I need money to live. Can I get help from Ontario Works?
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.
Long delays for appeal hearings
If you're appealing a decision made by OW or ODSP in 2020, your appeal hearing may not happen for a long time. People report that they're getting hearing dates from the that are between 9 and 16 months in the future. We'll update this information as things change.
If your is low and you live in Ontario, you may be able to get from Ontario Works (OW).
OW assistance is for people who need money for one of the following reasons:
- they can't find work
- they're not able to work right now
- they're working but making so little money that they qualify for assistance
- they're applying to the Ontario Disability Program (ODSP) and need assistance while waiting for disability benefits
OW has rules about who can get financial assistance and what you must do to keep getting it.
How much you get from OW depends on a number of things.
If you don’t have a permanent address
OW can't refuse to give you assistance just because you don't have a permanent address.
But if you don't pay for housing, the amount of assistance you get will not include an amount to pay for housing. So it will be less than what you'd get if you were paying rent.
