Social Assistance
If you need financial assistance, there are programs you can access through Oxford County’s Human Services department and other local agencies.
Financial help may cover the cost of food, shelter, transportation and other special needs. Visit our resource room or contact your Caseworker for more information.
Ontario Works helps people who are in financial need. It offers two types of assistance:
Financial assistance, including:
- income support to help with the costs of basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter
- health benefits for you and your family
Employment assistance to help clients find, prepare for and keep a job. This assistance may include participation in:
- workshops on resume writing and interviewing
- job counselling
- job-specific training
- access to education
211 Ontario. 211 offers 24-hour information and referral to community, social, non-clinical health and related government services. Dial 2-1-1 from you phone or visit 211.ca to search through services online.
The Healthline.ca. The Healthline.ca is a directory of health services by area.
Information Oxford. Information Oxford is a directory of community, health and government services in Woodstock, Ingersoll, Tillsonburg, Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Norwich, South-West Oxford and Zorra. Every December, Information Oxford publishes a listing of holiday food bank and toy donation services.
If you are a parent 25 years old or younger, you can participate in the LEAP program.
This program includes access to:
- Support towards earning a Grade 12 diploma
- Children’s programming and parenting workshops
- Ontario Works Social Assistance
- Personal support where needed
- Help with job readiness
Visit our resource room or contact your Caseworker for more information about LEAP.
This assistance is for people who are temporarily caring for a child who is not your natural (biological) or adoptive child. A temporary care provider could be a grandparent, relative, friend, etc.
An overpayment occurs when an Ontario Works recipient receives more social assistance than they are entitled to. When this happens, the recipient must pay back this amount.
Information will be provided detailing the amount that was overpaid, why, options for repayment and how to appeal.
If you think someone is receiving Ontario Works that they are not entitled to, you can report this as suspected fraud. If you think someone is receiving a rent or child subsidy they are not entitled to, you can report this by:
- Using the online form: Report Fraud
- Calling the Welfare Fraud Hotline at 1-800-394-7867
- Contacting Human Services at 519-539-9800, toll-free 1-800-265-1015 or email humanservices@oxfordcounty.ca
You can choose to remain anonymous when reporting suspected fraud.