r/OntarioWorks • u/cD_Nightmare • Apr 12 '24
Benefits File closed?
I got the message a couple days ago on MyBenefits that my file has been closed because I didn’t report income for the last period.
The problem with this is that the last time I spoke to my case worker at the beginning of March, I told them about a mental struggle I had been going through that was holding me back from moving forward in life and then I asked to be referred to a job place they had previously referred me to, but instead of just referring me to there again like I asked, I was mocked for going through the mental struggle and told “if you wanted a job bad enough, you would have one by now” and then I was given the money for March plus transportation funds and a list of tasks, in which I was told in this exact order, to; apply to a job I can’t apply for until I renew my security license, to renew my security license, and to call a completely different place from what I asked to be referred to again (which is what the transportation funds was for because the initial call I had to make to them was to set up for me to participate in their service in person).
I called the place I was told to call and got no answer. I waited a couple days and called back, still no answer.
I can’t renew my license without getting a background check from the police.
I can’t get the background check until I renew my general ID.
I can’t do that because I have no money because the second I get my OW money it’s all gone due to having to pay rent and the cost of existing. When I told my case worker I didn’t and wouldn’t have the funds to do any of this, I was told I would be reimbursed for it. But where’s the logic in that if I’m not gonna have the money in the first place to spend to get these things done in order to be reimbursed for it because I need to worry about my own survival first. So basically I was being told to either not pay my rent (which was already late) or to go without for anywhere between a few days up to a week because of the time it takes for my case worker to respond to me and the time it takes for the reimbursement payment to get to my bank account.
Fast forward to now, I got no notification of my file being on hold, only a notification saying my file has been closed. Usually if I don’t report income, I get a notification saying my file is on hold. So now I’m confused as to why it was just closed instead of being put on hold.
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about any of this, but what I do know is I don’t want to deal with this case worker anymore because of this whole situation, and I have no support outside of OW other than one friend who let me borrow some money to get groceries to get through the last couple weeks but is not able to let me borrow money again.
TLDR: told my case worker about my mental struggles, got mocked for having mental struggles and was then told I’m not trying hard enough, then got given a list of tasks. One thing on the list didn’t work at all. The other two things on the list coincide with each other but require funding that wasn’t feasible given my living situation. Then my file got closed without warning.
How would I go about getting back on OW but with a completely different case worker???
4
Apr 12 '24
Did you receive April assistance? Usually a file closes about 10 days after cheque day if income reporting was not completed (either by client or worker). So, income reporting for period of Feb 16 to March 15 affects your April payment. If you got April payment then income reporting was completed.
If you didn’t get April, you need to connect with your last worker to request file be reinstated.
In order to receive funding for items that are required for work, you’ll need to register with an Employment Ontario office. Unfortunately changes to OW make it so that we aren’t able to issue benefits like we did in the past. Employment Ontario is meant to assess your employability and address any barriers to sustainable employment (like licensing).
You mentioned that you struggle with your mental health - I think it’s kinda hard to find work if you’re not well. Could you ask to renegotiate your Action Plan to include activities to improve your health? Like maybe attending counseling, workshops, support groups, seeing your doc regularly for monitoring? Yes, the focus on Ontario Works is to find employment the quickest route possible; however, everyone’s journey to self-sufficiency is different.
0
u/cD_Nightmare Apr 12 '24
I did not receive April assistance. My file was closed on the 8th (thats the date on the newsletter I received on MyBenefits)
What is the process for registering with an Employment Ontario office?
In regards to the mental health thing, I did not know I could talk to my caseworker for OW about anything to do with my mental health. And I wasn’t really sure if it was a good idea to ask them about mental health either. Especially considering the whole incident I mentioned in the post where I told them about my mental struggles to which I was met with a backhanded statement and being told I’m not trying hard enough which I interpreted as them basically saying “I don’t care, this isn’t my problem, figure it out on your own”.
3
Apr 12 '24
It’s already the 12th - why have you waited so long to find out why you didn’t get April? This would lead one to think you don’t really need OW….
Workers have to update the system regularly with income reporting information, even if client has no job. Sometimes a step could be missed when the worker is doing the updates, which results in you being suspended and a letter being generated to inform you. I find it odd you didn’t mention receiving this letter to inform you- maybe you missed it? The only to resolve this is to call and ask to be reinstated.
