City of Cornwall. Human Services Dept - Ontario Works

Financial Assistance

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

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

Managing Participation

• managing referrals to Employment Ontario agencies
• community placement: 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
• English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
• 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 Benefits, may include:

• dentures
• emergency dental services
• eyeglasses
• 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

My benefits

• report income or address changes, see past payment information, and view letters and more- anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
• Ontario.ca/MyBenefits

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

• applicants who are under 18yrs of age
• those applying for Temporary Care assistance
• or for emergency assistance (being evicted from your home within 7 days; in or leaving an abusive relationship, worried about your personal safety, affected by fire, flood or another natural disaster, in Canada under emergency authorization- e.g. CUAET). Emergency assistance is not an ongoing benefit, and individuals may also need to apply for regular Ontario Works assistance.

• Youth and adults 18 years and over in financial need


• Employable youth 16-17 years in financial need who cannot live at home but are attending school or seeking employment (funds must be managed by a trustee, guardian or agency)


• Financial need is determined by a review of income, liquid assets and living expenses


• Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP): parents 16-21 years