Rights & Responsibilities
As an Ontario Works participant, you need to know about:
To learn more, be sure to click on each of the points listed above.
As an Ontario Works participant, you have the RIGHT to ...
- An Interview - You may bring someone with you when you meet the caseworker. This person can be anyone you choose.
- A Decision - You will be informed (in writing) of any decisions to grant, refuse, suspend or cancel your financial assistance and the reasons for making those decisions.
- A Chance To Have Decisions Reviewed - If you disagree with the decision made, you may make a written request within 10 days to have the decision reviewed by our local office. This internal review must be completed by our office within 10 days, and you will be told of the result. If you disagree with the internal review decision, you can make an appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal within 30 days of the date of the internal review decision. Your caseworker can give you information about the appeal process.
You also have access to our Family Support Program which can provide you with the help you need to pursue financial support for yourself and your child(ren).
As an Ontario Works participant, you have the RESPONSIBILITY to ...
- Respond Promptly - Contact your caseworker promptly if you receive a message or notice to do so. Complete and return promptly forms and documents as requested by your caseworker. Periodic interviews will be required.
- Work and Participate - You must actively look for work or better paying work or participate in an approved activity that will improve your opportunities to obtain and keep employment.
- Obtain and Report All Available Income - You must make every effort to obtain income available from all sources, and report any income you receive.
- Report All Assets - You must also report all assets, that being anything that can be converted into cash (such as property, vehicle, bonds or investments).
- Report Your Living Arrangements and Other Changes - You must report any changes in your living arrangements such as your address, phone number, rent or house costs, number of people in your household, etc. as and when the change is known.
You also have a responsibility to participate in the Consolidated Verification Process and attend appointments as required.
This program is designed to assist parents (who are receiving assistance under Ontario Works) in obtaining the child and/or spousal support that they (and their children) may be entitled to, under the Ontario Family Law Act and Child Support Guidelines.
Depending on your situation, we may be able to assist you to:
- Search for the absent parent
- Negotiate an agreement / resolve issues out of court
- Enforce support agreements / orders
- Obtain court orders for support and/or custody agreements
- Increase the current level of payments
A little support may be all you need!
With the appropriate support in place, a sole support parent who secures employment, is often no longer in need of social assistance.
Consolidated Verification Process (CVP) is a standardized method of reviewing the files of all Ontario Works participants across the province to ensure they are receiving the right amount of financial assistance. If your file is being reviewed, here are the steps involved:
- Your file will be checked to make sure that all necessary information is there.
- You may be asked to attend a CVP Interview and to bring any information that is needed for your file.
- During the CVP interview, all the information in your file will be reviewed and you will be asked about changes to your personal information.
- After the CVP interview, you will receive a list of any information still required for your file and this information must be provided within ten working days.
- Once your file review has been completed, you will be advised if there are changes to your financial assistance and/or eligibility.
