Minister Encourages Income Assistance Recipients to Receive Maximum Benefits

COMMUNITY SERVICES--Minister Encourages Income Assistance Recipients to Receive Maximum Benefits

Community Services Minister David Morse is encouraging all people who receive income assistance and have children under the age of 18 to file any outstanding income tax returns to ensure they receive the maximum benefits available to their children.

All income assistance recipients are required to file income tax returns to be eligible for full child benefits. These benefits include the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the National Child Benefit and the Nova Scotia Child Benefit. They are provided to eligible children from birth until 18 years of age and can add up to as much as $3,072 per child each year, depending upon the parents' income.

"We want to make sure all children receive the maximum benefits they are entitled to," said Mr. Morse. "It's critical that parents receiving income assistance file their income tax returns in order to be eligible for the full combined federal and provincial child benefits."

This month, income assistance recipients who have not yet filed their 2002 income tax return may experience a disruption in their child benefits from the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. Any client whose benefits have been discontinued can receive a temporary monthly allowance from the province while their income tax returns are processed by the agency.

"We are assisting by providing temporary assistance to clients," said Mr. Morse. "While this allowance provides some income, the regular child benefits available to these families provide more than twice as much funding each month. That's why we're urging all parents to file their annual income tax returns each year - even if they did not earn any income or are not required to pay income tax."

To file an income tax return, income assistance recipients should contact the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency and make arrangements to file immediately. Once they have filed their returns, they should contact their caseworker to arrange for the temporary monthly allowance until they begin receiving regular child benefits.