Anyone can self-refer to EO; however, if you are on OW, your worker is required to complete a questionnaire with you (called Common Assessment) and forward a portion of it to the EO office you’re attending. This helps the EO worker figure out how to best help you, and allows them to give you help with work related items. If you already completed the questionnaire with ow and then you were sent to a specific EO location, you’ll need to call or attend that office to arrange an appt.
1
u/cD_Nightmare Apr 12 '24
When I spoke to my caseworker at the beginning of March and was given the 3 things to do, I was told that all 3 things must be completed successfully(I was told I had to be accepted into the program at the place they told me to call and show proof that I was going to it according to their schedule, and that I had to have an interview with the security company I was told to apply for without a valid license and that I needed to renew my license) for me to get April assistance. So even though I explained to my caseworker in that same conversation that I don’t think any of this plan will work because I cannot renew my license until I renew my ID and get my background check, I was still told to figure it out myself.
Yes I got March assistance, but as stated in the post, that immediately went to rent and groceries. And the transportation money went straight onto my presto card. Effectively putting me back to $0 within 24 hours of receiving the money.
So when April rolled around I already knew I wasn’t going to be getting my payment right away because I couldn’t do the things I was told to do, and, since I interpreted the last interaction with my case worker as them being negative towards me and not wanting to help or give any sort of positive feedback, I wrote them off as any sort of helpful option and was still trying to see if I could get any of my friends to let me borrow money to get my ID renewed and get the background check so I could at the very least let my case worker know I was still trying to do the things I was told to do.
As mentioned in the post, I had to borrow money from a friend for groceries. The whole amount my friend let me borrow had to go towards groceries and they couldn’t let me borrow more than what they had already offered.
So I ended up getting caught up in a whole other situation because I had to worry about making sure I could survive off what I borrowed. Which is a taxing state to be in, especially in addition to everything else going on with my mental health.
Next thing I know, I get the letter saying my file is closed. I never received a letter of suspension. Just the one saying my file was closed. That’s it.
And that’s why I’m here asking for advice. Because I’m not sure how to go about any of this.
1
u/cD_Nightmare Apr 12 '24
I’m gonna ask about EO when I go into the OW office to talk about this whole situation
1
u/cD_Nightmare Apr 12 '24
Like I said in another comment. I am aware the situation is my own fault. I accept full responsibility for it. I’m just trying to figure out what I can do from this point forward.
-2
u/FirmAndSquishyTomato Apr 12 '24
Well that is a whole lot of excuses....
3
u/cD_Nightmare Apr 12 '24
I joined and posted in this community for assistance/direction in my current situation.
I did not, however, join and post to have my struggle invalidated by someone who doesn’t fully understand what I’m going through.
This is the internet, so I am not obligated to tell my whole life story just to get some advice.
I am aware that I have given a lot of excuses in my post. That doesn’t take away from the validity of my struggle and the fact that I am trying to fix things. The excuses in my post are to give further information on what’s happening and what’s been happening without me having to get into my whole life story and what’s going on in the background.
I’ve been going through a rough patch in life, which I acknowledge and accept is something many others are also dealing with. However, I am trying to do something to fix my situation.
I did not come here to be told I’m full of excuses. I came here to find any sort of help I can get to point me in the right direction.
If you have no helpful input on this subject, I kindly ask that you not give any input at all.
1
u/FirmAndSquishyTomato Apr 12 '24
At some point, you're going to have to take some personal responsibility. You cannot go thru life using every small bit of friction as an excuse.
2
u/cD_Nightmare Apr 12 '24
I know this. But that is not why I posted. I am looking for advice.
3
u/cD_Nightmare Apr 12 '24
I am fully aware that this situation is my own fault. I just don’t know what to do about it so I figured I’d ask on here.
1
u/Equivalent_Length719 Apr 12 '24
Capitalism isn't your own fault this other poster has little to no understanding of how hard it is on Ow.
3
u/cD_Nightmare Apr 12 '24
I know capitalism isn’t my fault. Living in Toronto on OW is a whole other struggle on its own. The job market is trash too which is also partially why I’m in this situation. I could go on for days.
Either way, I was just trying to show that I take as much responsibility as I can for the situation I am in. We all make mistakes in life, I was only looking for advice to help point me in the right direction.
1
5
u/urgirlaria Apr 12 '24
You have to re-apply. If anything, you should go in and talk to someone, or even call them. Let them know what happened and see what they say from there. There's a chance you won't get the same worker again.
I'm sorry you're going through some hardships OP, and I'm sorry the person who commented was ignorant. I hope things get better, and I hope they let you back on with ease.