What if someone’s benefits are paid directly to a third party?

General Rule: Ontario Works can, in some cases, decide to pay a portion of your client’s income support directly to a third party (e.g., landlord, social housing, child/spousal support, etc.).

How You Can Help:

• Step 1: Explain to your client that a portion of their income support payments can, in certain situations, be paid directly to a third party, with or without their consent.
• Step 2: If your client has a change in circumstances which they believe might affect a third-party payment (e.g., they have moved, they have new dependants, etc.), make sure they notify their caseworker.
• Step 3: If your client wants to dispute the decision, refer them to a legal clinic and make sure they bring their Notice of Decision, if they have it.
• Step 4: If your client can’t receive legal advice, help them complete a form letter for internal review or draft their own letter. Make sure they submit their request within 30 days from when they received the Notice of Decision about the payments to the third party.
• Step 5: Warn your client that if they disagree with the decision made after the internal review, they will not be able to appeal it to the Social Benefits Tribunal.