Nova Scotians Receiving Full National Child Benefit

COMMUNITY SERVICES--Nova Scotians Receiving Full National Child Benefit

Nova Scotians are receiving the full amount of the National Child Benefit available to them, said Community Services Minister Peter Christie today, Dec. 13.

"We told Nova Scotians we would end the clawback and we did," said Mr. Christie. "Last year we introduced a child-benefit system that put more money in the hands of low-income Nova Scotians. We now have a program in place that ensures families receive the maximum benefit available to them."

Nova Scotia provides low-income families with an integrated child benefit, which combines the Nova Scotia Child Benefit and the Canada Child Tax Benefit into one monthly payment. For example, a family with three children and an annual income of less than $15,999 would receive $727 a month in combined benefits, whether they receive assistance or are in the paid workforce.

"We've also increased social assistance rates for families and we've put millions into other supports for low-income families and programs that support people returning to work," said Mr. Christie. "We are seeing positive results from these initiatives with recent figures showing fewer Nova Scotian children living in poverty."

Last year the province introduced transitional Pharmacare benefits, so people returning to work are now able to maintain health benefits for their families for one year after leaving social assistance for employment.

Nova Scotia has put millions into subsidized day-care programs and other enhancements to the day-care system and early childhood development programs. Two hundred subsidized portable child-care spaces have also been added to the day-care system. Portable child-care spaces are assigned to the child and not to a child- care centre so if the child's family moves to another part of Nova Scotia, the portable space and subsidy move with them.

"We've taken significant steps to remove barriers to work while supporting families in need and we'll continue to strengthen these programs," said Mr. Christie.