OW Programs
Ontario Works is the new way of delivering social and employment support services. The program brings financial assistance and employment support services together to foster client independence while providing an opportunity to contribute in the community.
Employment Supports
Employment Supports provide a flexible range of services and supports to help clients while they are actively looking for a job. Employment Services Centres provide clients with the necessary tools to conduct their job search. Clients have access to computers, printers, photocopiers, fax machines, community resources, employment library and job opportunity boards. In addition, staff will work one on one with clients to develop powerful resumes, assist with interview preparation and other job seeking development skills.
Community Placements
Community Placements in not-for-profit community agencies and the public sector give clients the opportunity to contribute to their community by volunteering, while gaining valuable work-related experience, references and confidence to help them find and keep a job.
Employment Placements
Employment Placements match clients with available job opportunities. This program aids clients who are job ready to find and maintain employment. It also assists those interested in self-employment to develop business enterprises. Employment Placements with Incentives creates even more opportunities for people to find jobs by encouraging private sector participation with financial supports for skills development.
Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP)
The purpose of the Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) Program is to help young parents aged 16 to 25 years complete their education as well as help them become self-reliant. Participation in Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) is a mandatory requirement for 16 and 17 year old parents who have not completed high school. They must participate in the three Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) elements.
NOW Program (New Opportunities Waiting)
In 2006, the Ministry of Community & Social Services announced a new mandatory initiative. This Ontario Works Employment Initiative is a collaborative initiative between Consolidated Municipal Services Managers and the Provincial Ontario Disability Support Program. The aim of New Opportunities Waiting (NOW) is to provide a strategy to improve employment outcomes for Ontario Disability Support Program non-disabled spouses and dependent adults. These improvements are consistent with the government’s commitment to help social assistance recipients prepare for, find and keep a job, and remove barriers to employment.
Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Program Homelessness Initiative
Through the Ministry of Community and Social Services, Consolidated Homelessness Prevention Program, the Department of Social Services has developed and implemented two projects to assist low-income families.
- “Staying Put - Utility Project” supports the prevention of homelessness by assisting with financial support for low-income households at imminent risk of eviction or utility disconnection.
- “Emergency Transient Assistance Fund” offers transportation vouchers to transient persons who are stranded on the streets long after business hours. In partnership with Police Services, the objective of this emergency fund is to prevent or reduce the health and safety risks involved when transient persons spend the night on the streets of our communities.
- “Energy Emergency Fund” this fund is designed to assist low-income people with energy related emergencies. The government recognizes that even a modest increase in electricity prices can be very difficult for some families. The government is committed to taking a balanced approach to energy pricing and at the same time, the provision of energy assistance on an emergency basis demonstrates the government’s commitment to help vulnerable people already a risk of homelessness. In many situations, people in low-income households are renting or living in poorly heated accommodations and are not in a position to switch to more energy efficient options. They may not have access to equalized billing and face seasonal hikes in costs that can place them in danger of disconnection or homelessness.
Rent Bank Program
The Rent Bank Program is a Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing initiative administered by Ontario Works to promote housing stability by assisting low-income tenants who experience a temporary crisis that forces them into short-term rent arrears.
Assistance
Every month that a client is eligible, he/she will receive assistance for:
- basic needs and shelter
- a drug card
Clients may also be eligible for the following benefits:
Employment Activity Benefits
Assistance for initial costs when clients start a new job or an employment assistance activity. This includes advance child care payments, work boots, work clothes and uniforms, license and association fees, and other necessary work or employment assistance related expenses.
Participation Expenses
Clients may receive assistance to help cover additional expenses when participating in an employment assistance activity. For example transportation, clothing, grooming, special equipment, minor fees such as certification changes, child care costs.
Dental Care
All children up to the age of seventeen qualify for basic dental care. Check ups are covered once every 9 months.
Adult dental coverage is only to relieve pain in emergency situations. The dental coverage for emergency dental work is up to a maximum of $500.00/year.
Ontario Works does not cover the cost of dentures.
Vision Care
Ontario Works provides coverage for routine eye examinations, unless coverage is provided under OHIP. When a client attends an eye examination, s/he will need to provide their Health Card and Ontario Works Drug Card to waive the cost of the examination fee.
All children up to seventeen qualify for vision coverage once every 2 years. The maximum amount covered for children’s glasses is $150.00.
Adults are covered $150/year for eye glasses. Coverage does not include contact lenses unless they are required due for medical reasons.
Other Items
- Diabetic supplies
- Surgical supplies and dressings
- Approved medical transportation of $15 or more per month
- Special diets
- Guide dog benefits.
Community Start-Up and/or Maintenance Benefit
The Community Start-Up and/or Maintenance Benefit is money that can be issued to recipients of Ontario Works who require financial assistance to establish a permanent residence in the community or to remain in the existing residence. The Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit can only be issued once in a twenty-four month period up to the maximum allowable amount.
