Ontario Works Program

How it all works

Ontario Works helps people with short-term financial need to become employed and achieve self-reliance, through mutual responsibilities of the participant and the delivery agent

Benefits

If you qualify, Ontario Works can provide you with:

• Financial Assistance to help you cover the costs of your basic needs and housing costs
• Employment Assistance to help you prepare for and find a job

Financial Assistance

There are three types of Financial Assistance:

1. Income Assistance
2. Discretionary Benefits
3. Emergency Assistance

If you are in temporary financial need, Ontario Works provides Income Assistance to help cover the costs of basic needs (e.g. food) and housing costs. This is called Financial Assistance. The amount of money you may receive from Ontario Works will depend on your family size, income, assets, and housing costs.

You may also be eligible to receive a variety of other benefits called Discretionary Benefits. There are two types of benefits provided under Discretionary benefits called Mandatory Benefits and Discretionary Benefits.

Mandatory benefits cover drug coverage, dental and vision care for dependent children, diabetic supplies, surgical supplies, dressings, medical transportation (including dental/optician visits), community start up benefit, employment/training start up benefit and the full-time employment benefit.

Discretionary Benefits are provided at the discretion of the Administrator and may include health and non-health related items such as; moving costs, funerals and burials, dental services, prosthetic appliances including eye glasses, vocational training or retraining, health and non-health related items.

Employment Support

The Employment Supports component supports individuals with the shortest route to independence via education, training and ultimately to employment. The program provides the following support mechanisms for clients to participate in approved activities to help them reach their goal of employment:

• Basic Education
• Job Skills Training
• Literacy and Numeracy Programs
• Resume and Cover Letter Preparation
• Life Skills Training
• Child Care Expenses
• Transportation Expenses
• Employment Related Expenses
• Employment/Training Start Up Benefit
• Full Time Employment Benefit
• Self Employment Assistance

Community Placement

Community Placement gives people receiving social assistance the opportunity to contribute to their communities, learn basic work and life skills, gain work experience and make contacts for future employment. Non-profit and public sector organizations can sponsor community placements. Placements can be up to six months in length up to a maximum of one year.

Informal Child Care

A component of Ontario Works is the provision of Informal Child Care funds for participants. Monies can be issued to cover licensed or unlicensed care necessary to support participation and/or employment.

Support to Employment Program

The intent of STEP is to encourage and assist participants towards financial independence. This is made possible by providing financial incentives for participants to earn income through employment and training in the form of exemptions and recognition of child care costs.

Employment Related Expenses

Employment Related Expenses assists people with the financial support they may need as they participate in various employment activities such as school, training or community placement programs. Transportation and child care expenses are provided to participants where needed. Participants starting work or training may require appropriate clothing/work gear/tools etc. and are assisted with the Employment/Training Start Up Benefit or the Full-Time Employment Benefit.