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.
Question & Answer
Someone is moving in with me. Can this affect my OW?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.