7.4 Employment and participation benefits

• Receipts for eligible expenses
• Other supporting documentation or verification
• Documentation for child care costs

Who is eligible?

• Ontario Works recipients
• Spouses in the benefit unit
• Dependent adults
• Dependent children in specific cases
• ODSP recipients in Ontario Works employment assistance activities

Who is not eligible

• Self-employed participants are not eligible for the Full-Time Employment Benefit.
• People seeking informal child care payments who are legal supporters or members of the benefit unit.

Eligible expenses

• Work clothing, grooming, tools, equipment, and transportation
• Licensing fees, association costs, and minor certification or training fees
• Child care costs needed for employment or participation
• Vocational training costs
• Technical aids or devices for access to employment assistance activities

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Self-employment for the Full-Time Employment Benefit
• Technical aids or devices available through the Assistive Devices Program
• Informal child care payments to legal supporters or members of the benefit unit

Eligible geographic areas

• Ontario
• First Nations communities
• Northern communities

• Meeting the relevant Ontario Works benefit criteria.
• Showing that the expense is necessary for employment or participation.
• Providing supporting documentation for the requested benefit.

• Step 1: Confirm eligibility
  • Review whether the requested benefit matches your employment or participation situation.
  • Make sure the administrator can determine that the criteria are met.
• Step 2: Gather supporting proof
  • Collect receipts, verification, and other documentation for the expense.
  • Keep child care or employment-related expense records available for review.
• Step 3: Submit through the Ontario Works process
  • Request the benefit through your Ontario Works administrator.
  • Provide the required documentation for review and approval.

• Applications are assessed by the administrator.
• Supporting documents are kept on file to justify decisions and payments.
• Expenses and receipts are verified before approval or payment.

• 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.