Searching for Ontario Government Social Assistance Programs

Financial and employment assistance to individuals and families residing in the City of Brantford and in Brant County who are in need

Assistance includes income support for basic needs and shelter for eligible persons as well as access to benefits such as:

• drug coverage for most of the cost of prescription drugs for eligible family members
• special diet requirements due to a medical condition
• pregnancy nutritional/breastfeeding allowance for coverage of dietary needs during pregnancy and for 12 months after delivery if breastfeeding
• health-related Items such as diabetic supplies, surgical supplies and, dressings, approved medical transportation of $15 or more per month, and a guide dog benefit
• employment-related benefits when starting a new job or employment assistance activity

Ontario Works Employment supports help you become job-ready. Service Coordinators can help you access employment supports and provide more information

If you receive Ontario Works assistance and are actively involved in an employment assistance activity or have started a job, you may also be eligible to receive assistance with related expenses

Eligible low-income Brantford and Brant County residents, and residents receiving Social Assistance benefits, can get help with the cost of funerals, cremations, and burials. Eligibility is determined on the deceased person's income and assets, not the family member who is making the application

An Ontario government program designed to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities and their families who are in financial need, or who want to work and need support.

The program has two parts:

• Income Support - provides financial assistance and other benefits to eligible people. This can include accommodation and basic living expenses as well as prescription drugs and basic dental care
  
• Employment Supports Program - provides goods and services to eligible people with disabilities to help overcome barriers to employment. This program is designed for people with disabilities who want to work but need specific supports to help them prepare for, obtain and keep a job in their community

A person with a disability who wants to work may qualify for employment supports even if they are not eligible for income support

Provides financial assistance to Six Nations band members

• financial assistance is made up of two parts - basic needs and shelter

Additional programs:

• Family Support Program - mandatory for all sole support parents and blended families with children from previous relationships
  
• Innovations - 4-week education, skills, and personal development program

Disease prevention and health promotion, providing a wide range of health and social services to the community

Programs offered:

• Home support/long term care - personal support, light housekeeping and relief services for seniors and disabled in the community
• Family support - prevention and intervention, counselling with adults, youth and children as well as parenting classes and other groups as deemed appropriate and providing an intake process to assist with internal/external referrals
• Community wellness workers - offers youth prevention, social education, community awareness
• Human service cook - provides breakfast program for the children attending LSK Elementary School and prepares the Meals on Wheels program for the elderly
• Ontario Works (Welfare/employment) - provides temporary financial assistance in company with employment counselling, support in life skills, and literacy to help reintegrate them into the work force
• Employment and training - services available: job board, internet access, resume assistance, job fax service, resource materials

Programs Available:

• Target Wage Subsidy
• Job Creation
• Training Purchase
• Employment Assistance
• Self-Employment Assistance
• Small Business Support Program
• Mobility Assistance
• Alter-Abled Initiative
• Youth Work Experience
• Stay In School Initiative

The Waterloo Region Social Services Department (Cambridge Branch) provides resources on the topics of:

• Income Support (e.g. Ontario Works)
  
• Family Support
  
• Employment Services/Employment Resource Centres
  
• Special Services
  

Provides income support and employment support to people with disabilities in financial need, or who want and are able to work and need support * Ontarians 65 years or older who are not eligible for Old Age Security may qualify for ODSP supports if they are in financial need

Provides income support and employment support to people with disabilities in financial need, or who want and are able to work and need support * Ontarians 65 years or older who are not eligible for Old Age Security may qualify for ODSP supports if they are in financial need

Provides financial and employment assistance to individuals and families in need. Operates as a division of the Healthy & Safe Communities Department of the City of Hamilton.

Services include:
* Applications for Ontario Works assistance and emergency assistance
* Ongoing Ontario Works case management
* Connection to community agencies/organizations
* Employment counselling and referral

The Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) program is part of Ontario Works and managed by Children's and Home Management Services, another division of the Community & Emergency Services Department.

Ontario Works is a program of the provincial government that is delivered in Hamilton by the municipal government. Learn more about the provincial program at http://www.ontario.ca/socialassistance.

Provides emergency short-term financial assistance under the Ontario Works Act

Services include:

Ontario Works Assistance:

Financial assistance is provided to persons in need to cover their cost of food and shelter. Any individual over 16 years of age (with special circumstances to age 18) can apply for OW either over the phone or in person at the office. An office appointment is then made with a Case Manager within 4 working days. If the applicant is eligible, a cheque/direct bank deposit is usually issued within 3 to 5 working days after all documents have been supplied and verified

Employment assistance is available to all employable clients in receipt of Ontario Works assistance.

