Applying for Ontario Works in Toronto
How to apply
If you live in Toronto, your eligibility for Ontario Works benefits will be assessed during either a telephone application or an online application. If it appears that you qualify, you will need to attend an in-person interview.
| Telephone application |
- When you call one of the application phone lines, a caseworker at the Application Centre will take your information over the phone. In order to determine your eligibility, a caseworker will ask you to provide personal and financial information about yourself and each family member included in your application. This phone call takes about 30 - 45 minutes.
- If you appear to qualify for benefits, the caseworker at the Application Centre will schedule an in-person interview for you at an Employment and Social Services office. The caseworker will tell you what information to bring and where the office is.
NOTE: If you are not physically able to come to the Employment and Social Services office, tell the caseworker. The caseworker may be able to make other appointment arrangements for you. |
| In-person interview |
- A caseworker from an Employment and Social Services office finalizes your application during an in-person interview. This interview usually takes place at your community-based Employment and Social Services office. If you have a spouse or dependant 18 years or older living with you, they also need to attend the interview. The information you provided during the telephone interview or online application will be reviewed and verified.
- This caseworker will tell you about participating in an Ontario Works activity.
- You (and your spouse and dependent over 18 if applicable) will be asked to sign the application form and other required forms based on your situation.
|
If you are homeless, you may call the Application Centre or you can go to any Employment and Social Services office to apply.
Reapplying for assistance: |
If you were receiving Ontario Works benefits in Toronto and your file was closed within the past month, call your former caseworker to reapply. Your caseworker will ask you to provide information about your situation and to provide documents to support your need for benefits. |
If you disagree with the decision made about your eligibility for Ontario Works, you have the right to appeal the decision.
Examples of information required for an application
When you apply, be sure to have the following types of information ready:
| |
Examples |
| Identification (ID) |
- Birth Certificate
- Social Insurance Number
- Ontario Health Card
- Immigration document (such as Record of Landing or Permanent Residence Card)
|
| Income |
- pay stubs
- copies of pay cheques
- Employment Insurance stubs
- details about support payments or other income
|
| Assets |
- updated bank books
- RRSP documents
- life insurance documents
- vehicle ownership papers
- property ownership information
For more information see assets. |
| Accommodation |
- lease
- rent receipt
- landlord information
- mortgage papers
|
Application phone lines
The Application Centre is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed on weekends and public holidays. The wait time is generally shorter between 8:00 - 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. You can also apply for Ontario Works online at anytime.
| To apply for Ontario Works by telephone, find your postal code in the chart below and call the appropriate application phone line. |
 |
The TTY line for persons who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing is 416-392-2823.
|
Locate the first
three digits
of
your Postal Code |
Application phone line
for your Postal Code |
M1 |
M1N |
416-392-3213 |
M1K M1L M1M M1P M1R |
416-392-2725 |
| M1C M1E M1G M1H M1J |
416-397-1771 |
M1B M1S M1T M1V M1W M1X |
416-397-1010 |
M2 |
M2H M2J M2K M2L M2M M2N M2P M2R |
416-392-2811 |
M3 |
M3B M3H |
416-392-2811 |
M3A M3C |
416-392-3421 |
M3J M3K M3L M3M |
416-397-0185 |
M3N |
416-397-9451 |
M4 |
M4A M4B M4C M4J M4K |
416-392-3421 |
M4E M4L M4M |
416-392-3213 |
M4G M4H M4N M4P M4R M4S M4T M4VM4W |
416-397-5100 |
M4X M4Y |
416-392-5100 |
M5 |
M5A M5B M5C M5E M5S |
416-392-5100 |
M5G M5H M5J M5K M5L M5T M5V M5W M5X |
416-392-2635 |
M5M M5N M5P M5R |
416-397-5100 |
M6 |
M6C M6G |
416-397-5100 |
M6A M6B M6E M6L |
416-397-0185 |
M6M M6N |
416-392-6242 |
M6H M6K M6R |
416-397-7900 |
| M6J |
416-392-2635 |
M6P M6S |
416-397-0330 |
M8 |
M8V M8W M8X M8Y M8Z |
416-397-0330 |
M9 |
M9L M9M |
416-397-9451 |
M9R M9V M9W |
416-392-6405 |
| M9N M9P |
416-392-6242 |
M9A M9B M9C |
416-397-0330 |
A toll free number (1-888-465-4478) is available for long distance calls.
If you do not speak English or French you will need an interpreter when you call to apply. For help finding an interpreter, visit 211Toronto.
For office locations and other information lines visit: Contact Us.
