Auditor General of Ontario
A proposed audit: the controls on Ontario Works reporting in MyBenefits and SAMS.
The letter ·
Audit suggestion - Ontario Works stops assistance over a report that MyBenefits refuses to take
Hello,
Danilo Dzyuban, Ottawa. This is a suggestion for a performance audit of the income reporting controls of Ontario Works.
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services approved my application on 2 September 2026. On 23 September 2026 the file was put on hold. The letter states: "We did not receive information about your earnings this month." The record shows 3 control failures.
FIRST, MYBENEFITS REFUSES A REQUIRED REPORT. Directive 5.1 states: "Recipients are required to report income on a monthly basis". The Income page of MyBenefits states: "you cannot report income because you do not have a job or training program on file."
SECOND, A DECISION IS POSTED WITHOUT NOTICE. MyBenefits sent me a notice of a new letter on 5 August 2026 and on 4 September 2026. It sent none for the letter of 23 September 2026.
THIRD, THE SYSTEM RECORDS OBLIGATIONS THAT NEVER FELL DUE. The Declarations page marks "In/Outside of Ontario" as "Missed" for each of the 12 months from September 2025 to August 2026. I applied on 5 June 2026.
An audit measures 4 things:
1. The number of files put on hold over missing earnings information in the fiscal year 2025-2026, and how many of those recipients had no job on file.
2. The number of those holds lifted with no change in entitlement, and their cost in internal reviews, appeals and staff time.
3. The date from which MyBenefits has refused an income report from a recipient with no job on file.
4. The share of letters that MyBenefits posts without a notice to the recipient.Your Office audited the Social Assistance Management System in section 3.12 of the 2015 Annual Report and Ontario Works in section 3.11 of the 2018 Annual Report.
Confirm in writing by 13 October 2026 that this suggestion is before the Office, and name the audit portfolio that holds it. The same record goes to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, which may require a special assignment under section 17 of the Auditor General Act.
Respectfully,
Danilo Dzyuban
No answer by 13 Oct