News release

Family Assistance Program

Community Services

The Nova Scotia government is again providing $250 to low-income working families.

The Family Assistance Program provides $250 to families that have a net income less than $16,500 and have one or more children under the age of 19. To be eligible, families must not have received any form of income assistance for more than three months in 2000. Applications for the program are now available.

"We need to recognize that in Nova Scotia more children live in poverty in working families than in families that receive income assistance," said Community Services Minister Peter Christie. "The Family Assistance Program is one part of our effort to address child poverty in this province."

Other programs and services that address child poverty include the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, 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 program. It assisted low-income working families last year by offering the Family Assistance Program.

Applications and information for the Family Assistance Program are available at Access Nova Scotia centres and Registry of Motor Vehicle offices throughout the province and on the Web site of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr . Applications must be completed and received by Dec. 31.

For more information on the Family Assistance Program, call 1- 800-670-4357 or download information from the Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr .