3. Answer questions about your relationship

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) asks the questions that are in Part 1 of the Questionnaire (for Applicants or Recipients who are living with another adult) if:

  • you've been living with someone who is not a close family member for at least 3 months, and
  • you say that the person is not your spouse.

Questions in Part 1 of the Questionnaire

In Part 1, OW asks you to choose the option that best describes your relationship with this person. You can choose:

  • legally married
  • marriage-like, such as common-law
  • roommate
  • roomer or boarder
  • friend
  • caregiver, if you're not married or living common-law

Or, if you choose, “other”, you have to explain what that means.

There are also questions about:

  • whether there's a court order or agreement that says that the person you live with must support you or your child
  • whether or not you have children together

Based on your answers to Part 1, OW can decide either that:

  • you're spouses, or
  • they need to ask you more questions before they can decide. Steps 4 and 5 talk about these other questions.

If you disagree with the decision

If OW decides that the person you're living with is your spouse, they'll say that you cannot get as a single person or as a . Instead, OW looks at the and that both of you have to decide if you can get assistance as a couple.

If you disagree with their decision, you may be able to appeal.

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