If you have been refused Ontario Works (OW), you will receive a letter, called the Notice of Decision. This letter will include the reasons for the decision.
Your application may be denied because OW believes you are not eligible. For example, if OW assumes you can get parental support, they may find you ineligible. If you are 16 or 17 years old, you are only eligible for OW under “special circumstances”. If OW thinks that your circumstances do not fall under this category, they will deny your application.
Can I Appeal The Decision?
Yes. If you disagree with the reasons for the denial, you can appeal the decision.
How Do I Appeal?
There are two steps to appealing:
1) You must first request an Internal Review. This must be done within 30 days of receiving the letter. If you are late, you can still submit a request, but there is no guarantee it will be approved. To submit a request, you can:
- Fill out an Internal Review request form [PDF]; or
- Write a letter
For more information on what your letter should include, visit the website of Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO).
2) An internal review decision will be sent to you in writing. If you disagree with this decision, you can appeal to the Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT).
You might want to contact a Community Legal Clinic (CLC) to assist you in appealing.
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