FREDERICTON (CNB) – The provincial government will be increasing back-to-school support for low-income families for the 2011-12 academic year, to $100 per child from $50 per child. About 13,500 families will receive funding from the School Supplement Program.
"I am pleased that our government's commitment to increase funding will help families buy school supplies for more than 20,000 children," said Social Development Minister Sue Stultz. "The province’s poverty reduction plan – Overcoming Poverty Together: The New Brunswick Economic and Social Inclusion Plan – clearly indicates that children must have the necessary resources to meet their basic needs. I am proud that our government is helping to fulfil that need by increasing the school supplement funding."
Funding for the program increased by $2 million this year to $2.6 million.
"Meeting a child's back-to-school needs can be a costly venture," said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Jody Carr. "This funding will help low-income families relieve some of the added financial pressure that a new school year brings and help students get the supplies they need to learn."
The program is designed to help children of families that have an annual gross income of less than $20,000 and that have a child in school born between Jan. 1, 1994, and Dec. 31, 2006.
The Department of Social Development uses New Brunswick Child Tax Benefit data to issue cheques under this program. Families that have not received a cheque or believe they qualify under the program may call 1-855-922-6822 (toll-free) to receive an application form. The application deadline is Dec. 31.
05-08-11