Allowable start-up situations include moves due to family violence, uninhabitable living premises, discharge from an institution (such as a correctional facility, nursing home, or hostel), or the need to move for another clearly established reason. Allowable start-up costs may include: household furnishings, moving fees, last month’s rent deposit, and clothing purchases. Allowable Maintenance benefit situations would include: a utility (e.g. water, hydro, power, electricity) or the energy for heat to the current residence will be discontinued and with payment the utility or energy will not be discontinued.
In order to consider your application for Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit you must provide your Ontario Works Agent with the following information:
For Community Start-up consideration:
A signed rental agreement (lease or rent report) landlord letter, or receipt completed by your new landlord which clearly states:
- Your name
- Your new address (including your unit number and postal code)
- The amount of rent you pay each month NOT including any monies that you have arranged to pay the landlord towards first or last months rent
- The effective date of your move
And
- If your move is due to a health and welfare reason, a letter from your doctor, Social Worker or Health Department Inspector stating the move is medically necessary due to health reasons or due to the fact that your current place of residence is uninhabitable
- If your move is due to eviction, a notice of eviction from your landlord or the Rental Tribunal
- If you have recently been discharged from an institution, a note or document stating that your last known address was at the institution
For Maintenance consideration:
- Notice of eviction or received notice that utility (including water) or the energy for heat is being discontinued
Ontario Child Benefit (OCB)
In July 2007, families on social assistance received the one-time Ontario Child Benefit payment of a maximum of $250 for every child between the ages of 0-18 years. Eligible families received the Ontario Child Benefit in addition to their social assistance cheques. The Ontario Child Benefit is exempt income. In 2008, social assistance rates for families with children were restructured.
When monthly payments for the Ontario Child Benefit began in July 2008 no portion of the National Child Benefit Supplement was deducted from social assistance. The children’s portion of basic needs, the back to school and winter clothing allowances, and the Ontario Child Care Supplement were consolidated within the Ontario Child Benefit. Sole support parents receive a supplement under social assistance, which will be partially replaced by a gradually maturing Ontario Child Benefit.
Transition Child Benefit (TCB)
The Transition Child Benefit is a mandatory benefit provided to assist recipients with dependent children under the age of 18 who are:
- not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) and National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS);
- receiving less than the maximum amounts of the OCB and NCBS;
- receiving less than the maximum amounts of the OCB and $0 NCBS; or,
- receiving $o OCB and less than the maximum amount of the NCBS.
- The amount of the Transition Child Benefit is up to a monthly maximum of $213 per eligible dependent child.
Family Support Worker
- Support issues
- Court proceedings
- Private agreements
- Family Responsibility issues
- And any other support related issues
Clients are required to pursue child or spousal support if it is available to them. There is a Family Support Worker on staff who can assist with:
Extended Health Benefit
This benefit is provided to clients who have high prescription drug or other health related costs but are no longer eligible for Ontario Works assistance due to earnings from employment or other sources (e.g. Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Employment Insurance).
Clients must have been in receipt of assistance in the month immediately before the month in which they became eligible for this benefit. Eligible clients will receive health benefits as long as their health costs remain higher than the amount by which their earned income exceeds what they would have received under the Ontario Works Assistance Program.
Extended Employment Heath Benefit
This benefit is for clients who have obtained employment and do not have medical coverage with their new employer.
Clients who leave Ontario Works for employment will be provided health benefits for a transitional period of up to one year or until the employer offers health benefits, whichever comes first.
Clients who have been on Ontario Works for 1 month, and who have started a full-time job or have increased their earnings and are ineligible for Ontario Works, may be eligible for the Extended Employment Health Benefit.
Full-time Employment Benefit
To cover expenses associated with starting full-time work. A full-time job consists of working 30 or more hours per week. The 30 hours may be from working a combination of 2 part-time jobs.
If a client has been receiving Ontario Works assistance for 3 months or more, and will be starting a full-time job, Ontario Works can help with covering some of the expenses related to going to work. Self-employed clients are not eligible for this benefit.
Funeral Expenses
People that are eligible for funeral assistance include OW clients, ODSP clients and persons not in receipt of OW or ODSP, but who would have been eligible for the Ontario Works Program at the time of death.
The following documents are required for the deceased at time of meeting with next of kin:
- Birth Certificate
- Social Insurance Number
- Health Card Number
- Statement of Death (from funeral home)
- Estimate of funeral costs (from funeral home)
- Updated bankbook or current bank statements
- Income Information, i.e. pay stubs (or recent stub from OW or ODSP)
- Copy of Life Insurance or Prepaid Funeral (or a completed declaration indicating none)
- Copy of Will (or a completed declaration indicating there is no will)