Searching for Ontario Government Social Assistance Programs

Legal clinic

Services

• rental housing (tenant duty counsel)
• income security
• education
• human rights
• consumer debt
• public legal education
• ODSP walk-in-clinic

Temporary financial assistance and employment supports to those most in need residing in the City of Kingston and County of Frontenac while they undertake requirements to become and stay employed

Financial Assistance
Monthly financial assistance is available to eligible (needs tested) residents for basic needs and shelter. The amount of assistance paid is determined by family size, income and expenses.

Employment Assistance
Employment supports are available to help people become and stay employed. Funding and assistance may be available for community and employment placement, job searching, basic education or job-specific skills training, literacy training, supports to self-employment, Employment Readiness Scale, transportation, referrals to workshops and courses, Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP - a program offered to young parents) and addictions treatment.

Mandatory Benefits
Benefits prescribed in the Ontario Works provincial regulations include a prescription drug coverage, vision care for dependent children, special diet, pregnancy nutritional allowance, diabetic supplies, incontinence supplies, medical travel and transportation, and guide dog allowance.

Discretionary Benefits:
Discretionary Health Benefits may include: adult vision and dental care, health and well-being benefits, new born / child benefits, and other items such as ID replacements.
Discretionary Residency Benefits may include: funding towards rent arrears, utility arrears, last month's rent deposit, moving expenses and emergency heating fuel.

Emergency Assistance
Emergency assistance may be paid to a person experiencing an extreme, urgent, and unusual situation that jeopardizes the health and well-being of a member of the benefit unit, where all other financial means have been explored and exhausted.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268 -- automated information and payment details, payment history, file status * information and announcements about Ontario Works * service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867 -- to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

Income support

• available to adults who are in financial need who have been determined to be disabled
• eligible persons receive a monthly living allowance, drug, dental and other basic benefits

Employment supports

• job development
• job retention supports
• available to persons with disabilities who may or may not be receiving Income support, and require goods and services that will allow them to pursue their competitive employment or self-employment goals
• employment can be part time, full time, or temporary
• students with disabilities who are seeking part-time employment while in school may also be eligible

Provincial ministry is responsible for income and employment supports and social and community services

• developmental services
• adoption
• youth group home
• foster care licensing
• child protection
• children with special needs
• foster care
• children and youth mental health
• autism

Financial assistance and employment supports including training and skills development, academic upgrading and work placements

Financial Assistance

• monthly allowance based on family size, housing costs and income
• monthly drug benefit card

Employment Start-Up Benefit

• covers costs related to starting a job or work placement

Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative

• help with housing or moving costs

Health-Related Benefits

• may include dentures, emergency dental services, eyeglasses, special diet allowance, health care supplies, medical transportation funds, prosthetic devices, funerals and burials

Employment Assistance

• clients 18-65 years who are not caring for pre-school age children or who do not have a serious disability or illness must participate in employment assistance activities

Employment Resource Centre

• walk-in job search centre
• access to computers, Internet, fax, photocopier, telephone, resource materials, job banks, labour market information
• assistance with resumes
• referrals to job counselling and training

Community Participation

• volunteer placements

Job Search Programs

• based on individual's skills, experience and circumstances

Employment Placement

• job matching service

Job Skills Training

• development of skills for specific jobs
• on-the-job training

Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP)

• helps young parents finish high school, improve parenting skills, locate and maintain employment

Other services:

Addiction Services Initiative

• assistance for recipients whose substance abuse makes it difficult to become/stay employed

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268

• automated information and payment details, payment history, file status
• information and announcements about Ontario Works
• service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867

• to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance (ODSP)

City of Kingston's Ontario Works program delivery is available on site, one day (Thursday) per week

Financial Assistance
Monthly financial assistance is available to eligible (needs tested) residents for basic needs and shelter. The amount of assistance paid is determined by family size, income and expenses.

Employment Assistance
Employment supports are available to help people become and stay employed. Funding and assistance may be available for community and employment placement, job searching, basic education or job-specific skills training, literacy training, supports to self-employment, Employment Readiness Scale, transportation, referrals to workshops and courses, Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP - a program offered to young parents) and addictions treatment.

Mandatory Benefits
Benefits prescribed in the Ontario Works provincial regulations include a monthly drug card, dental and vision care for dependent children, special diet, pregnancy nutritional allowance, diabetic supplies, incontinence supplies, medical travel and transportation, and guide dog allowance.

Discretionary Benefits:
Discretionary Health Benefits may include: adult vision and dental care, health and well-being benefits, new born / child benefits, and other items such as ID replacements.
Discretionary Residency Benefits may include: funding towards rent arrears, utility arrears, last month's rent deposit, moving expenses and emergency heating fuel.

