Ontario Works

Ontario Works was established under the Ontario Works Act, 1997.^[3] Ontario Works is a social assistance program designed to support people in financial need by providing income assistance and employment services to help them achieve self-reliance.^[3] For single recipients, it offers $733 per month.^[4]

Kimberly Rogers was a woman in Sudbury, Ontario, who was convicted of welfare fraud in 2001 for receiving student loans while also collecting Ontario Works benefits.^[5] She was sentenced to house arrest and died under house arrest during a heatwave.^[6] Her death sparked public outcry and an inquest that criticized Ontario’s welfare rules and called for reforms.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Ontario Works caseload trends diverged from unemployment trends beginning in the 2000s, even as the labour market improved after 2008.^[11] Social assistance (both Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program) rates remained elevated, indicating a decoupling of welfare dependency from employment conditions.^[11]

In 2023-24, there were 420,592 people on Ontario Works, which represented 46 percent of the 916,947 beneficiaries receiving social assistance in Ontario.^[2] The remaining beneficiaries were under the Ontario Disability Support Program.^[2]

• Ontario Social Benefits Tribunal
• Ontario Disability Support Program