This government is committed to the goal of reducing child poverty and providing greater opportunities for families to be self-reliant. We continue to address this issue through programs such as school supplies for families on social assistance, and the Family Assistance Program for low-income working families. We believe the introduction of the new children's benefits in Nova Scotia is a step toward achieving that goal. In the days ahead, we will have more information for you on other aspects of reducing barriers to employments and helping people achieve self-reliance. When combined with the NCBS, the integrated children's benefits will be provided to every eligible child in Nova Scotia.
Eligibility is determined by family income.
What it means for families on assistance For families on social assistance, the new children's benefits will replace children s personal allowances in their parents welfare budgets. This will allow parents to join the workforce, without worrying that their children will lose their benefits. Also, the integrated child benefit will not be considered as income to the parents and therefore will not be deducted from parents assistance cheques. The National Child Benefit Supplement is indexed, so families will get yearly increases beginning in 2002. For those families on assistance, the new children's benefits system helps reduce the stigma associated with reliance on welfare, because the benefit is provided to children of all low-income families, not only those who receive assistance.