Who is eligible?

To be eligible for Ontario Works, you must:

• live in Ontario
• need money right away to help pay for food and shelter, and
• be willing to take part in activities that will help you find a job.

How we assess your eligibility

We look at two aspects when we assess your eligibility:

• your financial situation, and
• your willingness to take part in activities to find a job.

When you apply to Ontario Works, you will need to give us information about your:

• family size
• income
• assets, and
• housing costs.

Ontario Works staff will use this information to decide if you are financially eligible.

Then we help you come up with a plan to find work and/or improve your skills. These activities are written up in your Participation Agreement.

You will have to sign an Application for Financial Assistance and a Participation Agreement to be eligible for Ontario Works.

Eligibility Estimator

You can use our Eligibility Estimator to find out if you may qualify for Ontario Works. The Eligibility Estimator will ask you questions about your income, assets and expenses. It will not ask you any personal questions and your answers will not be kept.

 

Learn more Eligibility Estimator How to apply for Ontario Works Ontario Works financial assistance Employment assistance activities