Components negotiated with the client and Employment Case Manager:

• Employment Supports - enables the client to take advantage of available community resources in order to improve their basic education, job-specific skills training, job search techniques and educational upgrading.
• Community Placement - provides the opportunity to volunteer in the community applying existing skills and developing skills, experience and contacts for future employment.
• Employment Placement - permits referral to job placement for those who have good technical skills but limited opportunities.
• Learning Earning and Parenting - for parents, up to the age of 25, who have not obtained their grade 12 education

Discretionary benefits are provided to eligible OW/ODSP recipients and their family members for health-related items.

Child care Fee Subsidy: - program helps families pay for licensed child care and approved recreation programs so that parents/caregivers can work or attend school. Families who qualify will have some or all of their child care costs covered

You may be eligible for help with child care costs:

If you live in Haldimand or Norfolk Counties and have a child (or children) under age 12 (or under the age of 18 if special needs exist), and at least one of the following applies:

• you are employed full or part-time
• you are attending school full or part-time
• you are retraining full or part-time
• you are a parent with special needs, or have a child with special needs, and have been referred by a professional
• you are a parent with therapeutic needs, or have a child with therapeutic needs and have been referred by a professional

Housing and Homeless Prevention Programs: Contact Homeless Intake Line - ext 3134

Ontario government program designed to meet the unique needs of people with disabilities and their families who are in financial need, or who want to work and need support.

The program has two parts:

• Income Support provides financial assistance and other benefits to eligible people. This can include accommodation and basic living expenses as well as prescription drugs and basic dental care
  
  
• Employment Supports program provides goods and services to eligible people with disabilities to help overcome barriers to employment. This program is designed for people with disabilities who want to work, but need specific supports to help them prepare for, obtain and keep a job in their community

A person with a disability who wants to work may qualify for employment supports even if they are not eligible for income support

Provides financial assistance and other benefits to eligible people with disabilities who are in financial need to pay for living expenses, like food and housing.
Health benefits including:

• prescription drugs
• dental care
• vision care
• medical supplies, including diabetic and surgical supplies
• transportation to medical treatment
• pregnancy and breastfeeding nutritional allowance

Extended Health Benefit may be available to clients who are no longer eligible for ODSP Income Support.
Disability-related benefits include:

• assistive devices including mobility devices
• vision and hearing aids
• prosthetics
• batteries for mobility devices and hearing aids
• guide dogs
• special diet allowance

Housing Stabilization Fund helps with rent and energy arrears, rent deposit and essential furniture.
Contact or visit the website for more details about ODSP benefits.

Program assists people with disabilities in finding sustainable, competitive employment or to helping to realize self-employment. A person does not need to be in receipt of ODSP in order to be eligible for Employment Supports.
Employment Supports Include:

• job preparation and job search assistance
• employment and training start-up benefit
• child care costs
• work related benefit
• transitional health benefit
• employment transition benefit

Transition Child Benefit is available for those not receiving the Ontario Child Benefit or the Canada Child Benefit.
Contact or visit the website for more details about ODSP benefits.

Program helps families who are caring for a child with a developmental or physical disability and provides respite support to the family.

Provides financial and employment assistance to individuals and families in need. Operates as a division of the Healthy & Safe Communities Department of the City of Hamilton.

Services include:
* Applications for Ontario Works assistance and emergency assistance
* Ongoing Ontario Works case management
* Connection to community agencies/organizations
* Employment counselling and referral

The Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) program is part of Ontario Works and managed by Children's and Home Management Services, another division of the Community & Emergency Services Department.

Ontario Works is a program of the provincial government that is delivered in Hamilton by the municipal government. Learn more about the provincial program at http://www.ontario.ca/socialassistance.

Provides income support and employment support to people with disabilities in financial need, or who want and are able to work and need support * Ontarians 65 years or older who are not eligible for Old Age Security may qualify for ODSP supports if they are in financial need

Ontario Works, Social Housing, and Child Care Subsidy * Client Service Workers are situated in Tillsonburg, Ingersoll and Woodstock * main office is located at the Oxford County Administrative Building * for information or to apply for assistance visit the County of Oxford website

Oxford County Child Care Registry and Waitlist: Click Here

County of Oxford Housing Application System: Click Here

Accessibility Advisory Committee
A committee that focuses on creating a society that is open to all, including persons with disabilities.

Affordable Home Ownership Program
The program provides financial assistance to qualified low-to-moderate income households. Funding is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis, in the form of a 20-year interest-free loan registered on title and up to 5% of the purchase price of an eligible home (current maximum purchase price is $425,000).

