Helping Families on Assistance with Cost of School Supplies

COMMUNITY SERVICES--Helping Families on Assistance with Cost of School Supplies

The government of Nova Scotia is once again providing help to buy school supplies for families on income assistance.

Families will receive $50 for each child five to 12 years old and $100 for each child 13 years and over who is registered and attending public schools. The money will be added to assistance cheques that are sent out during the last week of August. Families are not required to apply for this funding.

"Buying school supplies can be quite a challenge," said Peter Christie, Minister of Community Services. "Providing this extra help will relieve some of the added financial pressure each new school year brings."

Students can use the extra funding to buy school supplies and pay various school fees such as locker charges.

About 13,000 students between the ages of five and 12 will receive the funding, along with about 6,000 students over the age of 13. Last year, the first year of the school supplies supplement program, Community Services provided $1.2 million for families on assistance.