In Ontario, what used to be called "welfare" is now called "Ontario Works". We tend to call it "social assistance" because that is what it is.

What kind of help do you provide?
Where can I find information to help me advocate on my own behalf?
What are the laws, rules and policies written about this kind of social assistance?
What are some of the issues you hear the most about?
What are my basic rights?

Go directly to:

  Tip Sheets

  LATEST SOCIAL ASSISTANCE NEWS (from CLEONet)

  Links to Other Sources of ONTARIO WORKS InformatioN and RESOURCES

At the clinic, we help people who are having problems getting the social assistance they are entitled to. We can provide you with information about your legal rights, including your right to object to decisions of the Administrator or your worker, and your right to appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal. Time limits apply to your rights of objection and appeal so be sure to call us when the problem first arises.

We've provided you with links to plain language materials on many topics. CLEO has many pamphlets on social assistance issues. CLEONet has an even broader collection of materials that might help you. We are also writing a few tip sheets for issues not written about by someone else.

And we've given you information about the laws, rules and policies that apply to social assistance below. We've also included below a special section about some of the issues we hear about most often. Be sure to check that out.

To assist you in understanding your rights and obligations when you receive this benefit we have provided you with the following information or links:

•  The law which is called the Ontario Works Act

•  Special rules the government has created to govern in a more specific way
   how the law will work in practice called the regulations made pursuant to the
   Ontario Works Act

•  The special policies and “how to” information the provincial government has
   provided to guide their staff in how and whether assistance and benefits
   should be provided and calculated which are called Policy Directives

Your local social services department will also have written policies on some issues. You are entitled to ask to see copies of local policies. They are not yet available over the internet in either Hastings County or Lennox & Addington or Prince Edward counties.

Legal clinic staff can help you with any problems you are having receiving assistance. We are especially concerned at the present time with problems with:

•  People being deemed to be "spouses" and part of the same benefit unit

•  Entitlement to benefits for your children when your children are temporarily
   with the CAS or also living with another parent

•  The treatment of earnings from "self employment"

•  People losing their benefits because they are considered to have quit or been
   fired from a job

•  Overpayments being assessed unfairly or without notice or explanation

•  Eligibility for Community Start-up and Maintenance benefits (CSUMB)

•  Special Diet Allowance

Remember the following important rights:

•  You are entitled to a written notice of any decision made by your worker or
   any other staff member

•  You may ask for an “internal review” of that decision within ten days (in special
   circumstances that notice can be extended)

•  You should receive a response to your internal review within ten days

•  You can appeal any negative decision after you have sent an internal review,
   to the Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT)

•  You can also request "interim assistance" from SBT which will have to be repaid
   if you eventually lose your appeal

Please contact us for help if you need it.

Printable Tip Sheets Prepared by the Community Advocacy & Legal Centre (All files in PDF format)

1. Appealing to the Social Benefits Tribunal (includes appeal form)  (72 kb, 12 pages)

Latest Social Assistance News from CLEONet (links below will cause you to leave our site - click your BACK button to return)

For more information, resources and links on Ontario Works go to our LINKS TO OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION page.