June 11, 2012 - 4:22 PM
VICTORIA - Premier Christy Clark says she's introducing a $5 million income supplement program to help vulnerable British Columbia families make ends meet and people with disabilities look for jobs.
She says welfare system changes coming later this year will help needy families with school-age children and allow people receiving disability assistance to earn up to $800 per month without losing their benefits.
Clark says the program gives needy families $100 for every child between five and 11 for school start-up costs and $175 for every child 12 and over.
She says the assistance also includes more tax exemptions for families on welfare, a $200 monthly earnings exemption to welfare recipients eligible for work, and improved access to dental care for children.
However, the program will also require new welfare applicants to search for work for five weeks, up from three.
Clark says her support for vulnerable families is what she's calling the first pillar of her Families First Agenda.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012