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The information you share at your Ontario Works appointment will help your caseworker to better understand your situation and identify supports that could be helpful. The appointment typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes. Please review the information on this page to help prepare for your appointment.
If this is scheduled to be a virtual appointment, make sure you have access to a device with internet connection and a quiet space to speak with your caseworker.
All people who receive social assistance in Ontario are required to complete a Common Assessment questionnaire with their caseworker. The Common Assessment will ask questions such as:
Part of the assessment includes a set of questions called the Mental Health & Addiction Screener. Answering these questions helps your caseworker better understand your needs and challenges so they can identify appropriate supports to help you in your personal and employment journey. Your answers will not impact your eligibility to receive financial assistance through Ontario Works.
We understand that you may need to discuss other urgent needs with your caseworker and may not be able to complete the Common Assessment and Mental Health & Addiction Screener at this appointment. Completing these forms is a required part of the Ontario Works process, so your caseworker can schedule another appointment with you to complete them.
Before completing the Common Assessment, you will be asked to review and confirm your understanding of a provincial form called the Consent for the Collection, Use, and Disclosure of Personal Information Form. The content of the form is below to help prepare you to discuss it with your caseworker.
If you use the Translate function on this page to review the content of the form, it is meant to give you a general understanding of the form in your selected language and is not intended to be an official translation of the document.
The common assessment questionnaire is needed to inform what services and supports, including employment services, will help you achieve your goals. To apply for these services and supports, you and all adult members of your family need to agree to let the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), Ministry of Labour, Training, Immigration and Skills Development (MLITSD) and their delivery partners, as applicable, collect, use and disclose your personal information.
Personal information is recorded information about an identifiable individual. Your personal information may includes, but may not be limited to your name, address, phone number and email address, details of your social assistance action plan or your employment action plan, your employment and financial information and the responses you provide to the common assessment questions.
MCCSS and its designated delivery partners, staff and third-party organizations* will have access to your personal information and may use it for any of the following reasons:
* MCCSS may share your personal information as agreed to, as part of your social assistance application.
Disclosure of Personal Information for employment services
Should you be referred or apply directly to Employment Ontario for employment services, your personal information including the details of your responses to the mental health and addiction screener and your social assistance action plan such as goals, barriers and referrals, will be disclosed to the MLITSD and its third-party organizations that are responsible for overseeing and delivering employment services. This includes personal information provided in future updates to the information collected in the common assessment questionnaire.
If you have provided responses to the mental health and addiction screener, they will not be shared with MLITSD or your service provider even if you are referred to or applied directly to employment services except that. MLITSD may access to your responses for policy planning and evaluation purposes only.
Checkbox: I have read and understand the above and consent to the collection, use and disclosure of my personal information by MCCSS, and any applicable third-party organizations that are responsible for overseeing and delivering services and supports under Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program, as outlined above.
If you have questions about the collection of your personal information, please contact [your caseworker] in your local Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program office.
If you have questions about how MCCSS is using your personal information, please contact: Mccssdata@ontario.ca.
MLITSD and its designated delivery partners, staff, and third-party organizations*, contractors, and auditors will have access to your personal information and may use it for any of the following reasons:
*MLITSD may disclose relevant personal information to the Government of Canada, Employment Ontario service providers and your employer (if applicable) for the purpose of validating your ability to participate in employment services.
Disclosure of Personal Information
If you are referred to or apply directly to Employment Ontario for employment services, MLITSD will disclose your personal information, including the details of your employment action plan, to your Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program caseworker to support your access to supports and services to help meet your employment goals. This includes personal information provided in future updates to the information collected in the common assessment questionnaire.
MLITSD will also disclose your personal information to MCCSS to determine or verify initial and ongoing eligibility for Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program. MLITSD will collect your personal information from MCCSS to determine or verify initial and ongoing eligibility for employment services.
MLITSD may disclose your personal information, which may include your social insurance number, to the Government of Canada for the purpose of assisting Canada in monitoring, assessing, and evaluating the effectiveness of employment services and, where applicable, to assist with certain matters related to the administration of the federal employment insurance program.
Checkbox: I have read and understand the above and consent to the collection, use and disclosure of my personal information by MLITSD, and any applicable third-party organizations that are responsible for overseeing and delivering employment services, as outlined above.
If you have questions about how MLITSD is using your personal information please contact the Employment Ontario Call Centre manager in writing at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, 33 Bloor Street East, 2nd floor, Toronto ON M7A 2S3 or by phone at 1-800-387-5656. For the hearing impaired, TTY is available at 1-866-533-6339.
The collection of your personal information is necessary for the administration of employment services and of activities authorized under the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement, [the Canada-Ontario Workforce Development Agreement], sections 3 and 63 of the Employment Insurance Act (Canada), section 76.29 of the Employment Insurance Regulations (Canada), [and sections 7 and 10 of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act (Canada)]. Subsection 71(6) of the Ontario Works Act, 1997, paragraph 15(1)(6) of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, and section 53(16) of the Ontario Disability Support Program Act, 1997, as applicable, also authorize aspects of the information sharing between MLITSD and MCCSS. The disclosure of your personal information is in accordance with sections 42 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, including clauses 42(1)(b), 42(1)(c), and 42(1)(e).
After going through the Common Assessment, your Ontario Works caseworker may refer you to Employment Ontario for support to help you reach your employment goals—this might include training, job search assistance, or career counselling.
Your caseworker will explain why they feel you are ready for a referral and what supports may be available through Employment Ontario. It is important to know that once your referral is accepted, your caseworker will work together with Employment Ontario staff to support you throughout your journey – you are not alone!
Employment Ontario provides a range of supports including help to:
An Employment Ontario employment consultant will work with you to build a plan based on your interests, skills, and goals. They can also help you to get items you may need to participate in employment activities, such as work clothes or a Presto card.
Your employment consultant and Ontario Works caseworker will work together to coordinate any benefits or supports you may be eligible for.
Once your referral is accepted:
We are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all Toronto residents. If you experience or witness any inappropriate, discriminatory, or harassing behavior while working with an Employment Ontario provider, please tell your Ontario Works caseworker right away. They will ensure your concern is documented and followed up on appropriately.
Thank you for taking the time to review this information. If you have any questions before your appointment or need assistance, please contact your caseworker. We’re here to help!