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Ontario Works (Social Assistance)

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To apply for Ontario Works, you can start the application online.

If you are in receipt of Ontario Works, you can get assistance to file your income taxes at any OW office in Durham Region. Please reach out to your caseworker for information or see this list of local free tax clinics.

Types of Social Assistance

Ontario Works

Ontario Works assists individuals who are in financial need. There are two types of assistance—financial assistance and employment assistance. Financial assistance provides support for expenses, such as basic needs and shelter. Employment assistance provides support for items, such as job-specific training, access to basic education, and employment workshops.

Emergency Assistance

Emergency Assistance is available for people who are in a crisis or who experienced an emergency, such as a flood or a fire, or who are concerned for their safety.

Temporary Care Assistance

Temporary Care Assistance is available for temporary caregivers of children who are under the age of 18 and are not residing with their parents.

Assistance for applicants 16 and 17 years of age

Youth 16 or 17 years of age, not living with their parent(s) whom require financial assistance, may qualify to receive Ontario Works.

Who is eligible?

To be eligible for Ontario Works, you must:

  • Live in Ontario.
  • Be in financial need.
  • Be willing to make reasonable efforts to find, prepare for and keep a job.

Apply for Ontario Works

Online
To apply for Ontario Works, you can start the application online.
By phone

The provincial Intake and Benefits Administration Unit is available to complete your application Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The telephone application will take approximately one hour to complete. Following the telephone application, you will submit your documentation, as requested to determine your eligibility.  After your eligibility has been determined, you will receive a follow up phone call from a Durham caseworker to discuss the completion of required forms.

  • Toll Free: 1-888-999-1142
Emergency assistance

If you are currently in an emergency or crisis situation, such as fire, a flood or loss of home, or you are concerned for your safety, you may qualify for a temporary, two-week period of financial assistance. Contact the Application Centre to discuss your situation and schedule an in-office appointment to review your eligibility.

To begin your telephone application, please call:

  • Local calls: 905-666-6239 extension. 7393
  • Toll-free: 1-877-678-6333
  • Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
Temporary care assistance

If you are currently caring for a child under the age of 18 who is not your biological child and you are not legally obligated to support, you may qualify to receive Temporary Care Assistance. Contact the Application Centre to discuss your situation and schedule an in-office appointment to review your eligibility.

To begin your telephone application, please call:

  • Local calls: 905-666-6239
  • Toll-free: 1-877-678-6333
  • Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511
Assistance for 16 and 17 years old

If you are currently 16 or 17 years of age and are not living with your parent(s), and you require financial assistance, you may qualify to receive Ontario Works. Contact the Application Centre to discuss your situation and schedule an in-office appointment to review your eligibility.

To begin your telephone application, please call:

  • Local calls: 905-666-6239
  • Toll-free: 1-877-678-6333
  • Bell Relay: 1-800-855-0511

Ontario Works client rights and responsibilities

Learn more about client rights and responsibilities while receiving Ontario Works benefits.

Ontario Works client rights and responsibilities

Other government benefits and supports

  • Employment Insurance
  • Pensions
  • Housing benefits
  • Education and training benefits
  • Education and Training Supports
  • Benefits for family and people with disabilities
  • Financial benefits for children (Canada Child Benefit and Child Disability Benefit)
  • Healthy Smiles Ontario (provides free dental care for children 17 years old and under for lower-income families)
  • Funeral and burial
  • Children's Services
  • Durham Access to Social Housing (DASH)
  • How to replace your Social Insurance Number card
  • How to replace your Birth, Marriage or Death Certificate

If you are receiving Ontario Works benefits, you can also ask your Caseworker about opening a bank account and signing up for direct deposit.

If you are on Ontario Works benefits, you can contact your Caseworker about applying for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

Office Locations

If you are in receipt of Ontario Works and need to contact your office or send information to your Caseworker, below are the Ontario Works contact information and office specific information and locations.

Telephone: 905-666-6239

Toll-free: 1-888-721-0622

Bell Relay Line: 905-660-6223

Interpreter Language Line: 1-800-523-1786

Ajax

140 Commercial Avenue

Ajax, Ontario

L1S 2H5

Fax: 905-428-7401

Email: AjaxOW@durham.ca

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How to Get Here

Oshawa

200 John Street West, Unit C1A

Oshawa, Ontario

L1J 2B4

Fax: 905-436-7361

Email: OshawaOW@durham.ca

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How to Get Here

Uxbridge

2 Campbell Drive, Unit 301/305

Uxbridge, Ontario

L9P 1H6

Fax: 905-852-4573

Email: UxbridgeOW@durham.ca

Hours: Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How to Get Here

Whitby

605 Rossland Road East

Whitby, Ontario

L1N 6A3

Fax: 905-666-6218

Email: WhitbyOW@durham.ca

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How to Get Here

Employment Resource Centre

200 John Street West, 2nd Floor

Oshawa, Ontario

L1J 2B4

Fax: 905-432-7602

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How to Get Here

Director’s Office

605 Rossland Road East

Whitby, Ontario

L1N 6A3

Telephone: 905-666-6239 extension. 2805

If you do not agree with a decision that has been made on your file, you can request an Internal Review.

Internal Review Process

When a decision is made on your file, a letter is sent to you.  It will tell you information about an eligibility decision, an overpayment or a suspension. The letter will tell you how to appeal the decision. If you disagree with our decision, you can request an internal review. You do this by submitting a letter of appeal to your local Ontario Works office within 30 days. When a decision is made on your internal review, we will tell you in writing whether we are upholding or denying the original decision. If you still disagree with this decision, you can appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal. The Social Benefits Tribunal is a neutral third-party agency of the Ministry of the Attorney General.

If you would like information about your Social Assistance, you can contact the Interactive Voice Response system (IVR) or review your MyBenefits account.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
Call toll-free at 1-800-808-2268 to access Interactive Voice Response (IVR), where you can get information about your social assistance. The line is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. On weekends, the line is open from noon to 5 p.m.

To get this information you will need:

  • Your nine-digit member identification number, which you can find on your monthly Ontario Works statement.
  • Your four-digit personal identification number, which you will receive when you start receiving social assistance.

Ontario Works rates

OW Rate Chart 

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