5. Tell OW if you can’t follow your Participation Agreement
The Ontario Human Rights Commission has released their latest take on mandatory vaccines, passports and testing, here: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/news_centre/ohrc-policy-statement-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-and-proof-vaccine-certificates. In light of this update, and the new directives that the Province released a few weeks ago, we are in the process of updating our covid testing content. Please re-visit the site to access the updated content when it is available.
Question & Answer
What can Ontario Works say that I have to do to find a job?Ontario Works (OW) can excuse you from activities in your Participation Agreement if you can’t do them.
If you can’t start the activities right away
If you’re a , you can delay starting the activities if your child:
- has not started school yet
- is old enough to go to school, but there’s no publicly funded school near you that offers a program for your child
If you’re a caregiver for a family member, you may be able to delay doing the activities.
You need a letter from your doctor or other health professional saying why you can’t do the activities.
The letter must explain why your family member needs your help every day. For example, they’re sick or have a disability, or they’re elderly.
If there are other reasons you can’t do the activities
OW might excuse you from doing the activities for other reasons.
But you need to prove why it would be very difficult for you to do the activities.
For example, this might be true if:
- you’re a foster parent
- you’re on workers’ compensation benefits
- you’re on pregnancy leave or parental leave
- you’re under house arrest
- you’re a victim of family violence
OW might also excuse you from doing the activities if you’re:
- working while getting , and
- taking family medical leave.
You need to give OW documents or other evidence to show why you can’t do the activities.
Reporting changes to OW
You need to tell OW when there are changes in your life because this might mean that you have to start doing activities that you’ve been excused from doing.
OW also reviews Participation Agreements on a regular basis. So they could decide during a review that you have to start doing the activities.
Changing the Agreement
If you can’t do the activities in your Agreement, you need to ask OW if you can make changes.
You must work out the changes with your OW worker. Your worker puts these changes in writing and you sign that you agree with them.
If you have a problem with OW
If you don’t do the activities in your Agreement, OW can cut off or reduce your assistance.
But if you disagree with a decision by OW, you may be able to appeal to the . To appeal, the first thing you have to do is write to the OW office that made the decision and ask for an .
After you’ve asked for an internal review, you can appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal.
For help dealing with OW or appealing a decision, contact a community legal clinic.
