Eligible adults aged 18 to 64 can now apply for the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
Benefits to support health and housing needs
If you're an Ontario Works or Ontario Disability client, or a low-income resident, you may be eligible for additional benefits.
Children and youth aged 17 and under are eligible for assistance with dental services through Healthy Smiles Ontario.
Healthy Smiles Ontario is a government-funded dental program that will automatically enrol children in receipt of Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program funds or Temporary Care and offers free preventative, routine and emergency dental services. Low incomes families may apply online or by mail.
How to apply
Visit Healthy Smiles Ontario or call 1-844-296-6306.
Emergency dental or denture services for adults
Niagara residents receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program may be eligible for emergency dental or denture services.
Individuals are eligible for:
- A maximum of $400 emergency dental services each year as per the Niagara Region emergency adult dental fee schedule
- Items and services outlined in the Niagara Region adult denture fee schedule
How to apply
You must make an appointment with the dentist or denturist of your choice.
The provider will check your eligibility through Accerta's Eligibility Verification Portal.
Once eligibility is confirmed, the dentist or denturist must agree to the terms and conditions set out in the Niagara Region Ontario Works adult dental and adult denture fee schedules. All dental and denture services must first have a pre-determination form submitted and approved by Accerta.
If you have questions or need more information about eligibility for emergency dental or denture services, call 905-641-9960 ext. 6056.
A full eligibility review of the deceased person's estate must be completed by Niagara Region before completing funeral arrangements.
If the deceased is a dependent child (up to 17 years of age), the application for assistance will be based on the parent or legal guardian's eligibility for funeral services.
Requests for assistance after any payments have been made towards the funeral costs will be denied.
Criteria
Individuals are eligible for help with the cost of funeral, burial and cremation services if they meet the following criteria:
- The deceased is a Niagara resident
- The deceased has no valid life insurance policy or prepaid funeral that exists where the value exceeds the costs of the services requested
- Available funds in the deceased's estate (bank accounts, RRSPs, life insurance and prepaid funerals) are less than the maximum cost of the funeral, burial and cremation services requested as outlined in Niagara’s Funeral Fee Schedule
- There are no other financial resources available to cover the cost of funeral, burial and cremation services that may be available for individuals who served in the military, suffered from a motor vehicle accident or a work related death, First Nations members who live on a reservation or victims of crime
If the deceased is not in receipt of Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, income and assets for the deceased and all household members over the age of 18 will be assessed to confirm eligibility.
Niagara Region provides financial help for funeral, burial and cremation services at no cost to the applicant according to the funeral fee schedule:
- Direct disposition funeral service (no ceremony or funeral services included)
- Cremation services through Bayview Crematorium
- Purchase of a single burial or cremation plot
- Opening and closing costs for a burial or cremation plot
Burial services must take place within 60 days of the funeral approval. Niches, mausoleums and tombstones are not eligible items.
Individuals wishing to purchase items and services that are not included, such as a visitation or service, urn, newspaper / website placement and costs, clergy, register book and other stationery, executor / follow-up assistance, after hours services, and other additional services or alternative merchandise may contract directly with funeral and burial providers to purchase at their own cost.
Recovery of funeral, burial and cremation costs
After the funeral, burial and cremation service, Niagara Region will recover all costs paid from the estate of the deceased, including any income or assets eligible for recovery, such as cash in bank accounts and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Death Benefit.
Interment rights
If Niagara Region purchases a burial plot, the ownership of the plot (interment rights) will be held by the cemetery in the estate of the deceased. Contact the cemetery to request access to the interment rights or to request alterations or additions to the burial plot.
Niagara Region is not responsible for any costs associated with the transfer of interment rights or changes to the plot.
Death certificates
If you require a Proof of Death Certificate, contact the funeral home. Certificates will be marked "not for financial gain" until the full costs of the services are recovered by Niagara Region from the deceased's estate.
Transportation costs
Transportation costs are the responsibility of the family if the:
- Deceased died in Niagara and the funeral, burial and cremation services are requested to take place outside of Niagara or in a place other than where the death occurred
- Funeral, burial and cremation services requested are in Niagara and the death occurred outside Ontario
After applying, you will be contacted within one business day to review your application with a staff member. Applications for financial assistance must be approved by Niagara Region before funeral arrangements are finalized
If the death occurs on the weekend, holiday or if there are time sensitive cultural / religious requirements, apply online for funeral benefits or contact our office immediately and leave a message to ensure your application is prioritized during regular business hours.
