What happens at a Social Benefits Tribunal OW appeal?
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.
A hearing at the (SBT) isn't as formal as a court hearing. But there are rules about the hearing and about how the SBT is supposed to make its decision.
It's important to get help from a community legal clinic so you know the rules and what you have to do.
A community legal clinic may also be able to represent you at your hearing.
An SBT hearing is private, which is different from the courts, where usually anyone can go and watch.
Who’s at the hearing from the SBT and Ontario Works
There's always at least one person from the SBT at the hearing. This person is called a “member”.
The SBT member is in charge of the hearing and makes the decision about your appeal.
Ontario Works (OW) can send a Case Presenting Officer to the hearing. They can:
- question you and any other witnesses
- say why the SBT should not change the OW decision
How the hearing begins
The member begins the hearing by:
- saying who they are
- asking for the names of everyone at the hearing
- explaining what will happen
- checking if the SBT has the correct address to send you the decision
- making sure that they have all the documents that you and OW filed before the hearing
Filing documents means giving them to the SBT, following the rules about how to do this.
There may be things that the member has to decide at the beginning of the hearing, such as whether the hearing should take place at a later date.
If you miss your hearing
If you can't get to your hearing or get there late, the member might decide your appeal without you being there.
So, if you have an emergency and can't get to your hearing on time, call the SBT at 1-888-256-6758.
