I have been off and on welfare for 10 years. I am currently working and have not been receiving benefits for 3 months I plan to get married next year and sponsor my husband but I do have a overpayment of 20k with Ontario works from not reporting changes in income etc. will this affect me sponsoring my husband I did set up a payment plan to pay $200 a month and I plan to get married in September I would like some advise on how to handle this before I submit any documents plz don’t judge me I was young n made mistakes I’m grown now n trying to fix them thank you
Hi there,
Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us. It is understandable to have concerns about how an Ontario Works overpayment may affect a future spousal-sponsorship application. Because this involves both Ontario Works and immigration rules, getting legal advice specific to your situation before submitting an application may be helpful.
If you are feeling any hesitation to sign onto your payment plan with OW, it may be helpful to contact a Community Legal Clinic for assistance with the Ontario Works overpayment and repayment arrangement. Steps to Justice also provides a list of free and low-cost legal services for Ontario Works matters.
You may also find the Ontario Works policy directive on Recovery of Overpayments useful. It explains that when someone receives more assistance than they were eligible for, the excess amount is considered an overpayment and is generally subject to recovery.
It sounds as though you have already taken an important step by arranging a payment plan with Ontario Works. Before applying to sponsor your spouse, consider asking Ontario Works for written confirmation of your repayment agreement and keeping records of the payments you have made. Consulting a community legal clinic may be able to advise you about the overpayment and your options.
For advice about how these circumstances could affect a spousal-sponsorship application, you may also wish to speak with an immigration lawyer or other immigration legal service. They can review your full situation and help you understand what information or documents may be needed before you apply.
We hope this information is helpful. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to post them here.
Sincerely,
Your Settlement.Org Team