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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