Income supports for people in financial need who have permanent disabilities or disabilities expected to last longer than one year * employment supports are available and provided by community service providers

The Waterloo Region Community Services Department provides resources on the topics of:

• Income Support (e.g. Ontario Works)
  
• Employment Services/Employment Resource Centres
  
• Children's Services
  
• Seniors Services
  
• Housing Services
  

The Waterloo Region Social Services Department (Cambridge Branch) provides resources on the topics of:

• Income Support (e.g. Ontario Works)
  
• Family Support
  
• Employment Services/Employment Resource Centres
  
• Special Services
  

Helps people with disabilities who are in financial need to pay for living expenses, including food and housing.

ODSP has two parts:

• Income Support: financial assistance for people with disabilities
• Employment Support: helps people with disabilities who want to work prepare for and find a job

A program that provides temporary financial assistance to individuals returning to the workforce

If you qualify, Ontario Works Halton can also provide:

Financial Assistance -- to help cover the cost of basic needs like food and housing

• you may also be eligible to receive other benefits including: prescription drug and dental coverage, eye glasses, diabetic supplies, moving costs and employment-related costs
• the amount received depends on family size, income, assets and housing costs

Employment Assistance -- help to prepare for and find a job including:

• education programs
• literacy training
• learning/earning/parenting (LEAP)
• job specific skills training
• employment placements
• community placements

Welfare Fraud Hotline 416-392-8980 -- to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

Visit COVID-19 Information and Updates for the latest on how to access programs and services during COVID-19.

Temporary income and employment assistance for low income individuals and families in immediate financial need. Requires a financial assessment to determine eligibility for services.

Employment Supports and Benefits

• caseworkers work closely with participants to develop individualized action plans that address unique needs
• participants guided through each stage and encouraged to stay on track
• employment benefits to assist clients in finding and starting a job

Additional employment supports include:

• basic educational upgrading
• English as a second language training
• job specific skills training
• job search assistance (resumé writing, interview preparation)
• access to volunteer and employment placements

Discretionary Benefits for recipients of Ontario Works assistance, or Ontario Disability Support Program assistance.

Other programs include:

• Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) - for young parents, ages 16-25 years
• Self-Employment - training and supports to operate a business; delivered in partnership with Business Centre Guelph-Wellington
• Life Skills Case Management - intensive support for those who are experiencing issues related to addictions or mental health
• services for empoyers

Program offers financial assistance to help individual/family with essential living expenses

• benefits, for individual/family, including prescription drugs and vision care
• help finding and keeping a job, and with career advancement

Program offers two types of support:

Income Support: financial assistance provided each month to help with the costs of basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter

• also includes benefits for clients and their eligible family members
• health benefits (prescription drug coverage, dental coverage, vision care, medical supplies, medical transportation, pregnancy and breastfeeding nutritional allowance, extended health benefit)
• disability-related benefits (assistive devices, additional help for hearing aids and mobility devices, guide dog benefit)
• employment incentives and benefits (employment and training start up benefit, coverage for up-front child care costs, work-related benefit, transitional health benefit, employment transition benefit)
• transition child benefit

Employment Supports: services and supports to help clients with disabilities find and keep a job, and advance their careers

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) automated information and payment details, file status 1-800-808-2268 (service not available to TTY users), Mon-Fri 8 am-9 pm, Sat-Sun 12 noon-5 pm

Welfare Fraud Hotline to report suspected cases of social assistance fraud 1-800-394-7867 or welfare.fraud.css@ontario.ca

Ontario Works, Social Housing, and Child Care Subsidy * Client Service Workers are situated in Tillsonburg, Ingersoll and Woodstock * main office is located at the Oxford County Administrative Building * for information or to apply for assistance visit the County of Oxford website

Oxford County Child Care Registry and Waitlist: Click Here

County of Oxford Housing Application System: Click Here

Accessibility Advisory Committee
A committee that focuses on creating a society that is open to all, including persons with disabilities.

Affordable Home Ownership Program
The program provides financial assistance to qualified low-to-moderate income households. Funding is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis, in the form of a 20-year interest-free loan registered on title and up to 5% of the purchase price of an eligible home (current maximum purchase price is $425,000).

A program that provides temporary financial assistance to individuals returning to the workforce.

If you qualify, Ontario Works Halton can also provide:

Financial Assistance -- to help cover the cost of basic needs like food and housing

• you may also be eligible to receive other benefits including: prescription drug and dental coverage, eye glasses, diabetic supplies, moving costs and employment-related costs
• the amount received depends on family size, income, assets and housing costs

Employment Assistance -- help to prepare for and find a job including:

• education programs
• literacy training
• learning/earning/parenting (LEAP)
• job specific skills training
• employment placements
• community placements

Welfare Fraud Hotline 416-392-8980 -- to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance