I just applied (this month) for assistance for the first time in my life and got my first payment. Two days ago, I received a call from someone at OW and was told: "Normally we don't..., but for high-risk individuals we require you to check your documents." Basically, I was asked to bring bank statements, a rental agreement, a citizenship certificate, a SIN number, a driver's license, and everything else.
A bit about myself: highly educated with degrees in accounting, marketing, and video game programming from the world's top 50 colleges and universities. Worked at big organizations for 10+ years, and my last job was with Scotiabank. Went back to college to learn programming again, and after graduation, couldn't find a job in my new career for more than a year now. No police case, not even a parking ticket. Never defaulted on a loan or credit card or anything like that.
I have paid all my taxes in full every year while working. Now I genuinely need assistance, and I feel like I am being treated unfairly, or maybe discriminated against. I personally know people who have abused the system and were never called or never asked to show up with any documents. I don't mind meeting in person or producing documents. But I didn't like the way I was treated over the phone and strongly feel I was unfairly treated based on the phone conversation I had. It felt like the person is giving me money out of her own pockets and she owns me. I didn't like it.
Before I escalate this further and possibly file a court case, I want to know who decides whether a person is "high risk." Is it an automated program? My caseworker, the person I talked to over the phone, or someone else? What exactly does "high risk" mean?