Family Assistance Program

COMMUNITY SERVICES Family Assistance Program

Applications for Nova Scotia's new Family Assistance Program are now available.

The Family Assistance Program replaces the previous Direct Assistance Program and doubles the amount of money available to qualified families.

The Family Assistance Program provides $250 annually to families that have a net income of $16,500 or less and have one or more children under the age of 19. Qualified families must not have received any form of income assistance for more than three months in 1999.

Applications and information are available at Access Nova Scotia centres and Registry of Motor Vehicle offices throughout the province.

"Raising a family today can be a challenge and the government has created this program to help low-income parents with children," said Community Services Minister Peter Christie. "The Family Assistance Program is one part of our efforts to address child poverty in this province."

Other programs and services that address child poverty include the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, Healthy Child Development Initiatives, subsidized child care, Children and Youth Action Committee, literacy programs, Community Action Programs for Children, community partnerships, and funding to community groups. The Department of Community Services also provides help to families under its income assistance programs and services.

Applications for the Family Assistance Program must be completed and received by Dec. 31.

For further information on the Family Assistance Program, call 1- 800-670-4357, or visit the website of the Department of Business and Consumer Services at http://www.gov.ns.ca/bacs/ .