Ontario Works	Effective Date: April 7, 2025
Topic: Local Programs	Replaces: November 1, 2018
Subject: Our Kids Count	Policy No. H.10.5.

 

POLICY

The Our Kids Count program is a Social Assistance Reinvestment program that assists all low-income families by: 

• Supporting parents on social assistance as they move into employment with improved access to essential benefits and services for their children;
• Providing much needed support to parents who are employed in low-income jobs to stay employed. 

The underlying premise is that in the long term, child poverty will be reduced if parents on social assistance enter the workforce and remain in it. 

The strategy of the Social Assistance Reinvestment is to reduce child poverty by providing income supplements and other assistance outside of social assistance so that families can keep those supports as they move into jobs.

The program is comprised of three separate components: 
 

Recreational Bursaries

• Recreational bursaries for children ages 0 to 12. Exceptions maybe made for bursaries over this amount and for bursaries for children aged 12 – 17.
   

Early Childhood services & Supplementary Health Benefits 

• Early Childhood services and supplementary health benefits for children ages 0 to 12. Exceptions maybe made for assistance over this amount and for assistance for children aged 12 – 17. 
   

Informal Child Care Subsidies 

• To support parents as they move from social assistance to employment in areas where licensed childcare is not available, the Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB has created informal childcare subsidies. The maximum available for informal subsidies will be established based on local market conditions at the discretion of the Director of Integrated Social Services. 

Eligibility for these benefits will be based on the most recent Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for the appropriate family size based on Statistics Canada’s Low Income Cut Offs After Tax Table.

Families in receipt of OW and/or ODSP will automatically qualify under the assumption that there is no additional income. Should the Household have additional income, then the LICO chart will be used to determine the net family income. 
 

PROCEDURE

Recreational Bursaries & Early Childhood Services & Supplementary Health Benefits

Recreation Bursaries -The Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB will cover a portion of the registration fee for children in low-income families residing within the DSB’s catchment area to participate in recreational or summer/after school programs – organized sports like soccer, baseball, skating, etc. 

Other programs such as music lessons, swimming lessons, camp fees, school trips, and equipment for sports (i.e. skates, etc.) scouts’/girl guides uniforms / trips can also be covered. 

Age Group:  Available for children aged 0 – 12.
Exceptions will be made for children aged 12 – 17. Case Managers may want to consider programs for this age group which may lead to future employment for the teenager like babysitting courses, swimming levels, teaching certificate programs etc. that are not currently covered through OW.

Health Supplement - The Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB will assist families with the cost of items related to a child's health and safety.  It could include child safety crib, layetts, strollers, car seats, emergency formula and diapers, etc.

Age Group: This benefit is directed towards younger chiildren 0 to 6; however, exceptions can be made for extenuating circumstances.

A maximum of $300 per child/year is available for children ages 0 to 12. Exceptions will be made for bursaries over this amount and for bursaries for children aged 12 – 17.
 

Process

1. To determine eligibility: 

   • If the applicant is an Ontario Works or ODSP recipient, the child qualifies for the DSB’s Recreation Bursary program.
   • If the applicant is moving from Ontario Works to employment, the child qualifies for these programs.
   • If the applicant is “low-income” or if the child for whom the application is being completed is receiving Ontario Works Temporary Care, the Case Manager must obtain and review proof of the applicant’s most recent net taxable family income (e.g., Notice of Assessment, recent pay stubs, or Canada Child Benefit Notice). Confirm that the net taxable family income is below the most recent Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) for the appropriate family size and verify that their financial situation has not changed significantly since the documentation was issued. If the applicant’s current income differs from their most recent tax information, the current verified income will be used. 
   • For applicants not in receipt of Ontario Works or ODSP (Non-SAR), government-issued photo identification must be provided to verify the applicant’s identity and relationship to the child(ren) listed on the application. Acceptable forms of ID include driver’s licence, Ontario Photo Card, passport, or other government-issued identification. Where the applicant is not the child’s parent (e.g., Ontario Works Temporary Care cases), documentation confirming legal custody or caregiving arrangement must also be submitted. Staff must record the type of ID reviewed, the date, and their initials in the file and mark the “ID Verified” checkbox on the application form. Applications without verified ID cannot be approved.
   • If government-issued ID already exists on file (for example, previously provided for another DSB program or within the SAMS record), staff must confirm and note “ID verified – on file” in the electronic filing system (NSP) or SAMS case notes. The verification date, staff initials, and source of the ID record must be documented.

