2. Learn about your child’s options
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
My adult child lives with me. Can this affect my OW?If your adult child lives with you and is “financially independent”, the general rule is that Ontario Works (OW) does not include them in your . If OW says that your adult child who lives with you is financially independent, they may be able to choose between:
- applying for assistance from OW on their own, or
- being included in your household.
To find out how this can affect your , talk to a community legal clinic.
When your child does not have a choice
There are times when adult children do not have a choice and OW will not let them be included in your household. This happens if:
- your child owns or rents the home where you live and you do not,
- you get Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) money from ,
- you get money from the Ontario Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS),
- you require your child to pay housing costs to live with you, or
- your child is legally responsible for paying some of the costs of living with you, such as rent, heating, or hydro. For example, their name might be on the rental agreement you have with your landlord, or on a utility bill.
Making a choice
Your child may want to know which option will lead to the most money from OW in total.
For more information and help deciding what to do, they may want to contact a community legal clinic.
