What can Ontario Works say that I have to do to find a job?
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) has rules about who can get and what you must do to keep getting it.
You usually have to do things that are supposed to help you:
- get ready for a job
- get a job as soon as possible
You and an OW worker are supposed to agree on what activities will help you.
The Participation Agreement
The activities you have to do are listed in a Participation Agreement.
The Participation Agreement is part of your application for financial assistance. See Step 1.
Who does not have to sign a Participation Agreement
You don't have to sign a Participation Agreement if:
- you're applying only for Temporary Care Assistance for a child
- you're on because you appealed a decision about whether you qualify for assistance from OW
- you're getting Extended Health Benefits or Extended Employment Health Benefits but not basic financial assistance from OW
What happens if you have a disability
OW expects you to make “reasonable efforts” to do the activities in your Participation Agreement.
If you have a disability, you should only have to do activities that you're able to do.
If your disability is not going to last very long, OW might excuse you from all of the activities in your Agreement for a short time. For example, if you have a broken leg, this might be for a few weeks.
You need to get proof from a doctor or other health professional if you need to be excused from:
- of the activities for a longer time
- some of the activities that OW says you have to do
You can give OW a letter from the doctor or other health professional or have them fill out the OW form called Limitations to Participation. You can get this from the OW office.
Other health professionals who can write a letter or fill out the Limitations to Participation form include:
- nurse practitioners
- psychiatrists
- social workers
Applying for income support
If you have a disability that's likely going to last a year or more, you may want to apply for from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
