2. Learn about the “Assignment, Authorization and Direction”

Beware of scams

People have been getting phone calls with a pre-recorded message telling them their Ontario Works account has been deleted.

This is a scam to trick you into sharing your personal information. If you get a call like that, hang up the phone. You can report these calls to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Ontario Works (OW) can ask you to agree that you'll pay back out of money that you get in the future.

You'll have to sign an Agreement to Reimburse.

The “Assignment, Authorization and Direction” form

OW may also ask you to sign an Assignment, Authorization and Direction form. This is a form that tells a person or government agency that owes you money to pay the money to OW instead of you.

After you sign the form, OW sends it to the person or agency.

For example, you might be getting financial assistance from OW while you wait to get from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). To get their money back, OW may want ODSP to send the money directly to them.

If the money is paid to you

You have to pay back the money to OW if:

  • someone is supposed to send money to OW because of an Assignment, and
  • they send the money to you instead of sending it to OW. For example, they might do this by mistake.

If you don't pay back money that you owe, OW will say that you have an . And they'll take steps to collect the money you owe.

Hide this website