Improve Support for those Most in Need
2012-2013
- Effective July 1, 2012, we are investing $ 3.4 million to increase personal allowances by $9 per month for 31,000 households.
- Effective July 1, 2012, we are increasing the annual Poverty Reduction Credit by over 20%, to $250, enhancing the ability of some 14,000 Nova Scotians who are among the most vulnerable and living in chronic poverty.
- Investing $900,000 to expand the Independent Living and Alternative Family Support programs for the second year.
- Incorporating a mental health curriculum into health education and healthy living programs; providing mental health training to teachers and support staff and providing tools and information for students and their families.
- Developing the Learning Disabilities Support Framework.
2011-2012
- Income Assistance Personal Allowance increased by $15 per month for about 31,000 adults receiving income assistance.
- Poverty Reduction Credit increased to keep pace with inflation; benefiting about 13,000 income assistance recipients.
- The Independent Living and Alternative Family Support programs were expanded to enable 50 additional persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible
- Allocated $1.8 million to expand the Caregiver Benefit Program, helping seniors to remain at home in the communities they helped to build, and helping more than 1,000 caregivers.
2010-2011
- Doubled the allowable cash asset levels within the income assistance program; available to all recipients of income assistance.
- Fair drug prices are expected to lower the cost of the Pharmacare programs for taxpayers; families and seniors enrolled in Pharmacare programs will pay less for prescriptions.
- Increased coverage for eye examinations for households in receipt of income assistance.
- Invested $50M to create new affordable homes for hundreds of Nova Scotians and to renovate and repair thousands of units
- Put an extra $200 per year in the pockets of approximately 15,000 IA recipients through the new Poverty Reduction Credit
- 18,000 low-income seniors receiving GIS had to pay $12.5M less in provincial taxes.
- Opened Mental Health Court in November 2009.
2009-2010
- Increased Seniors’ Property Tax Rebate by $200 per year to $600, benefiting more than 14,500 seniors.
- Expanded the Direct Family Support program to enable 100 additional persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible.
- Increased personal use allowance for income assistance recipients in October 2009 by 3%.
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