New Brunswick Plans to Increase Welfare Benefits

The government in New Brunswick is all set to increase the welfare by seven percent throughout the next year in hopes of substantially diminishing the poverty level across the province.

What this means is that most welfare recipients can expect to experience an increase about a four percent by autumn of this year, with another three percent coming in the spring of 2014. As it stands, the maximum a single mother with one child can receive is $827 – that could be increased up to $885.

Local officials say that the reforms to the policy will provide the necessary means for many people to pull themselves out of poverty – allowing them to continue to collect benefits and work a job.

"The wage exemption piece that's been introduced will allow people to work and receive a portion of their assistance while they're working, and they can work towards a complete reduction in the long term,” said coordinator of Vibrant Communities, Barry Galloway.

However, critics of the welfare changes say that the increase will not likely be enough to make any relevant difference and that people receiving social assistance will still be living below poverty level once the benefits increase. Not to mention, employable, single people will not see any additional money.

The struggles of poverty continue to be an issue in some parts of New Brunswick, mostly due to high rates of unemployment.