April 2026

Legislative authority

Sections 2, 5, 8, 9 and 26(2) of the Act.
Sections 16(2), 22, 55, 56 and 59 of Regulation 134/98.

Audit requirements

Adequate documentation is on file to demonstrate the applicant meets the criteria for emergency assistance.

Emergency assistance is not issued for a period of more than 48 days.

Emergency assistance may not be provided to social assistance recipients, tourists or visitors.

Application of policy

Emergency assistance enables the immediate provision of financial assistance to an applicant in a crisis or emergency situation. The provision of financial assistance in an emergency may include an amount for basic needs, shelter, and benefits.

Requests for emergency assistance

A request for emergency assistance may be made in the geographic area where the applicant normally resides or in another area if the Administrator is satisfied, they cannot reasonably apply in the area in which they ordinarily live.

A request for emergency assistance may be made when an applicant initially contacts an Ontario Works office or at any point during the application process for income assistance.

When a request for emergency assistance is received, staff should obtain and document the available information to support the provision of emergency assistance.

A full application for financial assistance is not required to issue emergency assistance. However, Administrators should encourage recipients to make a full application for financial assistance if (or as soon as) they believe it is likely the person will require on-going assistance.

Eligibility for emergency assistance

Emergency assistance may be provided where:

  • the applicant is not currently in receipt of social assistance
  • the applicant is not serving a period of ineligibility
  • the Administrator is satisfied, based on available information regarding living conditions, finances, employment and other relevant circumstances, that:
    • the applicant has made reasonable efforts to access all other available resources
    • the applicant does not have enough money or assets, and is unable to obtain or has limited access to credit to meet the basic needs and shelter needs of their benefit unit
    • failure to provide the emergency assistance will result in danger to the physical health or a member of the benefit unit; or at least one dependent child being unable to continue to reside with their parent who requested the assistance

Emergency assistance cannot be provided while in receipt of social assistance; however, if a person in receipt of social assistance is faced with an emergency situation where additional funds are necessary, funds may be available through mandatory and/or discretionary benefits (see Directive 7.1: Summary of benefits for more information).

A person who receives emergency assistance does not have participation requirements and cannot appeal decisions regarding the provision of emergency assistance or the amount of assistance issued.

Emergency assistance may be provided to an applicant in situations where information or documentation required to complete an application for assistance is outstanding, and an eligibility decision has not been made.

Issuing emergency assistance

The Administrator determines the amount of emergency assistance payable, which may include an amount for basic needs and shelter, as well as an amount for benefits. It is expected that, in most cases emergency assistance should not exceed the maximum amount a comparable benefit unit might receive in financial assistance and benefits for a similar period.

Emergency assistance may be provided for a period of not more than 48 days; however, more than one payment may be issued within the 48‐day period.

Once emergency assistance has been issued for 48 days, assistance will only continue to be provided after a full application for financial assistance has been completed, including all required consents and an agreement to participate. Arrangements should be made for the application to be completed at the earliest opportunity where it is likely that ongoing assistance will be required.

Administrators may issue multiple, discrete periods of emergency assistance (where there is a break in assistance between periods), in any six-month period, based on their determination of need.

Where emergency assistance is provided in the same month that a benefit unit is found to be eligible for financial assistance, the amount of emergency assistance already issued should not be deducted from the amount of financial assistance. However, income assistance for basic needs and shelter may be pro-rated based on the circumstances of the case.