4. Know what you can do if you don’t agree with OW
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
Can Ontario Works pay my assistance to someone else for me?If OW decides to use “pay direct”
Ontario Works (OW) can pay all or part of your assistance to someone that you owe money to. This is called “pay direct”.
If you don't agree with this decision, you can ask for an .
But unlike some other decisions that OW makes, you can't appeal a decision about “pay direct” to the .
So you may want to think about how you can prove to OW that you'll start making payments on time. For example, you might need to show that you've stopped using drugs or gambling, if that's why you didn't pay your rent on time.
If you’re under 18 and OW pays your assistance to a trustee
Most of the time, OW will not pay any money directly to someone who’s under 18.
OW pays your assistance to a trustee that they choose.
You can't appeal a decision to pay your assistance to a trustee.
If you don't agree with OW's decision, you can suggest someone else as your trustee. But OW decides, even if you don't agree.
If you’re an adult and OW pays your assistance to a trustee
OW will ask you to agree that your payments need to go to a trustee. If you don't agree, they can still decide to pay your assistance to a trustee.
But if you disagree, you may be able to appeal the decision.
To appeal, the first thing you have to do is write to the OW office that made the decision and ask for an internal review.
After you've asked for an internal review, you can appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal.
Getting help
Talk to a community legal clinic if you disagree with an OW decision. They may be able to help you deal with OW or appeal the decision.