Emergency Assistance
Emergency assistance may be paid to a person experiencing an extreme, urgent, and unusual situation that jeopardizes the health and well-being of a member of the benefit unit.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268 -- automated information and payment details, payment history, file status * information and announcements about Ontario Works * service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867 -- to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

Financial assistance and employment supports including training and skills development, academic upgrading and work placements

Financial Assistance
Monthly allowance based on family size, housing costs and income

• monthly drug benefit

other services include:
Employment and Participation benefits -- cover costs related to starting a job or placement or education

Families with Children -- child care start-up costs

Health-Related Benefits -- may include emergency dental services, eyeglasses, special diet allowance, health care supplies, medical transportation funds, prosthetic devices, funerals and burials

Employment Assistance
Clients 18-65 years who are not caring for pre-school age children or who do not have a serious disability or illness must participate in employment assistance activities

Community Participation -- volunteer placements

Job Search Programs -- based on individual's skills, experience and circumstances

Employment Placement -- job matching service

Basic Education --

• basic adult upgrading
• high school upgrading
• literacy and basic skills

Job Skills Training --

• development of skills for specific jobs
• on-the-job training

Supports to Self-Employment -- referrals to self-employment programs

Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) -- helps young parents finish high school, improve parenting skills, locate and maintain employment

Other services:

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268 --

• automated information and payment details, payment history, file status
• information and announcements about Ontario Works
• service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867 --
to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

Two types of assistance for people in financial need: Financial assistance: income support to help with the costs of basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter health benefits for clients and their families Employment assistance: to help clients find, prepare for and keep a job may include workshops on resume writing and interviewing, job counselling, job-specific skills training and access to basic education

Social Assistance - Financial and Employment assistance - programs to help people in temporary financial need find sustainable employment and achieve self-reliance through the provision of effective, integrated employment services and financial assistance

• Financial and Obtaining Employment Services
• Coordinate linkages with community services
• Linkage to employment services and opportunities
• Provide financial assistance to those who have been determined eligible
• Linkage to child care supports and social housing

COVID-19 (8 April 2020) ODSP local offices are closed to the public until further notice. Clients are to call their caseworker for information. If you need to apply for COVID-19 emergency assistance, use the online application for social assistance. If you are not currently on social assistance and do not want to apply for social assistance, you can still apply for COVID-19 emergency assistance.

For detail information visit the ODSP website page.

Outreach location for the delivery of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

Provides financial and employment supports for persons with disabilities. Financial supports include income to support basic needs, shelter costs, drug and dental benefits, medical supplies and further benefits.

Employment Supports offers community-based employment services to obtain, and maintain competitive employment. Services can include: employment planning, job search supports and job retention services.

ODSP recipients can be employed and remain on ODSP; income changes would apply.

Satellite office of the City of Kingston's Housing & Social Services Department, Ontario Works Program serving residents of Central and North Frontenac.

Financial Assistance
Temporary financial assistance to those most in need while they undertake requirements to become and stay employed. Monthly financial assistance is available to eligible (needs tested) residents for basic needs and shelter. The amount of assistance paid is determined by family size, income and expenses.

Employment Assistance
Employment supports are available to help people become and stay employed. Funding and assistance may be available for community and employment placement, job searching, basic education or job-specific skills training, literacy training, supports to self-employment, Employment Readiness Scale, transportation, referrals to workshops and courses, Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP - a program offered to young parents) and addictions treatment.

Mandatory Benefits
Benefits prescribed in the Ontario Works provincial regulations include monthly drug benefits, dental and vision care for dependent children, special diet, pregnancy nutritional allowance, diabetic supplies, incontinence supplies, medical travel and transportation, and guide dog allowance.

Discretionary Benefits:
Discretionary Health Benefits may include: adult vision and dental care, health and well-being benefits, new born / child benefits, and other items such as ID replacements.

Discretionary Residency Benefits may include: funding towards rent arrears, utility arrears, last month's rent deposit, moving expenses and emergency heating fuel.

Emergency Assistance
Emergency assistance may be paid to a person experiencing an extreme, urgent, and unusual situation that jeopardizes the health and well-being of a member of the benefit unit.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268 -- automated information and payment details, payment history, file status * information and announcements about Ontario Works * service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867 -- to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

ODSP is a provincial government program which provides income and employment supports to eligible persons with disabilities. This program replaces the former Family Benefits and Vocational Rehabilitation services. Income support is provided to persons who both qualify financially and have been determined to be disabled under the Ontario Disability Program Act. Employment support is available to disabled persons who require goods and services to pursue their competitive employment goals. A Local Planning and coordination Group comprised of interested members of the community, at least half of whom are persons with disabilities. provides advice and support to guide the administration of the employment support component of ODSP.

Community Services Provider

• administers Ontario Works, Social Housing and Children Services
• Ontario Works provides employment & financial assistance to qualified applicants
• Social Housing provides access to affordable housing to qualified applicants based on availability
• Children Services provides Child Care listings, subsidies, before & after school programming information & parent resources

COVID-19 (August 18, 2021): We urge you not to visit Service Canada Centres unless absolutely necessary.

