Operational Changes and Updated Forms to Support Improvements to Better Jobs Ontario

As part of the program updates announced on August 20, 2025, the ministry has updated a series of operational forms and tools to allow applicants to apply to the program based on the updated guidelines. The following forms have been updated:

• Application for Financial Assistance Form (PDF) and Information Sheet (89-1889E and 89-1889F)
• Application Recommendation and Checklist (ARC)
• Eligibility and Suitability Assessment Tool (in EOIS-CaMS)
• Feepayer Application and Email Attestation

Please find a high-level summary of the updates below:

The Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) Application for Financial Assistance (available in PDF or digital formats) must be completed by applicants requesting assistance under the BJO program. This form requests information about the applicant’s household income, desired training programs, and financial needs, and identifies the required documentation that must be submitted. The Information Sheet supports applicants to complete the application form by providing additional instructions.

The Application form and Information Sheet have been updated to reflect tariff-related program changes, including extending training duration to two years, and increasing funding to $35,000. In addition to these updates, the application has also been revised to streamline questions and ensure consistency as it relates to the recently launched BJO Application Recommendation and Checklist form.

The ARC form identifies client information and documents that are required to be submitted to the ministry by service providers (SPs) for all BJO applications. The form also requests information about the client’s history and program eligibility and requires that SPs attest that BJO is the most appropriate path to address the individual’s employment needs. The ARC form has been updated to align with guideline changes.

The Eligibility and Suitability Assessment Template is a tool that helps determine which individuals are most suitable for the BJO program by prioritizing individuals based on transparent, consistent, and measurable criteria; and combining and balancing the needs of jobseekers with the needs of employers in the local economy, demands for labour in emerging and growth sectors, and/or demands for a more highly skilled workforce.

The template is found in EOIS-CaMS. As of August 20^th, 2025, all applications must have a completed template (from EOIS-CaMS) submitted in the application package.

If someone is planning to pursue training that will lead to work with “good” or “very good” employment prospects (three-year career outlooks) as identified on the Ontario Labour Market Information website, they will automatically receive the highest possible score in the following sections: Active Job Search, Duration of Unemployment and Work History. Clients who have selected training with favourable labour market prospects (as demonstrated on the Ontario Labour Market website – Career Explorer), can automatically receive up to 9 points in their suitability score to increase their chances of faster program access.

The ministry also updated the Active Jobs Search and Duration of Unemployment criteria to reduce from six months to 12 weeks to obtain highest (3) points, five to 11 weeks to obtain medium (2) points and less than four weeks to obtain the lowest (1) point. Finally, the ministry has also updated the In-Demand Occupational Requirements criteria to indicate that an individual is deemed most suitable for training under the program if the chosen training will lead to certification in an occupation regulated by an external body and/or where entry to practice requirements is in place. These clients may receive the maximum (3) points. Medium (2) points will be awarded for training where a credential is required (degree, diploma, certificate, or micro-credential) and lowest (1) points may be awarded in exceptional circumstances where the training the client is pursuing does not require a credential.

Feepayer approval must only be used when individuals are able to pay for their skills training but require their EI benefits for the entire duration of the skills training. Feepayers must sign an attestation form that states that they will not request financial assistance from the ministry to support them with their training plan. The BJO Feepayer Application and Email Attestation has been updated to align with the most recent updates to the BJO Application for Financial Assistance. Changes include, reducing content already captured in EOIS-CaMS and updating the Notice of Collection of Personal Information.

The Better Jobs Ontario digital application will be updated on August 20, 2025. Changes will include streamlining content and aligning with guidelines changes.

The updated forms are now posted on the BJO Application Process page, and the updated guidelines are now available on the BJO Guidelines page.

Additional information on BJO program updates can be found on the BJO Questions and Answers page.

• System service managers (SSMs) as well as Integrated Employment Services and Employment Service providers (SPs)
• BJO applicants

SPs should familiarize themselves with the new forms and begin using them with applicants as soon as possible.

Better Jobs Ontario applicants will be required to use updated BJO forms. Old forms will no longer be accepted and SPs with new applicants to BJO will be required to include the new forms for all application packages.

SPs that have any questions about the updated forms are asked to contact their local ministry representative.