This post covers the Nova Scotia income assistance payment dates, the eligibility, how much you can receive and other income support programs from the provincial government.
Nova Scotia Income Assistance Payment Dates 2023
The following are Nova Scotia Inome Assistance payment dates for 2023:
| Payment Month | Payment Date |
| January 2023 | December 28, 29, 30, 2022 |
| February 2023 | January 27, 30, 31, 2023 |
| March 2023 | February 24, 27, 28, 2023 |
| April 2023 | March 29, 30, 31, 2023 |
| May 2023 | April 26, 27, 28, 2023 |
| June 2023 | May 29, 30, 31, 2023 |
| July 2023 | June 28, 29, 30, 2023 |
| August 2023 | July 27, 28, 31, 2023 |
| September 2023 | August 29, 30, 31, 2023 |
| October 2023 | September 27, 28, 29, 2023 |
| November 2023 | October 27, 30, 31, 2023 |
| December 2023 | November 28, 29, 30, 2023 |
You can expect to receive your payment on these dates if you’re enrolled for direct deposits. Direct deposits are the preferred option and ensure you’ll get your benefits on time.
If you receive cheques instead, NS will try to get the cheques to you by the payment dates above, but it may take longer.
About Nova Scotia Income Assistance
The Nova Scotia Income Assistance (IA) program was set up to help those that are unable to support themselves and their families in the province. It provides an amount that covers the basic needs of beneficiaries such as food, clothing and shelter, with additional help for those with special needs.
Beyond the income assistance payments, IA recipients are also provided with employment support to help them develop the skills and experience they need for gainful employment.
The Nova Scotia Income assistance program currently helps about 25,000 households in the province.
Eligibility For Income Assistance
To be eligible to apply for and receive income assistance in Nova Scotia, you must satisfy the following:
- Financial Need: Require financial support for your basic needs
- Residence: You must be a resident of Nova Scotia
- Age: You’re aged 19 or above, the age of majority in Nova Scotia
- Explored other income sources including trying to get a work
There could be other eligibility requirements depending on your specific situation. For example, someone with a disability may be asked for a Doctor’s report to confirm their condition.
Also, your eligibility will be accessed on an on-going basis. Your caseworker will access your situation periodically, and you’re responsible for letting them know when your situation changes.
Nova Scotia Income Assistance Rates
So how much can you receive as income assistance in Nova Scotia? Beneficiaries are paid a Basic Needs assistance, and a Special Needs assistance if applicable.
Basic Needs Assistance
As the name suggests, the basic needs assistance covers the cost of basic household needs and it is called the Standard Household Rate. These needs include food, shelter, utilities, fuel, clothing and personal items.
The Standard Household Rate is further categorized into 3:
Standard Household Rate – Essentials
Pays $380 per month to each adult in a household. It is for people that don’t rent, own a house or in a board arrangement. i.e. they are in an hospital, homeless shelter, transition house or rehabilitation program.
Standard Household Rate – Rent/Own or Board
Those that rent or own can receive up to $1,393 per month as income assistance in Nova Scotia depending on the number of recipients and family members. If you board, the rate starts at $608 up to a maximum of $1,049.
The table below shows a summary of how much you can receive as income support in Nova Scotia:
| # of Recipients | Dependent Child | Standard Rate – Rent/Own | Standard Rate – Board |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | $686 | $608 |
| 1 | 1 | $962 | $627 |
| 1 | 2 or more | $1,013 | $668 |
| 2 | 0 | $1,342 | $1,008 |
| 2 | 1 or more | $1,393 | $1,049 |
Standard Household Rate – Enhanced
The enhanced standard household rate recipients receive $950 per month. It is for single recipients who satisfies both criteria below:
- Rents or own a house; and
- Satisfies one of these: have a disability that limits employment, aged 55 or older, aged 16 – 18 or fleeing an abusive situation
Special Needs Assistance
In addition to the basic needs benefits, eligible Nova Scotians can also apply for the special needs assistance. They cover anything from special health, safety, work and training needs.
You can apply for special needs assistance whether you’re already receiving basic needs assistance or not. There’s a long list of needs that can be covered by the special needs income assistance. A few of them are shown below:
- Pharmacare
- Child care
- Prescription drug coverage
- Special diet
- Transportation and ambulance cost
- Car Seat and booster seats
- Emergency Dental care
- Funeral and Burial
And many more special needs that go beyond food, shelter and clothing.
How to Apply for NS Income Assistance
To begin an application for income assistance, you can visit a local office of the Department of Community Services or call the intake team at 1-877-424-1177.
Have your SIN, bank statement and other information ready when you call. Next, a meeting will be scheduled with a caseworker to review your documents, access your situation and determine if you’re eligible for income assistance.