What you will need to apply
The following documents of the deceased person are needed to complete the application for funeral, burial and cremation services:
- One piece of identification of the deceased and applicant such as:
- Birth certificate, passport, permanent resident card, citizenship documents
- Driver's licence
- Social insurance number
- Health card
- Will
- Life insurance policy
- Pre-paid funeral
- Verification of current bank account(s)
- Income verification
- Verification of assets, including Registered Retired Savings Plans (RRSPs), bonds, stocks, investments, etc.
Niagara residents receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program benefits.
Health-related services and items include:
- AeroChambers
- Air conditioners for severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema
- Beds due to a move
- Blood pressure monitors
- Breast pumps
- Cleaning costs to prevent eviction due to hoarding
- Contact lenses for adults
- CPAP supplies
- Cribs
- Electric hospital beds for persons confined to a bed to prevent bedsores
- Electrical muscle stimulation devices
- Fridges
- Glasses for adults
- Hearing aids
- Home safety items, such as grab bars, bath transfer benches, toilet and shower commodes
- Medical marijuana vaporizer
- Orthotics
- Pressure relief mattresses for persons confined to bed to prevent bedsores
- Prosthetic appliances
- Replacement of household items and personal effects in emergency situations due to fire or flood
- Stoves
- TENS machine
- Utility disconnections
Applications for financial assistance must be approved by Niagara Region before purchasing an item or service.
What you will need to apply
To complete the application, you will need:
- One estimate outlining the cost for each item or service requested
- Medical verification (letter) to support requests for medical necessities
After applying, a staff member will contact you to review your application.
Niagara Region can help to cover overdue rent payments or last month's rent for Niagara residents receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program benefits.
This benefit may be considered if you're homeless, in an emergency shelter or moving due to:
- A move to more affordable accommodations
- Discharge from institutions, such as correctional facilities, hospitals, long-term care homes, interval and transition homes
- Employment or training opportunities
- Eviction
- Family violence
- Incapacity or death of a supporting caregiver or family member
- Overcrowding
- Significant personal health issues
- Uninhabitable premises where there is risk to health and safety
- Individuals or couples are eligible for a maximum of $900 once every 24 months
- Families with children are eligible for a maximum of $1600 once every 24 months
Requests for Housing Stability Benefits must be:
- Approved before you pay to secure or maintain housing
- Received no later than 30 days after your moving date
What you will need to apply
To complete the application, you will need:
Last month's rent
- Verification of your new address
- Landlord contact information
Rental arrears
- Written verification of pending eviction
- Verification of rental / mortgage arrears owed
After applying, a staff member will contact you to review your application.
If you're receiving Ontario Works benefits, contact your casemanager directly to request housing stability benefits.
As part of the overall Utility Benefit program provided by Social Assistance and Employment Opportunities, individuals will be assessed for all utility relief benefits that they may qualify for, including the following.
Low-Income Energy Assistance Program
The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program provides help with electricity or natural gas bills if you're behind and may face having your service shut off.
If you have a total household income that falls below a certain limit, you may qualify for up to:
- $650 in emergency assistance for electricity bills ($780 if your home is heated electrically)
- $500 for natural gas bills
Niagara Emergency Energy Fund
The Niagara Emergency Energy Fund helps with energy related emergencies.
The fund provides assistance with payment of utility arrears to prevent disconnection for electricity or natural gas up to a maximum of $2000 per utility once every 24 months.
Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program Discretionary Benefits
Discretionary Benefits are provided to Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program recipients in collaboration with the Niagara Emergency Energy Fund, Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund and the Ontario Electricity Support Program.
Discretionary Benefits may also help with water disconnection costs.
Ontario Electricity Support Program
If you're a customer of an electricity utility and have a total household income that falls below a certain limit, you may qualify for a monthly reduction on your electricity bill through the Ontario Electricity Support Program.
What you will need to apply
To complete the application, you will need:
- A current bill and disconnection notice in your name
- Confirmation of the amount of utility arrears owing
If you're not receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability, you will need:
- One piece of identification for each member of the household such as:
- Birth certificate, citizenship document
- Driver's licence
- Health card
- Income verification for household members aged 18 and older with:
- Pay stubs
- Monthly income statement
- Bank statements
- Current bank statement for all bank accounts for household members aged 18 and older
After applying, a staff member will contact you to review your application.
Apply for benefits online
To register, you'll need a valid email address. Once registered, you can track applications, upload documents, receive automatic status updates and apply for multiple benefits at once.
Watch: how to apply online for benefits
Items and services that have already been purchased before completing an application are not eligible for reimbursement.
Other ways to apply
Call 905-641-9960 ext. 6072
Fax your application to 905-984-8760
Mail your application to the Ontario Works Discretionary Benefit Team at 234 Bunting Rd., St. Catharines, L2R 6Z4