N.S. government says new boost to income assistance payments will help prepare parents for school year

By CityNews Halifax Staff

Nova Scotia families on income assistance will get more help with the cost of school supplies this year.

The province announced today that it is investing over $400,000 in its income assistance payment to parents of children aged five to 18.

The benefit has also been extended this year to include four-year-olds attending pre-primary this fall.

Payments for children aged 13 to 18 will increase from $160 to $200 while those aged five to 12 will increase from $80 to $100 with payments expected by the end of the month.

Children who turn four by the end of December and are eligible for pre-primary in the fall will now receive a $100 payment.

There is no application required, according to the provincial government.

In a release, Brendan Maguire, Minister of Community Services said the one-time payment “will help offset some of those (additional) costs for our clients, so they can focus on getting their children off to school.”