Special Needs Assistance

Income Assistance helps with your basic expenses and special needs. Special needs are things for your health and safety, and for work or training. The special needs assistance you may get is based on your personal situation.

  • If you are an Income Assistance client, please contact your caseworker or call or visit a Community Services Office to request special needs assistance.
  • If you are not an Income Assistance client, see information on How to Apply.
  • If you are making a one-time request for a special need and do not require help with your basic needs, you can use same process to apply.

Income Assistance can help with these special needs:

  • Ambulance Costs
  • Arrears
    • Mortgage Payments or Rent
    • Property Tax
    • Utility
  • Car Seats and Booster Seats
  • Child Care
  • Emergency Dental Care - to get assistance for emergency dental care:
    • You must tell your dental office that you are on Income Assistance and give them your Nova Scotia Health Card number
    • Your dentist will find out for you if the procedure is covered. The amount covered is based on the Dental Fee Guide in the ESIA policy manual
    •  Income Assistance pays the major portion of the dental cost and you pay the rest.
  • Emergency Heat
  • Employment Supports
  • Extermination Services
  • Fire/Liability Insurance for Homeowners
  • Food, Shelter and/or Transportation for Medical Attention
  • Foot Care
  • Funeral and Burial
  • Furniture
  • Guide/Service Dogs
  • Hearing Aids
  • House Repairs
  • Maternal Nutritional Allowance
  • Medical Equipment
  • Medical – Essential Treatments
  • Medical Supplies
  • Moving Expenses – Within Region
  • Optical Care
  • Orthotics
  • Over the Counter Non-Prescription Medications
  • Personal Development – Employment Plan Activities
  • Pharmacare/Prescription Drug Coverage
  • Prescription Drug Coverage
  • Relocation – Out of Region/Province
  • Residential Respite
  • School Supplies Supplement
  • Security/Damage Deposits
  • Special Diet
  • Telephone for Health and Safety Reasons
  • Transportation
    • You may be eligible for transportation assistance depending on your situation. Income Assistance clients and their families in the Halifax Regional Municipality are eligible for a free annual Halifax Transit pass.