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By battlefordsNOW Staff

Income Assistance

Income assistance clients seeing increases starting May 1

May 1, 2024 | 11:02 AM

Starting Wednesday, clients using Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) and Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) are set to get a three per cent rise in income assistance benefits.

“Depending on your individual situation, whether you have children or where you might live within the province that could vary a little bit but across the board it’s a three per cent lift,” said Gene Makowsky, social services minister in an interview with battlefordsNOW.

According to the release, $7.4 million funding will give households up to $90 more monthly between $60 for the Adult Basic Benefit and Shelter Benefit and $30 for the Alternate Heating Benefit.

“I note in communities right across the province, including in North Battleford and Meadow Lake, the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation has affordable and social housing available to those who qualify,” he said.

According to the release, clients of SAID will see their Living Income Benefit go up by an additional $55 from $6.34 million in funding for the service that provides “actual utility costs including alternate heating costs.”

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“The other program I’d point to is the Saskatchewan Employment Incentive (SEI). That is a new program that the ministry and the government has brought forward to help individuals who are of low income be able to afford going to work and to be able to choose work rather than the income assistance program over time I think would benefit those low-income families.”

Meanwhile, Makowsky said they are consulting with stakeholders but acknowledged that more needs to be done.

“Some of the things that I note outside of the two core income assistance areas are some of the things that we’re able to do with our mobile case workers who are able to help individuals in the communities right around the province,” he said.

“To be able to connect with those folks who might be struggling to help them and put them on a path and get them the benefits that they are able to.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com