Next Steps for Integrated Employment Services and Social Assistance (ODSP) Intake

Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Social Assistance Programs Division
2 Bloor St. W, 25th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 1E9
 

October 10, 2025

Memorandum to:         Commissioners and CAOs of all CMSMs and DSSABs

From:                                     Sunny Sharma, Director, Business Innovation and Implementation Branch

                                                    Dr. Andres Laxamana, Director, Social Assistance Central Services Branch

                                                    Colleen Hardie, Director, Social Assistance Service Delivery Branch

                                                    Sharareh Kamali, Director, Social Assistance Service Delivery Branch

Subject:                              Next Steps for Integrated Employment Services and Social Assistance (ODSP) Intake

Ontario’s social assistance system is continuing to evolve to better support the people we serve. With initiatives like Integrated Employment Services (IES) and centralized intake for initial Ontario Works eligibility determination, we have made it easier for clients to access the help they need and enabled staff to focus more on responsive, person-centered, wrap-around supports. These efforts have laid the foundation for further enhancements in how services are delivered.

This Fall, we will be building on these recent changes to further improve the client experience and strengthen service delivery across the province. This includes supporting timely referrals to employment services for a subset of Ontario Works applicants and centralizing intake for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

Earlier Connections to Employment Services

Building on the successful implementation of IES in March 2025, the Ministry will begin implementing a new accelerated employment services pathway for a subset of Ontario Works applicants on November 10, 2025, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD).

To ensure clients gain quicker access to employment services and experience improved outcomes, this approach identifies the most suitable pathway early in the process. We are doing this by integrating an employment service readiness assessment directly into the social assistance digital application. This enables accelerated referrals to Employment Ontario for Ontario Works applicants assessed as employment service ready based on application data and available insights.

As our delivery partners, municipalities and District Social Services Administration Boards (DSSABs) continue to play a vital role in supporting social assistance clients. This change builds on our work to help caseworkers focus on connecting clients to wrap-around, person-centred supports. This approach supports a more integrated experience for clients, bridging social assistance and employment services seamlessly. The Common Assessment Tool remains unchanged at this time and will continue to guide the development of Action Plans and track client progress. This is an initial implementation phase, and we will continue to refine the approach based on feedback and outcomes.

Centralization of Social Assistance (ODSP) Intake Functions

In May 2025, the Ministry completed the centralized intake and initial eligibility determination process for Ontario Works. This is a milestone made possible through the collaboration and dedication of our municipal and DSSAB partners across the province. Your efforts have been instrumental in shaping a more streamlined and efficient process, which has enabled us to scale and support broader social assistance intake.

Building on the centralized Ontario Works intake model and the single, online application for social assistance, the Ministry will continue to centralize intake and initial eligibility determination for ODSP on November 10, 2025. Centralizing all intake functions supports a faster, consistent, and easier application process for ODSP clients while enabling ODSP local offices to focus on delivering responsive, person-centered supports.

Preparing for What’s Next

We will continue to work with municipal and DSSAB partners, as well as with MLITSD, to ensure we are well-positioned to address any challenges efficiently and effectively. Attached is a question-and-answer document to support discussions with your municipal councils and partners, answer questions, and help identify any concerns. Operational readiness and change management processes are being developed to support us through this transition.

There will be no changes to the current application and delivery process for First Nations applicants, as the province continues to work with First Nations to ensure service enhancements are responsive to the unique needs of First Nations communities.

Thank you for your continued support, and your commitment to the work ahead. We look forward to sharing further updates as we work to improve the social assistance system. Together, we will achieve our shared goal of supporting people to address their needs and finding lasting employment whenever possible.

If you have any questions, please contact Sunny Sharma at Sunny.Sharma@ontario.ca or Dr. Andres Laxamana at Andres.Laxamana@ontario.ca.

Sincerely,

Sunny Sharma
Director, Business Innovation and Implementation Branch

Michael Lee on behalf of Dr. Andres Laxamana
Director, Social Assistance Central Services Branch

Colleen Hardie
Director (Toronto, West and Corporate), Social Assistance Service Delivery Branch

Sharareh Kamali
Director (Central, East and North), Social Assistance Service Delivery

Cc:

SAPD Directors
Ontario Works Administrators
First Nations Ontario Works Administrators
Clinical Resource Office
Ombudsman Office
Social Benefits Tribunal

Attachments:

Questions and Answers