Applicants must meet these four criteria:

• A resident of Ontario;
• In immediate financial need;
• Meet income and asset needs testing; and
• Willing to participate in employment assistance activities if able.

Apply for Ontario Works in one of these two ways:
1.    Apply online through the Ministry of Community and Social Services website
2.    Call 1-888-999-1142 to make an application over the phone

You should have these seven items ready for your appointment/online application:
1.    Social insurance number;
2.    Health number;
3.    Proof of identity and date of birth;
4.    Employment history/information;
5.    Income and asset statements;
6.    Shelter costs;
7.    Status in Canada.

If you are not able to attend your scheduled application appointment, please call 613-546-2695, ext. 4980 to reschedule with Housing and Social Services located at 362 Montreal St. 

Applicants have the right to:

1. An application interview;
2. Bring a person of their choice with them to the interview;
3. A timely decision on their eligibility for Ontario Works Assistance;
4. A written notice of the eligibility decision;
5. The opportunity to have decisions reviewed.

If you are eligible, your Case Manager will contact you.  You may receive a monthly allowance for your basic needs and shelter costs.  You may also receive assistance for costs related to health benefits, and some employment related expenses, etc.

Payments will be deposited directly into your bank account or loaded on your Reloadable Payment Card (RPC) and you will also receive these items via MyBenefits or in the mail: 

1. A drug card.
2. An explanation of the cheque (stub).
3. An income-reporting statement (IRS).

Ask your Case Manager about your eligibility for other supports, such as Employment Assistance, Municipal Fee Assistance, the Learning Earning and Parenting program or Family Support Program.

Need an Ontario Works Form?

Ontario Works recipients are expected to do several things:

1. Attend periodic interviews with a Case Manager;
2. Respond promptly to requests by a Case Manager;
3. Report changes in living arrangements, all income and assets and any other changes at Ontario.ca/MyBenefits;
4. Repay all overpayments;
5. Contact your Case Manager when they have questions or concerns;
6. Sign a Participation Agreement (see next heading: "What is a Participation Agreement" )
7. Participate in employment-related activities that will bring them closer to financial independence.

Need an Ontario Works Form?

A Participation Agreement is part of the application for financial assistance. This agreement:

• Outlines your employment goals;
• Is a step-by-step plan to help you reach these goals;
• Lists employment-related activities agreed upon by you and your case manager;
• Will bring you closer to financial independence.

Speak to your Case Manager about financial supports for which you may be eligible while working towards your employment goals.

See the provincial Ministry of Community and Social Service's site for more Ontario Works information.

You need an appointment to see a Case Manager. See the 362 Montreal St. page for location and hours. To leave a message for your Case Manager, call 613-546-2695, please speak clearly and leave one message with these four details:

1. Your full name, Member ID number, or your date of birth;
2. Your reason for calling;
3. Your telephone number or contact number;
4. The best time to reach you from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.;

Calls will be returned within two business days.

The Family Support Program is available for Ontario Works recipients.

A Family Support Worker will help parents on Ontario Works who have custody of their children get support for themselves and their children from the other parent. 

362 Montreal St.
Kingston, ON K7K 3H5
Phone: 613-546-2695

The City provides financial assistance on behalf of deceased residents who do not have sufficient funds in their estate to cover the cost of a basic funeral, cremation, and/or burial. Social Services will pay a funeral home or cemetery to provide these services in accordance with the rates approved by Council. Assistance is generally only available if the funeral, cremation, and/or burial is to take place within Ontario.

For more information review the Financial Assistance for Funerals, Cremations and Burials document.

While the vast majority of Ontario Works recipients genuinely need the benefits and supports provided by the program, there are instances of misrepresentation and dishonest access to social assistance programs. Ontario Works Eligibility Review Officers ensure that recipients are entitled to the benefits they are receiving.

Suspected Welfare Fraud can be reported in any of the following four (4) ways:

• Email : welfare.fraud@css.gov.on.ca
• Phone: 1-800-394-7867 Fax: 1-866-681-3154
• Mail to:
  Ministry of Community & Social Services Welfare Fraud Hotline
  Box B30
  Toronto ON M7A 1E9
  
  OR
  
  Housing and Social Services,
  362 Montreal St.,
  Kingston, ON K7K 3H5

Staff are bound by the privacy and confidentiality requirements of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and cannot discuss the details of a fraud investigation with the person who filed the complaint.

Make a written request for a review

If you disagree with a decision to deny, suspend, cancel, or vary your basic financial assistance or mandatory benefits, you have 30 calendar days to request an internal review of the decision. The request must be in writing and submitted to your local Ontario Works office. 

The review must be completed within 30 calendar days and you will receive notice of the internal review decision in writing. The decision may confirm, vary, or reverse the original decision.

If you disagree with the review decision

If you disagree with the internal review decision, you can appeal within 30 days to the Social Benefits Tribunal, an independent group appointment by the provincial government. Application forms are available at the local office. Completed forms are to be mailed to:

Social Benefits Tribunal
1075 Bay Street, 7th Floor
Toronto, Ont., M5S 2B1
Toll Free Number: 1-800-753-3895

An Internal Review decision on a Discretionary Benefit is final and cannot be appealed to the Social Benefits Tribunal.

Interim assistance

Interim assistance may be provided to an applicant or recipient who demonstrates, to the tribunal, financial hardship during the time it will take for the tribunal to complete and issue a decision. Interim assistance may only be issued if the individual meets all other conditions of eligibility. If the appeal is denied or withdrawn, the interim assistance issued will be assessed as an overpayment. If the appeal is granted and the individual was issued interim payments exceeding the order, the amount in excess of their entitlement is an overpayment.