   Statistics Canada

   After Tax Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO), 2022

   Family Size	Income
   1 person	$18,227
   2 persons	$22,185
   3 persons	$27,623
   4 persons	$34,463
   5 persons	$39,244
   6 persons	$43,522
   7+ persons	$47,801

   
   Reference: www.statcan.gc.ca  – Search for ‘Low income cut-offs’  

2. Applicants may complete the Our Kids Count self-application or meet with a Case Manager to complete the application. Ontario Works or ODSP recipients (SAR applicants) are not required to sign the application. Non-SAR applicants must sign the application, provide government-issued photo ID, and submit proof of income. 

3. Verify the cost of the request. If the applicant has prepaid, ensure a copy of the receipt is attached and dated within 30 days of the client’s application. Acceptable verification includes a registration form, invoice, or written confirmation from the vendor. Cost and ID verification must both be completed before processing payment.

4. Bursary cheques will be made payable directly to the vendor when requested by the applicant. If the applicant has prepaid and submitted a valid receipt, reimbursement may be issued to the applicant.

5. Please scan the request and all verification documents (ID, income, and cost) into the Non-Shareable Program Folder (NSP) following the Workflow Job Aide.

6. In ALL cases where there is an existing file in the Social Assistance Management System staff must issue all notes and payments from the SAMS database, ensuring the client is contacted by email or telephone to confirm the approved amount and that all required verifications are complete.

Informal Child Care Subsidies 

To support parents as they move from social assistance to employment in areas where licensed childcare is not available, the Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB has created informal childcare subsidies.

The applicants must qualify for subsidy as per the DSB’s fee subsidy eligibility assessment; and be living in areas that do not currently support licensed programs nor can they access licensed programs in adjacent communities. Areas such as: Sudbury East, Gogama, and Foleyet would qualify.  Some remote areas within the DSB’s other catchment areas may also qualify, please discuss these gaps in licensed service with the Children’s Program Supervisor. The following chart provides the maximum dollars available for informal childcare:

		Number of Children
		1	2	3 or more
Hourly Maximum (up to 2 hours)		$5.00	$7.00	$9.00
Half Day Maximum (2-6 hours)	0-5 years  6-12 years	$15.00  $15.00	$21.00	$27.00
Full Day Maximum (6 hours or more)	0-5 years  6-12 years	$30.00  $30.00	$42.00	$54.00

Monthly Maximum $600.00

Clients are required to pay for the informal care they require to support employment and submit a receipt for reimbursement through the Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB.  

This program is intended to provide childcare subsidies to parents until licensed care can be established in the community, hence Our Kids Count informal childcare subsidies are available for a three to six-month period or until licensed care is established whichever is sooner.
 

Process 

1. To determine eligibility:
   • The applicant must be living in a location within the DSB’s jurisdiction where licensed childcare is not available; AND
   • The applicant must qualify for Fee Subsidy as per the DSB’s eligibility assessment; AND
   • The applicant cannot be a recipient of Ontario Works or ODSP, if so, please refer to the DSB’s regular OW childcare programs;

   The applicant must be moving from Ontario Works to employment, or had moved from Ontario Works within the last year; AND 

   • The applicant has exhausted the OW informal care grace period;AND 
   • The individual providing informal child care is NOT
     •  Any person who has a legal obligation to support the child(ren).
     • Any beneficiary of the participant (i.e. dependent child or dependent adult of the participant) OR
     • Any individual whose resides with the participant.       

2. Case Managers are required to complete the Our Kids Count application form as well as a FULL fee subsidy application indicating the applicant’s eligible hours of care.  Client is required to submit verification of cost. 

3. Please scan the request into the electronic filing system in the Non-Shareable Programs Folder (NSP) and follow the Workflow Job Aide.

4. In ALL cases where there is an existing file in the Social Assistance Management System all notes and payments will be issued from the database.
    

Request for Internal Review  

If an applicant or recipient disagrees with a decision, he/she must request an internal review within 30 calendar days from the day the decision is received or deemed to be received. The request must be made in writing.

Written requests for internal reviews may be submitted by letter/note signed by the applicant or recipient.  

The letter/note should include:  

• a statement indicating that the applicant or recipient wishes to have the decision reviewed;
• the reason he/she disagrees with the decision; and
• the name, case identification and signature of the applicant or recipient requesting the review. 

 A review will be conducted by a staff other than the original decision maker and an assessment will be undertaken based on our local policy whether or not the applicant or recipient’s request is approved or denied.