What are recipients required to report to Ontario Works?

General Rule: Your client might be required to make periodic reports to Ontario Works. This is usually to determine if they are still eligible for assistance or to make adjustments to the amount of assistance they receive. This can be done through a phone call to their caseworker or online through their MyBenefits account. 

Reports should be made:

• If and when they are taken into custody
• When they are released from custody
• If they are hospitalized
• If they have moved 

Other information and changes which recipients must report to Ontario Works:

• If their family size has changed (e.g., birth or death in the family, marriage or separation, common-law relationships, etc.)
• If their household membership has changed (e.g., roommate moved in/out, child moved in/out, etc.)
• If their housing costs have changed
• If their income has changed
• If they have received or disposed of any assets (e.g., car, bike, etc.)
• Changes to banking information (e.g., opening a new bank account, closing a bank account, etc.)

If your client doesn’t make these reports, they might lose their income support. Remind them to always update their caseworker if they experience any of these types of changes. 

How You Can Help:

• Step 1: If your client has noticed a change in the amount of income support they receive, ask them about any changes in circumstances. If there has been a change, help them contact their caseworker to make a report of it.
• Step 2: If your client is told that they have lost their income support for failing to report changes and they wish to dispute the decision, refer them to a legal clinic and remind them to bring their Notice of Decision from Ontario Works, if they have it.
• Step 3: 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.
• Step 4: If your client is no longer receiving their income support or is receiving less income support than they usually do, help them make a plan to avoid further civil legal issues, like being evicted for not paying rent, missing support payments or running into debt issues for not paying outstanding bills. If your client will be unable to make these kinds of payments without their income support, you can help them find other funding (e.g., rent bank programs, etc.) or refer them for legal advice before the issues escalate.