Ontario Works

The Social Services / Ontario Works office can provide assistance to Tyendinaga community members on program information and requirements, assess eligibility and assist in preparing applications, create a participation agreement, identify financial benefits, and provide family support services.

Programs & Services

Services

 HOW TO APPLY FOR ONTARIO WORKS ASSISTANCE

APPEALS

When a decision is made that effects Basic Financial Assistance or the Mandatory Benefits, an applicant/recipient has the right to appeal the decision.  The appeal process:

1. The applicant/recipient will receive a letter stating the decision that has been made, how it will affect his/her Ontario Works entitlement, and how the decision can be appealed should the participant choose to do so.
2. If the applicant/recipient chooses to appeal the decision, a letter requesting an Internal Review must be submitted to the Ontario Works office within ten (30) days of the date of the letter being received.
3. The Internal Review must be conducted within ten (10) days of receiving the request and the applicant/recipient will be notified of the decision in writing.
4. If the original decision is upheld and the applicant/recipient still disagrees, an appeal can be made to the Social Benefits Tribunal*.
5. An appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal must be submitted within thirty (30) days of receiving the Internal Review decision.
6. The applicant/recipient has the right to legal counsel and representation.
7.  A Hearing will be held by the Social Benefits Tribunal* with the applicant/recipient and a representative from the Ontario Works office.  The decision will be issued, in writing, within sixty (60) days of the Hearing.

 * The Social Benefits Tribunal is an independent agency appointed by the Provincial Government.

 Appeal forms are available at the local Ontario Works office.  Completed forms are to be mailed to:

The Social Benefits Tribunal

7^th Floor, 1075 Bay Street

Toronto, Ontario

Toll Free Number 1-800-753-3895

Interim assistance may be provided to an applicant/recipient if the Tribunal is satisfied that the person will suffer financial hardship during the period needed for the Tribunal to complete its review and issue its decision.   An applicant/recipient may receive interim assistance only if the applicant/recipient meets all conditions of eligibility for assistance other than a condition relating to the issue under appeal.

When an applicant/recipient loses an appeal, or withdraws an appeal and had been in receipt of interim assistance, this payment will be considered an overpayment.   If the amount of interim assistance provided exceeds the amount that would have been payable under the final order of the Tribunal during the period for which interim assistance was provided, the amount of the excess shall be deemed to be an overpayment.

Decisions that relate to items other than Basic Financial Assistance or Mandatory Benefits are appealable through an Internal Review.   

For decisions that are not appealable to the SBT, the decision is final when:

 PARTICIAPTION AGREEMENTS

As a condition of eligibility, Ontario Works recipients engage in an employment plan to build skills and to find either part time or full time employment.

The Participation Agreement is a living document that evolves and changes as participants access and complete employment related activities. 

We will take into consideration any temporary or special circumstances that you may have, including illness, injury, appropriate child care needs, or attendant care for dependent family members.

Participants, spouses, and dependent adults (18 years of age and older) must participate in one or more of the following activities:

• participant may be temporarily deferred from taking part in activities if they are:

The frequency of Participation Agreement reviews shall be as follows:

1. At least once every three months for Ontario Works participants and participants with temporary deferral of active participation;
2. At least once every four months for voluntary participants; and
3. At least once every six months for those participants who are applicants for ODSP, participants solely in receipt of temporary care assistance, or a sole?support parent with a dependent child for whom publicly?funded schooling is not available.

EARNINGS EXEMPTIONS

Participants who have met the three (3) month qualifying period or re-applicants who qualify for the grace period, have the 50% earnings exemption applied to their net earnings when determining their chargeable earnings amount. The 50% earnings exemptions  applies to both full time and part time monthly earnings AND TARINING INCOME. The chargeable earnings amount is used to determine the amount of financial assistance that a benefit unit may be eligible for.

INCOME REPORTING STATEMENTS (IRS)

Income Reporting Statements (IRS) are required to be submitted on the16^thof each month  in order to determine the next month's entitlement.  The income reported includes all income obtained between the 16^th of the preceding month and the 15^th of the current month.

The statement includes several items that must be recorded and/or attached, including: income and assets of members of the benefit unit; attendance at employment assistance activities; and, any other conditions relevant to determining the person's eligibility between the 16^th of the preceding month and the 15^th of the current month.

Failure to submit an Income Reporting Statement may result in the suspension of financial assistance.  Should the Income Reporting Statement not be received by the 5^th working day of the next month, financial assistance will be terminated.

An example of income reported could be as follows:

              (This is used to determine March entitlement.)

Note: The word “NONE” is to be input  in the boxes where income is not applicable.   

If you are completing an IRS, be sure to complete each section of your reporting card, including a signature and date.  If you have a spouse/same sex partner make sure they also sign the reporting card.  It is important to always complete your reporting card in pen as this is a legal document.

OVERPAYMENTS

Overpayments may be created in the following ways:

An overpayment may be recovered through monthly deductions from a recipient's basic financial assistance.

The rate of recovery will be 5% of the income assistance, if the participant continues to be otherwise eligible for income assistance under the Act.  This amount may be increased up to 10% where there is evidence of the capacity to pay, or it may be increased to greater than 10% at the recipients request.  This amount may also be reduced if it will cause the recipient undue hardship.

Prior recipients of social assistance who have outstanding overpayments are encouraged to submit post-dated cheques, or to make other suitable repayment arrangements with their local office.

Under the Ontario Works & Ontario Disability Support Program Acts both the recipient and their spouse/same sex partner are equally responsible for any overpayment created while they were in receipt of  social assistance together. 

Overpayments incurred through Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program are now transferable between programs, and between any offices within the province of Ontario. 

FINANACIAL BENEFITS

Financial assistance includes:

FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM (FSW)(Coming in 2010)

The Family Support Program assists social assistance recipients to make reasonable efforts to secure the child or spousal support to which they may be entitled.   Family Support is an income support program with legislative requirements to pursue available income*.

The Family Law Act states that every parent has an obligation to provide financial support for his/her dependent children.  The calculation of the amount of support can be determined by the courts or by agreement between parties with the Family Support Worker’s (FSW) involvement.  This is based on financial information and documentation provided by the payor and is in accordance with the Child Support Guidelines contained in the Uniform Federal and Provincial Child Support Guidelines Act, 1997.

Financial information of the payor is collected under the legal authority of the Ontario Works Act and it will be used to determine the payor’s eligibility for social assistance.  FSW’s have the authority to collect and disclose personal information for the purposes of assisting in legal proceedings for support as well as in the enforcement of agreements, orders and judgements relating to support in accordance with the Ontario Works Act, s.o. 1997, c.25, Sched  A, s59.

We strive to avoid unnecessary court time by encouraging Ontario Works participants to enter into private agreements with the payor.  Accordingly, if a participant anticipates their matter may be resolved without court action, we ask the payor to attend the appointment with the participant.  The payor will be required to bring their last three Income Tax Returns and Income Tax Assessments as well as their currency pay stub.

We ask that participants bring any existing support orders, divorce papers or separation agreements to their appointments.  If a participant is presently pursuing support through the courts and have retained a family law lawyer, the Family Support Worker will be come involved in the court application as a third party.  Accordingly, we ask that the participant bring the name, address, phone/fax number of their lawyer to the appointment.

• Support income is deducted from the social assistance allowance.

 EMPLOYMENT SERVICES