What if an Ontario Works recipient has other financial resources?
General Rule: Any assistance your client receives from Ontario Works can be reduced if they receive money or funding from another source. Some examples of things that can reduce the amount of support your client receives include:
- Money earned from employment
- Ontario Works recipients can earn up to $200 in a month before their support payments will be reduced. Any amount earned beyond $200 will be deducted from their income assistance by 50%.
- Selling assets
- Inheritances
- Other benefits (CPP, EI, WSIB, etc.)
- Spousal support payments (only deductible if it is actually paid)
Your client, and any adult members of their family, also have an obligation to pursue other available financial resources while receiving assistance from Ontario Works. They have to pursue resources like:
- Income from employment
- Income from a training program
- Income from RRSPs
- Child benefit payments
- Spousal support
However, they don’t need to pursue other resources like:
- Child support
- Locked-in pension funds from employer contributions
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) income support
- CPP pension
How You Can Help:
- Ask your client whether they are pursuing other available financial resources. If they aren’t, help them identify the additional resources that might be available to them.
- If your client has lost their benefits or had them reduced, ask them whether they have been pursuing these other financial resources.
