New Social Assistance System Promotes Self-reliance
COMMUNITY SERVICES--New Social Assistance System Promotes Self- reliance
Nova Scotia's new social assistance system will focus on self- sufficiency and getting people back to work. It will also continue to provide supports to those who may need longer-term assistance.
Community Services Minister Peter Christie today said government has closely examined the entire social assistance system in order to promote equity and movement toward self-sufficiency for clients.
"This is the first time this province has looked at the entire system from the standpoint of helping people move from welfare to work. The new income support program will be simpler and more equitable and will encourage self-reliance.
"The way the current two-tier system works, you can have two families of the same size living in the same apartment building, but each with different shelter rates and different access to special needs. That doesn't make sense. That's one of the reasons we're changing the system," Mr. Christie said today.
The new program will take effect August 1, 2001. It will provide enhanced supports to help people secure employment by developing individual plans for gaining self-sufficiency skills. For people on social assistance, these supports will include:
- an increase in the maximum child-care allowance
- an increase in the maximum transportation allowance
- a new wage incentive
- a new personal start-up allowance for beginning a job
- a new training allowance incentive
- extending pharmacare drug coverage to 12 months for those leaving social assistance to join the workforce
In addition to increasing work-related benefits, the government has also changed the criteria for accessing the child care allowance and the transportation allowance.
"In some cases the restrictions placed on these programs rendered them meaningless to the client. We're allowing for a greater degree of flexibility in making child-care arrangements. The transportation allowance has been increased by 50 per cent and expanded from covering only trips to and from work to covering all employment-related transportation--including training and job-search--as well as transportation for health and safety needs," said Mr. Christie.
These changes, along with the earlier-announced Integrated Child Benefit, will address many of the reasons why Nova Scotians who want to work have instead remained on assistance.
"For far too many of them, the existing welfare system simply fostered dependence. We are determined to give them the opportunity to contribute to their own well-being."
The minister said the changes will also provide support to Nova Scotians with disabilities who are trying to enter the workforce.
"People with disabilities often have special work-related needs. We will respond to those needs on a case-by-case basis to the greatest extent possible," he said.
"It is important to recognize that some Nova Scotians will not be in a position to move into employment. The government will continue to respond in a compassionate manner by ensuring that they continue to receive assistance. However, we also have to build a system that helps people achieve their potential."
Other program changes include a new uniform rate structure that provides a standard shelter rate and personal allowance. The new rates are higher than the interim rates introduced last May. The May rates were always intended to be for the interim period only.
Single people with disabilities, individuals fleeing abusive situations and others with significant barriers to employment can qualify for benefits above the uniform rate.
"In making the changes to the rate structure we were mindful of the need to ensure that we carefully considered the circumstances of all of our client groups," said Mr. Christie.
Legislation to replace the existing Family Benefits Act and the Social Assistance Act with a new integrated program will be introduced during the upcoming session of the legislature.