New Social-Assistance Regulations
The Nova Scotia government has approved new social-assistance regulations to help people move toward self-sufficiency and to help reduce poverty -- especially child poverty.
The regulations, which support the new Employment Support and Income Assistance Act, also recognize that some people will continue to rely on social assistance for long periods of time. The new act and regulations take effect Aug. 1.
Community Services Minister Peter Christie said the regulations provide more detail on the new social-assistance program.
"The best way for people to get out of poverty is to get a job," said Mr. Christie. "These regulations support that goal. We’re putting the assistance back into social assistance -- with real supports to help people become self-sufficient, while continuing long-term assistance for those who really need it."
To support self-reliance, the regulations outline enhanced employment supports aimed at lowering the welfare wall. These changes include increased maximums in the allowances for transportation, child care and training. Up to a year of continued pharmacare coverage for those entering the workforce and improved wage incentives will support people moving toward self-sufficiency. The new system will also provide pharmacare coverage for recipients’ spouses and dependent children.
A new wage incentive for youth is being introduced. Under the provision, recipients aged 16 to 20 can retain income from part- time wages if they are attending an approved education program for which they can’t receive student assistance. Currently, income for this group has been exempted only during summer employment.
All clients who are boarding will be provided a "shelter component." The current social-assistance program does not provide a shelter component if the client is residing with a family member.
The regulations also support children and families. Federal and provincial children’s benefits will be combined and provided to all low-income families, whether the family receives its income from social assistance or the workforce. This will eliminate the need to provide children’s benefits through social assistance. Providing children’s benefits to all low-income families will enable more families on social assistance to make the transition to work because they will continue to receive their children’s benefits. It will also encourage more low-income families to stay in the workforce.
New mothers will see improved supports for their babies’ important first year, consistent with the province’s parental leave policy. The maternal nutritional allowance will be extended from the time their pregnancy is confirmed, for up to and including 12 months after the birth of the child. Currently, the allowance is only available for up to four months after the birth of the child.
Finally, the new act and regulations create a single system with standard rates and policies for all social assistance recipients. This will bring new benefits to some clients. Currently, Family Benefits clients have only limited access to special-needs allowances. Under the new system, all social-assistance recipients will qualify equally for special needs such as employment supports and special diet.
The regulations also provide the new program’s basic structure, such as definitions and rules surrounding eligibility, amount of assistance, assets, pharmacare and special needs.