:
ODSP Employment Supports is a voluntary program that helps people with disabilities who are sixteen years of age and older find work. You may be eligible for Employment Supports if you have a physical or mental impairment that is continuous or recurrent and expected to last a year or more and that presents a substantial barrier to employment.
You do not have to be receiving ODSP Income Support to be eligible for Employment Supports.
If you are eligible for, or receiving disability or rehabilitation benefits from other public or private sources, you may not be eligible for ODSP Employment Supports. People on Ontario Works are not eligible for ODSP Employment Supports.
ODSP Employment Supports can help you with things you need to get a job like:
To apply for financial assistance or Employment Supports contact your nearest Ontario Disability Support Program Office.
In York Region, this can be done at :
Ministry of Community, Family & Children's Services
Ontario Disability Support Program
465 Davis Drive, 3rd Floor
Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 8T2
(905) 868-8900
1-877-669-6658
If you reside outside York Region, a list of offices can be found by going to the Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services website at: www.cfcs.gov.on.ca
Contact the ODSP office if this happens. You should receive your full cheque for the first three months while you are in hospital. After three months your budgetary requirements will be determined considering actual costs of maintaining your community accommodation, and other expenses that relate to yourself in hospital.
You are entitled to assistance for the cost of transportation that is reasonably required in any month for medical treatment and that is not otherwise reimbursed. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for transportation please call the Legal Clinic.
You may be entitled to a Community Start Up Benefit if you will be establishing a new permanent residence. To qualify, the Director of ODSP must be satisfied that you will need financial assistance to establish the residence, and you are either being discharged from an institution which provided for your basic needs and shelter, or you can satisfy the Director that it would be harmful to your health and welfare to stay in your current place of residence.
The maximum amount of this benefit is $799 in addition to your regular cheque for a single person and $1500 in addition to your regular cheque if a recipient has one or more dependant children. Normally, you can only qualify for this benefit once in a twelve-month period.
If you are denied this benefit, this is a decision which can be appealed. Seek legal advice if you are in this situation.
Most decisions by Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program are appealable. You should receive a written notice of decision from the office that made the decision. If you did not get one, contact the office that made the decision and request a written decision.
To appeal, you must request an internal review from the office that made the decision within 10 days you received the notice of decision, if it was given to you, or within 13 days from the date it was mailed to you.
If you have missed the time to file an internal review you can still request one. You must also request at the same time, an extension of time to file the request for internal review. You should explain why you were late in your request for an extension. If you had a good reason for being late, the office that made the decision may go on to make an internal review decision. If no extension of time is granted, that may be the end of your appeal option. Seek legal advice if you are in this situation.
Your internal review request does not have to be on any particular form. You should write a letter including the date on the notice of decision, the date you received it, that you are requesting an internal review of the decision and why you disagree with the decision. Make sure you sign the letter and put your ID # and also your address and phone number on the letter. Keep a copy of your request.
Once you have filed an internal review request (assuming you filed it on time) the office that made the decision is supposed to send you an internal review decision within 10 days of your request. If you do not get an answer within 10 days, you can then file an appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal.
If you are refused benefits or your benefits are reduced or cut off or an overpayment is being deducted from your benefits, these decisions can be appealed to the Social Benefits Tribunal. You cannot appeal decisions concerning discretionary benefits, decisions regarding having some or all of your assistance paid directly to a third party, emergency assistance or the appointment of a trustee to receive your cheque if you are under eighteen years old. You also cannot appeal Employment Supports decisions under the Ontario Disability Support Program. If you have any questions concerning whether your situation is appealable, seek legal advice.
To file an appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal, you must use the Tribunal's form which can be obtained by calling the Social Benefits Tribunal at 1-800-753-3895 or visiting the Tribunal's website at www.sbt.gov.on.ca or by contacting your nearest Legal Clinic. You can also get a form by contacting your local Ontario Works or ODSP office.
An appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal must be filed within 30 days of the Internal Review Decision. If you do not get a decision within 10 days of your request, you can then file your appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal without it. Your appeal must be filed within 40 days of your request for an internal review.
If you do not file your appeal on time, you will have to explain at your hearing why it was filed late and the Tribunal will decide at the hearing whether to allow you to proceed with your appeal or whether to dismiss the matter as being late.
For more information on appeals, visit the Community Legal Education of Ontario website at www.cleo.on.ca
If you wish advice or legal help with your situation and reside in York Region, please contact us directly.
If you reside outside of York Region, please contact your nearest community Legal Clinic.
A listing of all Ontario Legal Clinics can be found by visiting www.legalaid.on.ca
Ministry of Community, Family and Children's Services:
Region of York:
Community Legal Education Ontario: www.cleo.on.ca
Social Benefits Tribunal: www.sbt.gov.on.ca
Ontario Legal Aid Plan: www.legalaid.on.ca