5. Send your completed Appeal Form to the SBT
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
How do I appeal an OW decision to the Social Benefits Tribunal?Sending your Appeal Form to the (SBT) is called “filing” it.
You can do this by faxing or mailing it to the SBT.
About 2 weeks after you your Appeal Form, the SBT sends you a letter with a file number.
Keep track of the file number as you will need it whenever you contact the SBT about your appeal.
Getting a Notice of Hearing
The SBT sends a Notice of Hearing to you and the Ontario Works (OW) office that made the decision you're appealing. This usually happens 4 to 8 weeks after they get your Appeal Form.
The Notice gives the time and date of the hearing with the SBT. This could be several months later.
If you need to change the date, ask the SBT as soon as possible.
Write to the SBT and:
- explain why you need to change the date
- suggest new dates that are within 60 days of when your hearing is set to happen
There are detailed rules about how to ask the SBT to change the date. You might have to contact the OW office first, to ask if they agree.
