Closed
Source verified July 8, 2026
7.4 Employment and participation benefits
Employment support for Ontario Works participants
Offered by
Latest source updateLast Update: July 8, 2026Latest change: Ontario Works Directive 7.4 now distinguishes IES and non-IES sites, adds priority rules for community benefits and resources, and reframes several supports as participation benefits.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 8, 2026
Latest change: Ontario Works Directive 7.4 now distinguishes IES and non-IES sites, adds priority rules for community benefits and resources, and reframes several supports as participation benefits.
Employment and participation benefits updated
Ontario Works Directive 7.4 is now dated April 2026 and adds a new structure for Integrated Employment Services (IES) and non-IES sites. The update also says community benefits or resources must be accessed first, and that employment and participation benefits are not meant to top up existing maximums from social assistance or other programs. Several supports were redefined or narrowed: the Full-Time Employment Benefit is not available in IES sites, the Other Employment and Employment Assistance Activities Benefit is now also framed as the Participation Benefit–OEEAAB, and Employment-Related Expenses are now also framed as the Participation Benefit–ERE. The eligible activities and allowable supports were expanded into participation categories such as life skills, community integration, crisis or safety supports, and health supports not covered by existing benefits, while disability supports are now described for non-IES sites.
Funding available
$ 600
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
Ontario Works employment and participation benefits support eligible Ontario Works participants in Ontario and some non-disabled adults on ODSP participating in employment assistance activities to help them move toward employment. Eligible costs include transportation, clothing and grooming, child care, vocational training, and technical aids or devices in non-IES sites.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Obtain certifications or accreditations
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 600 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Beginning full-time employment
- Beginning or changing participation in employment assistance activities
- Beginning a new training program with different duties and responsibilities, or shifting from job training to work experience
- Beginning or changing employment with a current or new employer where duties and responsibilities are substantially different from the previous job
- Approved employment assistance activities that address barriers to employment and move participants closer to employment services
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Ontario Works participants and recipients
- Spouses included in the benefit unit
- Dependent adults not attending secondary school full-time or a training program
- Dependent children who have graduated from secondary school
- Non-disabled adults on ODSP participating in employment assistance activities
Who is not eligible
- Self-employed participants are not eligible for the Full-Time Employment Benefit
Eligible expenses
- Expenses associated with beginning full-time employment
- Grooming costs, licensing fees, association costs, tools and equipment, and transportation costs
- Transportation, clothing, grooming, special equipment, medication, dental care, vision care, relocation, interview attendance, and child care costs
- Basic coaching, résumé writing, preparation for educational institutions, criminal reference checks, medical examinations and certificates, Pardon costs, minor fees, and short training costs
- Vocational training costs approved as a discretionary benefit and technical aids or devices to support access to Ontario Works employment assistance activities in non-IES sites
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Technical aids or devices are not an employment-related expense if they are available through the Assistive Devices Program of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Selection criteria
- Meeting the relevant Ontario Works benefit criteria.
- Showing that the expense is necessary for employment or participation.
- Providing supporting documentation for the requested benefit.
How to apply
- Start a new application and complete the steps on the following pages.
- Continue your application if you already started one.
Processing and Agreement
- The Administrator provides benefits only if satisfied that the eligibility criteria have been met.
- Receipts, other documentation, or verification for expenses associated with accepting or changing employment or an employment assistance activity must be visually verified and documented in file systems or in the Social Assistance Management System (SAMS) verification page.
- Ontario Works caseworkers in IES sites must monitor participation benefits and financial supports issued by employment service providers to identify and address issues or duplication.
Additional information
- Administrators may use flexibility in First Nations and northern communities.
- Supporting documentation must be kept on file for benefit decisions.
- Some expenses must be verified through receipts or other proof.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- 2.3 Emergency assistanceImmediate financial help in crisis situations
- 6.3 ShelterHousing support for eligible Ontario Works recipients
- Discretionary Residency BenefitHousing support for eligible recipients
- Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP)Support for young parents to study and work
- Pregnancy and breast-feeding nutritional allowanceMonthly nutritional support for pregnant and breastfeeding women
- Temporary care assistanceIncome assistance for children in temporary care
Frequently Asked Questions about the 7.4 Employment and participation benefits Program
What is the 7.4 Employment and participation benefits?
Ontario Works employment and participation benefits support eligible Ontario Works participants in Ontario and some non-disabled adults on ODSP participating in employment assistance activities to help them move toward employment. Eligible costs include transportation, clothing and grooming, child care, vocational training, and technical aids or devices in non-IES sites.
How much funding can be received?
7.4 Employment and participation benefits Funds up to $600 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the 7.4 Employment and participation benefits program?
To be eligible for the 7.4 Employment and participation benefits program, you must:
Ontario Works participants and recipients
Non-disabled adults on ODSP participating in employment assistance activities
Some benefits require three consecutive months on social assistance or participation in employment assistance activities
What expenses are eligible under 7.4 Employment and participation benefits?
Beginning full-time employment
Beginning or changing participation in employment assistance activities
Beginning a new training program with different duties and responsibilities, or shifting from job training to work experience
Beginning or changing employment with a current or new employer where duties and responsibilities are substantially different from the previous job
Approved employment assistance activities that address barriers to employment and move participants closer to employment services
Who can I contact for more information about the 7.4 Employment and participation benefits?
You can contact Government of Ontario or by phone at 1-888-999-1142.
Where is the 7.4 Employment and participation benefits available?
The 7.4 Employment and participation benefits program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the 7.4 Employment and participation benefits a grant, loan, or tax credit?
7.4 Employment and participation benefits is a Grant and Funding