Employment and Social Services may help with funding various services and supplies even if you are not receiving social assistance. If you are receiving social assistance visit Benefits and Supports.
Dental services
Toronto Public Health provides dental care for eligible children, high school students and seniors. You do not have to be receiving social assistance to be eligible for this help. For details about available services, eligibility and clinic locations contact Toronto Public Health at
416-392-0907.
If you are 18 years or older, are not receiving social assistance and require emergency dental work, you may be eligible for emergency dental treatment through Employment and Social Services. For more information see Help with medical costs. |
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Energy-related emergencies
Employment and Social Services helps city residents with energy-related emergencies such as disconnections due to late payment of bills.
You can apply for the Emergency Energy Fund if you are the utility account holder and:
- have received a disconnection notice from your energy company, or
- have already been disconnected, and
- do not have enough money to pay the arrears.
The fund can help with paying late bills, security deposits and reconnection costs. Arrears can be for gas, hydro, oil and other forms of heating.
To apply for the Emergency Energy Fund, call 416-338-3332. You will be asked about your income and assets and, if you appear to be eligible for help with your bills, you will need to attend an in-person interview. If you are eligible, Employment and Social Services will make any payments directly to your energy provider.
Toronto Hydro and Enbridge Gas Distribution also help with gas and hydro arrears through the Winter Warmth Fund. For more information, call 2-1-1 or Neighbourhood Information Post at 416-924-5491.
Help with medical costs
Employment and Social Services helps Toronto residents who cannot afford to pay for certain medical or funeral costs. If you are not receiving social assistance benefits, you can apply for help through Employment and Social Services’ Hardship Fund.
The Hardship Fund helps with:
To apply for the Hardship Fund call an application phone line. A caseworker will assess your eligibility based on your income, assets, expenses, and the costs of items you need help with.
NOTE:
- Employment and Social Services must pre-authorize the cost of these services and does not provide reimbursements.
- If you are staying in an institution such as a chronic care facility, a home for the aged or a jail, you are not eligible for the Hardship Fund. If you are being discharged from an institution, you may apply.
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You will need to have a prescription and a cost-estimate for the item(s) you need. In many cases, you must first apply for help from the Assistive Devices Program.
The Assistive Devices Program |
This is a Ministry of Health and Long-term Care program that helps people with long-term physical disabilities. To find out more, call 416-327-8804 or (toll-free) 1-800-268-6021
(TTY: 1-800-387-5559).
To apply, you will need to provide certain documents. These can include a copy of your prescription from a health professional and a cost estimate for the item you need. The Ministry of Health website has the appropriate forms and applications.
The Assistive Devices Program often covers at least some of the costs of the health-related item(s) that you need. |
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Other resources