You’ll be required to bring some documents – the exact documents will be communicated to you during the first call. These may include your income tax assessment, social insurance number (SIN), bank statements, photo ID, housing and utility bills/receipts etc.
A decision will usually be reached in 3-7 days. If you’re eligible, your caseworker will let you know how much you can expect to receive.
However, if you’re deemed to be ineligible for NS income assistance, you’ll receive a letter explaining the reason for the decision. You can appeal this decision within 30 days of receiving the letter if you’re unsatisfied with it.
A decision review will be conducted and if you still don’t agree, then an Appeal Hearing can be scheduled.
Nova Scotia Income Assistance Increases 2023
Starting in May 2021, the income assistance rates were increased by $100 for every adult. This represented an increase of up to 20% for some households compared to the previous increases of between 2 to 5 percent.
The standard household rate for a single adult increased from $508 to $608 for example. In total, the increases are expected to cost the government a total of $35.2 million.
Other initiatives and changes were introduced that would let income assistance recipients keep more of their benefits.
These include not clawing back the CPP for disabled persons and not forcing those on income assistance to apply for Canada Pension Plan at 60.
To help reduce inflationary pressures in Nova Scotia, the provincial government offered a one-time additional payment of $250 to all Income Assistance households in December 2022.
The one-time payment was offered before December 25, 2022, jointly with the $1,000 one-time benefit for full-time foster families.
Compared to the increase of other provinces, the Nova Scotia Income Assistance one-time increase is also not enough to match the ongoing inflationary impacts.
With the ongoing increase in of living in Nova Scotia, we expect the provincial income assistance to increase in 2023.
Can I work while on Income Assistance?
Beneficiaries can continue to work even while receiving income assistance in Nova Scotia. You’ll be allowed to keep some of your income without any claw back.
You can keep $250 or $350 for regular employment and supported employment, respectively. Supported employment are the ones that require ongoing support for someone with some physical, mental or cognitive disabilities.
Beyond these amounts, any extra income earned will be gradually clawed back from the income assistance payments. The table below shows the claw back rate and how much you can keep from your income.
| Net Monthly Earning | Amount You Can Keep | Claw back Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Less than $250 | 100% | 0% |
| $250 – $500 | $250 + 75% of earnings above $250 | 25% |
| $500 – $750 | $437.50 + 50% of earnings above $500 | 50% |
| Above $750 | $562.50 + 25% of earnings above $750 | 75% |
Other income sources like child support payments, poverty reduction credit, Canada Child benefit, Goods and Services Tax Credit (GST) do not reduce the amount of money you can receive as income assistance.
Related: Canada Child Benefit (CCB) Payment Dates
Other Nova Scotia Social Support Programs
Some of the other income support programs from the Government of Nova Scotia include:
Employment Support Services
You need to be a recipient of income assistance to be eligible for employment support. These programs are designed to make those on IA self-sufficient. Many of the services are provided in partnership with outside organizations.
Disability Support Program
The Nova Scotia disability support program provides a standard household rate and other programs to adults, youths and children with intellectual and physical disabilities or long-term mental illness.
A disability support beneficiary with a spouse and at least one dependent child can receive up to $1,393per month.
Poverty Reduction Credit (PRC)
The Nova Scotia PRC provides a quarterly tax-free payment to low-income earners with no children in the previous year. It pays $125 per quarter for a total of $500 per year.
Check this post to learn more about the Poverty Reduction Credit, the eligibility and Nova Scotia poverty cheque dates.
Nova Scotia Disability Payment Dates
The disability support program is also administered by the Department of Community Services and the payments are issued on the same date as Nova Scotia income assistance payment dates. For 2023, the payment dates are as follows:
| Payment Month | Payment Date |
| January 2023 | December 28, 29, 30, 2022 |
| February 2023 | January 27, 30, 31, 2023 |
| March 2023 | February 24, 27, 28, 2023 |
| April 2023 | March 29, 30, 31, 2023 |
| May 2023 | April 26, 27, 28, 2023 |
| June 2023 | May 29, 30, 31, 2023 |
| July 2023 | June 28, 29, 30, 2023 |
| August 2023 | July 27, 28, 31, 2023 |
| September 2023 | August 29, 30, 31, 2023 |
| October 2023 | September 27, 28, 29, 2023 |
| November 2023 | October 27, 30, 31, 2023 |
| December 2023 | November 28, 29, 30, 2023 |
Some FAQs:
Your income assistance benefit depends on a number of factors. You can earn $380 each month as an adult under the standard household rate (essentials), and up to $1,393 per month for the Standard household rate for someone that rents or own.
Yes, you’re allowed to work while on income assistance. You’ll make more money monthly if you work because your net earnings, up to a certain point, will not affect your income assistance payments.
Nova Scotia disability payments are paid 3 working days before the end of each month. The payment dates are the same as the Nova Scotia income assistance payment dates.
