If you need money, or help finding a job, Ontario Works (also known as welfare, social assistance, or OW) can help you. OW is a program by the government of Ontario.
OW helps you by giving you two things:
- Financial Assistance - Giving you a certain amount of money every month. This should help you pay for housing, food, clothing, and other life expenses.
- Employment Assistance – OW helps you find work or update your skills. In exchange for the money you get from OW, you need to actively look for a job. You can do that by taking part in the employment activities and workshops OW provides.
I’m over 18 years old – Can I get OW?
To see if you can get OW, try using the Eligibility Estimator that is available online.
Your are eligible for OW if you:
- Are a resident of Ontario
- Are a permanent resident or convention refugee
- Have a low income and not many assetsThings you own that could be turned into cash. The best example is real estate like a house, that can be sold for money.
The only way to know for sure is to contact your local Ontario Works Office. They will schedule an interview with you. During the meeting, they will ask about your situation (money and job) and ask you for documents to prove it. Once they have all the information they need, they will make a decision about whether you can get OW.
I’m under 18 years old – Can I get OW?
You may NOT be eligible for OW if you are:
- Under 16 years old (and don’t have a child of your own)
- Living with your parents
- Getting a student loan
If you are 16 or 17 years old, you may qualify for Ontario Works. You will have to be a resident of Ontario, and be a permanent resident or convention refugee.
You might have to prove to Ontario Works that your parents will not let you live at home, or that it is harmful for you to live there.
For example, you might be able to get assistance if your parents are abusing you physically or emotionally. And in most cases, the OW worker must be sure that your parents cannot or will not support you financially.
If you qualify for OW, you will need to satisfy two requirements:
- You must be a full-time student at a secondary-school.
- You will need a trustee. This is anyone over the age of 21 that will look after you (it can be another relative, a friend or your a counsellor at school, you are not required to live with this person).
You may be asked to prove that you are living with someone else who gives you a room and meals in their house. By law, you do not need to be living with someone else to qualify for OW. If you are refused OW for this reason, contact a community legal clinic for help.
Also, because you're under the age of 18 and are a full-time student, OW will not deduct the pay from your part-time job.
You can also access OW through your shelter or by talking to your settlement counsellor.
This resource about getting OW/social assistance will help you. It outlines special OW rules for youth under 18 years old. It also tells you how to apply:
Under 18 and On Your Own: Getting Social Assistance (PDF)
Print version
PDF version
Comments
I have lost my income
I have lost my income statement, what do I do now?.
so, i'm living with my mother
so, i'm living with my mother and she is on assistance. My mom emotionally abuses me and i always feel depressed and i just need to get out. i am 16 years old and my mom's friend has offered me to live with her as long as i pay rent, so i was wondering if i would be able to leave and go live with my moms friend and get assistance?
Thank you
hi my names megan i am
hi my names megan
i am looking into moving out i am 20 and i live in waterloo but want to move to london my mom had cancer and is not able to help me i have tried looking for a job but have not had any luck and i was wondering if i would be able to get some help just till i can find a job
Need to get out.
I am currently 16 years old, and have decided it is finally time to for me to move out of my house.
My mom is an alcoholic, and although she is willing to financially support me, the emotional stress, and abuse she is causing me, has become too much for me to deal with. And because she refuses to get help, I am forced to leave.
I currently have two jobs and go to High school full time.I would like to apply for OW but I DO NOT want to get my mother involved. My mother is VERY good at lying, and I can assure you that she will somehow snake her way out of me moving out, because like I said, she IS able to financially support me, she is just very sick, but also very good at hiding it. I also don't want her to get involved because of how hurt she will be. She is not a bad person, she is just an alcoholic that refuses to get help, and believe me, we have tried many times, with many people getting involved, and still, she will not get help. But that doesn't mean I do not love her. I want to leave on good terms. So I do not want her to be involved AT ALL with the process.
I know this isn't a lot of information, but from what I've told you, do you feel I would have a chance of getting accepted for OW, without getting my Mother involved? I have many people that are willing to speak, to show proof of the situation I am in.
Thank you so much.
Thanks
kay so i am no longer living at home, my mom always kicks me out when she doesnt get her way, and we always fight, so theres no use living there, she always mentions that its way better for her when im not living there, and shes happy that im gone. i am 17 years old,and right now i was at my dads for 2 nights, but his house doesnt have no room, so im stuck. and my grandmother said im only here for a couple of weeks.
My name is Tabetha
Hey, my name is Tabetha, i am sixteen and i am currently living on my own because me and my mom have always had problems livnig together and getting along so after one final straw which was me having a party i finally couldnt take it she blames me for everything and makes me raise my special needs brother and constantly yells put you down and calls you names and being the oldest i get it the worst i cant live there with her it just makes me so stressed and upset and my eating disorder gets worse when she constantlu calls me fat and ugly and puts me down. im living with a friend at the moment and was hoping to get onto welfare or ontario works so that i can afford to live on my own; do you think that i could get ontario works ?
thank you.
Hey, I'm sixteen as well and
Hey,
I'm sixteen as well and me and my mother don't get along either. We never had a good relationship because we never gotten along with each other. I've always been told that I'm too grown, never going to be nothing in life, been called a bitch, nasty,dumb,all type of things . A lot of things have been going on in my life right now that I'm looking for a place to stay and to be on my own because i have nobody but,my boyfriend and we are like the bestest friends and partners.
18 and want to move out
Hi, Im 18 years old now and I am not in school nor do i have a job. the reason is because i have been feeling really bad about myself because i believe my parents have not been able to financially support me properly the past few years..for things like food, clothing,everyday things..I know its hard for them because they have my sisters university stuff to pay for.. so i was wondering if i could move out on my own and be able to get support for rent,food etc.. would i be able to find my own affordable place? i dont want to go to a group home or anything like that..and i want to go back to school. please help..i never been educated on how to handle this situation and i really strongly need advice on what i can do.
Need to gain my independence
Hi i am 21 years and myself and my 4 year old son have been living with my mother for the past 4 years. My mother is on housing subsidy which I also applied for almost 2 years ago because I have been having problems with my mom from then. I am literally ar my breaking point because i was recently told that my application was cancelled. I am not the least bit outspoken so when my mom argues or complains I just keep to myself and do not respond to avoid confrontation. When my mother first found out I was pregnant age physically abused me and kicked me out and told me to go to whomever it was that got me pregnant and I had no choice but to live with my sister until I had my son and my mom had to take me back in because there wasnt enough room for my son and I to live with my sister. NOW the abuse has started again, not physical now jus emotional she has told me on several occasions that I need to pack up my things and get out of her place. I have do have a parttime/full time job and have been saving up for the past year to move out but the problem is I do not make enough to pay for monthly rent, furniture, groceries and just the basic necessities for my child and I. I was wondering if i would be able to approve for assistance seeing as though I do have a job. I really need help because I am going through a lot right now and the stress of this environment is not good for myself and my son. If you could help me with any information or resources I would grately appreciate it.
You need to make yourself an
You need to make yourself an appointment with the nearest Ontario Works office. Everyone has the right to apply for Ontario Works. They would make a determination on whether or not you would be eligible is based upon the information provided to them by you. Tell the worker exactly what you provided in your post and they should be able to provide you with direction. You are being emotionally abused and you need to get out of this home for your sake and your son's. Basic allowance for a single parent with one child is $347 and the maximum shelter costs for your benefit unit is $584. Also, you maybe eligible to other benefits for you and your son as well. ie. drug card, dental, optical, special diet, community and employment start-up, child care, etc. just to name a few. Hope this helps, and good luck.