Can Ontario Works help pay for a special diet?
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.
People who have certain medical conditions might be able to get a special diet allowance as part of the they get from Ontario Works (OW).
The special diet allowance is to help with the extra costs of a special diet. The amount people get depends on their medical conditions.
The most a person can get as a special diet allowance is $250 a month. And for some conditions, the amount is much lower.
Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding
A woman who is pregnant or breast-feeding can get a nutritional allowance. This is separate from a special diet allowance.
Talk to your OW worker about how to apply for this.
If you qualify for both, you can get a special diet allowance and nutritional allowance at the same time.
If OW refuses to give you a special diet allowance
If OW refuses your application for a special diet allowance, you can appeal the decision.