Services

• Applications and inquiries for Employment Insurance
• Social Insurance Number applications
• Employment Insurance applications
• Income Security Program applications

Information on Community Partners who help unemployed clients obtain employment

The focus on many HRDC programs and services is to help people who are currently receiving Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to become re-employed

eServiceCanada Service Request Form

Provides income and employment supports to persons with disabilities

Income supports:

• monthly living allowance, drug, dental and other basic benefits
• may include: some medical supplies
• transportation for medical treatment

Employment supports:

• aid to find a job
• part time, full time or voluntary

Financial Assistance -- monthly allowance based on family size, housing costs and income

Employment Program -- offers temporary financial assistance for basic needs and accommodation

• Employment and Participation Benefits- cover costs related to starting a job or placement or education
• Families with Children -- child care start-up costs

Employment Assistance -- clients 18-65 years must participate in employment assistance activities unless they are living with a serious disability or illness, or caring for preschool children

Community Participation -- volunteer placements

• job search programs -- based on individual's skills, experience and circumstances
• employment placement -- job matching service
• basic education -- basic adult upgrading
• high school upgrading
• literacy and basic skills
• job skills training -- development of skills for specific jobs
• on-the-job training
• supports to self-employment -- referrals to self-employment programs

Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) -- helps young parents finish high school, improve parenting skills, locate and maintain employment

Discretionary and supplemental Mandatory Benefits -- prescription drug coverage and may include emergency dental services, eyeglasses, special diet allowance, health care supplies, medical transportation funds, prosthetic devices, funerals and burials

• programs may vary by City or Municipality, and may be available to non-Ontario Works recipients upon income assessment

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268 -- automated information and payment details, payment history, file status

• information and announcements about Ontario Works
• service not available to TTY users

Welfare FraudHotline 1-800-394-7867 -- to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

Administrative offices for provincial social services programs in the region

• responsible for: Ontario Works, Social Housing, Child Care Fee Subsidy and the EarlyON Centres, as well as municipal property, financial services and municipal program planning and integrity

Satellite offices in: Prescott, Gananoque, Kemptville and Elgin

• EarlyON Centres: Brockville, Prescott, Gananoque and Kemptville

Legal clinic (Perth, Shabot Lake, Brockville)

Services

• employment and work
• housing law
• income assistance
• tribunals and courts
• health and disability
• immigration law
• refugee law

Legal information

• abuse and family violence
• debt and consumer rights
• French language rights
• human rights
• criminal law
• family law
• help with lawyers and paralegals
• wills and power of attorney

This clinic serves Lanark County, the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville, the Townships of North and Central Frontenac, and the Township of Addington Highlands.

Financial assistance and employment supports including training and skills development, academic upgrading and work placements

Financial Assistance

• monthly allowance based on family size, housing costs and income
• monthly drug benefit card

Employment Start-Up Benefit

• covers costs related to starting a job or work placement

Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI)

• to assist with arrears of rent/mortgage; housing or moving costs; prevention of homelessness; disconnection of utilities or arrears Health-Related Benefits - may include dentures, emergency dental services, eyeglasses, special diet allowance, health care supplies, medical transportation funds, prosthetic devices, funerals and burials

Employment Assistance

Employment Resource Centre

• walk-in job search centre
• access to computers, Internet, fax, photocopier, telephone
• resource materials, job banks, labour market information
• assistance with resumes
• referrals to job counselling and training

Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP)

• helps young parents finish high school, improve parenting skills, locate and maintain employment

Other services:

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268

• automated information and payment details, payment history, file status
• information and announcements about Ontario Works
• service not available to TTY users but can be arranged

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867

• to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

Income support

• monthly financial assistance and benefits such as a drug card for prescribed drugs
• mobility devices, batteries and repair
• dental care
• vision care benefit and hearing aids
• health related benefits
• extended health benefits Benefits also include assistive devices
• guide dogs
• utilities
• employment start-up benefit
• child care costs
• mandatory special necessities -- includes diabetic supplies, surgical supplies and dressings, transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 in a month

Employment support

• provides services to remove barriers to competitive employment and to assist people with disabilities to attain competitive employment
• employment planning and preparation
• skills training
• job placement
• self employment assistance
• adaptive technologies for training/employment
• program is voluntary to all persons with disabilities

Community Services Provider

• administers Ontario Works, Social Housing and Children Services
• Ontario Works provides employment & financial assistance to qualified applicants
• Social Housing provides access to affordable housing to qualified applicants based on availability
• Children Services provides Child Care listings, subsidies, before & after school programming information & parent resources

Community Services Provider

• administers Ontario Works, Social Housing and Children Services
• Ontario Works provides employment & financial assistance to qualified applicants
• Social Housing provides access to affordable housing to qualified applicants based on availability
• Children Services provides Child Care listings, subsidies, before & after school programming information & parent resources