Ontario Works Payment Dates 2026: Amounts, Earnings Rules and Moving to ODSP

Ontario Works (OW) gives short-term money for food and housing to people in Ontario who are in financial need, along with help finding a job. It pays once a month, on the last business day of the month before. So the payment on September 29 is for October.

How much Ontario Works pays

Your payment has two parts. Basic needs is a set amount for food, clothing and other costs. Shelter covers your actual rent or housing costs, up to a limit. These are the most each family can get.

Your family	Basic needs	Shelter (up to)	Monthly maximum
Single person	$343	$390	$733
Couple, no children	$494	$642	$1,136
Single parent, one child under 18	$360	$642	$1,002
Couple, two children under 18	$494	$756	$1,250

Each extra adult dependant adds $175 to basic needs, and the shelter limit goes up to $844 for six or more people. A second or third child under 18 doesn’t change basic needs, so make sure you get the Canada Child Benefit and Ontario Child Benefit. Each family member who is 65 or older adds $44 a month.

Example: A single person paying $600 in rent gets the full $733. A single person paying $250 gets $343 plus $250, or $593.

Unlike ODSP, Ontario Works doesn’t go up with inflation each year. The basic-needs rates in Ontario’s policy have been in place since October 2018.

Who qualifies

• You’re 16 or older and live in Ontario.
• You don’t have enough money for food and housing.
• Your countable assets are no more than $10,000 (single) or $15,000 (couple), plus $500 for each dependant.
• Most people must take part in employment activities, like job search or training.

Your home, your main vehicle, an RDSP, an RESP, and your furniture and clothing don’t count as assets. You can also receive up to $10,000 in gifts in any 12 months without affecting your assistance.

How to apply

1. Apply online (about 20 to 30 minutes), by phone at 1-888-999-1142 (TTY 1-800-387-5559), or at your local Ontario Works office.
2. Have these ready: social insurance numbers, OHIP cards, birth certificates, any immigration papers, tax returns and your banking information.
3. A caseworker contacts you to check your information and set up an appointment.
4. If you’re approved, you and your caseworker make a plan for employment activities.

Ontario Works also gives health benefits. These include prescription drugs, eye exams every 24 months and help with glasses, dental care for children through Healthy Smiles Ontario, and help getting to medical appointments. Adults may get some dental care too, so ask your caseworker.

Working while on Ontario Works

• First three months: any money you earn is taken off your payment in full.
• After three months in a row on OW: you can earn $200 a month (after deductions) with no cut. Above $200, OW is reduced by 50 cents for each dollar.
• You can claim the full cost of licensed child care, or up to $600 per child for informal care.
• If you’re in high school or post-secondary school full time, all your earnings are exempt.
• Report all income, even exempt income, with pay stubs. You can report in MyBenefits.

Example: A single person has been on OW for six months and gets $733. They earn $600 in a month. The first $200 doesn’t count. Half of the other $400, or $200, comes off. They get $533 from OW plus their $600 pay.

If you leave Ontario Works because you’re earning more, ask about the Extended Health Benefit. It can help pay for prescription drugs, basic dental care, glasses and other health costs.

Moving from Ontario Works to ODSP

If you have a disability expected to last a year or more, the Ontario Disability Support Program pays much more. A single person can get up to $1,436 a month, compared with $733 on OW. You can earn $1,000 a month before ODSP is reduced, and you can have up to $40,000 in assets.

1. Tell your caseworker you want to apply for ODSP. You can also apply for both at the same time online.
2. You keep getting Ontario Works while your ODSP application is reviewed.
3. You get a Disability Determination Package for your doctor or other health care provider to fill in. You have 90 days to return it. Doctors bill OHIP for it, so you don’t pay.
4. If you’re approved, your file moves from Ontario Works to your local ODSP office.

People who already get CPP Disability skip ODSP’s disability review. See our ODSP guide for rates and rules.

The Canada Disability Benefit

If you have a disability, the federal Canada Disability Benefit pays up to $204.20 a month from July 2026 to June 2027. Ontario says it “will not affect your eligibility for Ontario Works or the amount of your payment.”

You need to be 18 to 64, approved for the Disability Tax Credit, and have filed your 2025 tax return. Apply online, in person or at 1-833-486-3007. See our Canada Disability Benefit payment dates.

What changed in 2026

• Ontario Works amounts did not change. ODSP went up 1.9% in July, which widens the gap between the two programs.
• The Canada Disability Benefit rose to $204.20 a month in July, and Ontario doesn’t count it against OW.
• The GST/HST credit is now the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit, with a 25% increase from July 2026.

Payment late, missing or different?

1. Sign in to MyBenefits to check your payment and messages.
2. Make sure your bank account and address are up to date.
3. If the amount is lower, check whether earnings or other income you reported last month reduced it.
4. Call the Social Assistance Support Line at 1-888-999-1142 (TTY 1-800-387-5559), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or contact your local OW office. Have your nine-digit member ID ready. It’s on your monthly statement.

Ontario doesn’t set a number of days to wait, so call if your money isn’t there on the payment date. Watch for scams. Ontario Works never asks for fees, gift cards or passwords by text or email.

Other help you might be missing

• Canada Child Benefit and Ontario Child Benefit: monthly money for children under 18. OW’s Transition Child Benefit fills the gap while these start. It’s added to your payment automatically.
• Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: quarterly payments you get by filing your taxes.
• Ontario Trillium Benefit: help with energy costs, rent or property tax, and sales tax, also through your tax return.
• Canada Workers Benefit: a tax credit for people working on a low income.
• ODSP: higher monthly support if you have a lasting disability.

Common questions

What day does Ontario Works get deposited?

On the last business day of the month before the benefit month. The calendar at the top of this page shows each date.

How much is Ontario Works for a single person?

Up to $733 a month: $343 for basic needs and up to $390 for shelter.

How much money can I have in the bank on Ontario Works?

Up to $10,000 in countable assets if you’re single, or $15,000 for a couple, plus $500 for each dependant. Your home, main vehicle and RDSP don’t count.

How much can I earn on Ontario Works?

After three months in a row on OW, the first $200 a month doesn’t affect your payment. After that, you keep 50 cents of each extra dollar.

Is Ontario Works going up in 2026?

No increase has been announced. ODSP rises with inflation each July, but Ontario Works does not.