Internal Review and Appeal Process
An internal review is an informal review of a decision that was made about the financial assistance that you receive(d). It is an opportunity for Ontario Works to make sure that the rules were correctly followed for your case.
To request an internal review, you should do the following:
Provide your request in writing within 10 days of receiving the decision letter
Say in your request “I am requesting an internal review”
Explain why you disagree with the decision that was made (optional)
Include your full name
Include the nine-digit member identification number that appears on the decision letter
Sign and date the request
You can mail or drop off your request for an internal review or send it by fax to the Ontario Works office. Please keep a copy of your request for an internal review because you may need it later if you decide to appeal the decision to the Social Benefits Tribunal (see SOCIAL BENEFIT TRIBUNAL below).
Once we receive your request for an internal review, your file will be reviewed by another Ontario Works staff member. You may get a call from the person who is reviewing your file. You should send any additional information that you think would help in the review.
The Ontario Works office must finish the review and give you the results within ten (10) days of receiving your written request for an internal review. You will receive the results of the internal review in writing.
If you would like to seek legal advice about this matter, you can contact Legal Aid Ontario for the community legal aid clinic in your area. Legal Aid Ontario may be reached by calling (416) 979-1446 (within Toronto), 1-800-668-8258 (outside of Toronto) or 1-866-641-8867 (TTY device) or online.
Note: You can cancel your request for an internal review. However, if you cancel your request you will no longer be able to appeal the decision to the Social Benefits Tribunal.
YOU MUST REQUEST AN INTERNAL REVIEW BEFORE YOU CAN APPEAL TO THE SOCIAL BENEFITS TRIBUNAL.
The Social Benefits Tribunal Appeal Process
If you do not agree with the result of the internal review or you do not receive the results of the internal review you can appeal the decision to the Social Benefits Tribunal (SBT). The SBT is an independent Tribunal that reviews Ontario Works decisions.
To appeal the internal review decision to the SBT, you must:
Have requested an internal review and received a decision or waited ten (10) days after the Ontario Works office received your request for an internal review
Send an Appeal Form within thirty (30) days of receiving the internal review decision or ten (10) days after the Ontario Works office received your request for an internal review.
You can get an Appeal Form from your local Ontario Works office or from the Tribunal. The address of the Social Benefits Tribunal is:
7th Floor, 1075 Bay Street
Toronto ON M5S 2B1
Toll free phone number: 1-800-753-3895
Social Benefits Tribunal Website