Province Expands Home Heating Program Supports Vulnerable Nova Scotians
The Province is providing more help to Nova Scotians struggling with the rising cost of living.
As part of a $100-million effort to help low- and middle-income Nova Scotians with home heating, more people than ever before will be eligible for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program this year. The amount per household will also increase for this year.
The inflationary pressures were seeing across the country and around the world are making life harder right here in Nova Scotia, said Premier Tim Houston. We know many families are struggling to heat their homes and we want to help. This investment will help many more Nova Scotians stay warm this winter.
The HARP rebate will increase this winter from $200 to $1,000. Households with an income of up to $85,000 will be eligible. Applications for the expanded program will open January 30.
Anyone who has already qualified for a HARP rebate this year will automatically receive an additional payment in the new year.
The Province is also increasing support to vulnerable Nova Scotians. Before Christmas, all households receiving income assistance will get an additional one-time payment of $250. Full-time foster families will receive $1,000.
The government will also provide $8.7 million in grants this month to community partner organizations across Nova Scotia, including:
There is no need for people or organizations to apply to receive these funds, except for new HARP applicants.
Us Department Of Agriculture
The USDA offers several programs aimed at all sectors of the agricultural community. Programs include farm loans, housing assistance,loans and grants for rural economic development, loans for beginning farmers and ranchers, livestock insurance, and more.Detailed information on all USDA programs, including how to apply, can be found on the USDA Grants and Loans program web page.
Medical Transportation Assistance Program
The Medical Transportation Assistance Program provides financial assistance to beneficiaries of the Medical Care Plan who incur substantial out-of-pocket travel costs to access specialized insured medical services which are not available in their immediate area of residence and / or within the Province.
MCP beneficiaries required to travel for specialized insured medical services may be eligible to apply for financial assistance under MTAP for airfare private vehicle usage purchased registered and private accommodations busing and use of ferries based on program criteria .
Recent changes to MTAP effective April 1, 2021 include:
Private Accommodation Benefit and Meal Allowance
- MTAP will provide clients a $25 nightly accommodations benefit and a $29 meal allowance when staying with family and/or friends during medical travel.
Private Vehicle Usage Component
- MTAP will reduce deductible kilometres for all private vehicle usage claims within a 12-month period from 1,500 to 500.
Complete information on MTAP, including how the program works, eligibility criteria, application and document requirements, recent changes and allowable expenses can all be found in the handy Medical Services Brochure.
Links to all applicable application forms including purchased registered and private accommodations, private vehicle usage, partial pre-payment of economy airfare and direct deposit are also outlined below for easy access.
How MTAP Works
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If You Do Not Qualify For Health Care Assistance And Cannot Afford Insurance
Perhaps you are unable to meet the eligibility requirements for government health care assistance programs. You find the monthly cost of private insurance too expensive, but you want it and need it. A possible solution is to consider ways to create financial capacity to pay the insurance premiums.
As an option, speak with a financial professional or counselor to find out how you might modify your life style or increase your income to afford monthly insurance payments. Also, take a look at the money management tools presented in Managing Your Finances, such as creating a spending plan and tracking how you spend your money.
Search By Type Of Program
There are three main types of affordable rental housing that are supported by HUD:
- Privately owned, subsidized housing in which landlords are paid by the government to offer reduced rents to low-income tenants. Search for an apartment and apply directly at the rental management office.
- For complaints about subsidized housing, call the Multifamily Housing Complaint Line at .
If you have trouble contacting your local public housing agency, contact your local HUD field office for help.
If you’re a landlord, learn how you can participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program.
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Medical Transportation Assistance For Income Support Clients
Medical transportation assistance for Income Support clients had previously been provided under a separate program operated by the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour. In 2018, administration of that program was transferred to the Department of Health and Community Services. Income Support recipients who are required to travel to receive health care services should contact HCS at 1-833-729-6106 for further information.
Subsidized Housing Housing Vouchers And Public Housing Programs
Housing Assistance helps low-income families, seniors, and people with disabilities get into affordable private or government-owned rental housing. The Housing Choice Voucher Program gives certificates to rent approved units. The subsidy allows recipients to pay no more than 30 percent of their income. It provides 1.2 million units of public housing and local agencies administer it to 2.2 million renters. This is the old Section 8 program. The Public Housing Agency also allows some families to use the voucher to purchase a modest home.
There is also the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program , providing energy assistance and weatherization programs. It provides $3.4 billion in block grants to the states.
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Are There Other Places I Can Get Help If I Don’t Qualify For Liheap
If your income is too high to qualify for LIHEAP but you need help paying for your energy bills, your local social services agency or a nonprofit organization may have funds to help. You can also contact your gas, oil, or electric company about budget billing programs or new payment options especially for customers with disabilities who are on Supplemental Security Income .
Major Findings On Us Economic Policies And Conditions Facing American Voters
The results of this latest survey show that American voters want the government to play a strong role in securing basic living standards for all people. Specifically, the majority of voters back a range of proposals to increase the economic security of and opportunities for low-income families. This section presents some of the specific findings.
On the responsibility of government to meet basic human rights and provide support
Strong majorities of voters across party lines view access to clean water, a quality public education, adequate food, and housing as basic human rights that should be secured by the federal government. The survey presented respondents with a series of items and asked them to rate them on a scale of 0 to 10, where 10 means that item represents a basic human right that should be guaranteed to everyone and 0 means that government should not be involved and that the provision of the item should be left completely to the free market.
Affordable, quality child care falls further down the list, although with majority support overall for government taking a role in providing it . Meanwhile, broadband internet access is seen as a basic human right by a majority of Democrats only .
Table 1
On individual economic situations in the wake of COVID-19
Overall, 44 percent of voters report experiencing at least one of the five items, with 28 percent experiencing three or more challenges and 13 percent of voters experiencing all five.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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Fact: Most Americans Receiving Public Benefits Paid For Them
For many, the phrase public benefits implies money handed out to poor peoplebut thats not the case. Recipients who benefit from the nations major social insurance programsSocial Security, Medicare, and unemployment insuranceinclude middle-class and low-income Americans. In 2010, 39 percent of households had at least one person participating in at least one of these programs. Within the fiscal year 2011 budget, those three programs accounted for an estimated 60 percent of the dollars going out to individuals.
Within these social insurance programs, most of the participants have paid into them, through payroll taxes taken out of their own paychecks and through contributions paid on their behalf by their employers. Like private life or property insurance, everyone makes regular contributions with the expectation that when a certain event occurs , they will be protected and able to collect benefits they have paid for.
Conservatives focus on how the costs of these programs have grown over the past several decades, but so too have the publics payments into them. Currently payments into social insurance programs represent an estimated 37 percent of federal receipts in 2011, compared to 17 percent in 1961 and 31 percent in 1981, including federal employees payments into their retirement accounts .
Hud Public Housing And Grants For Single Parents
The HUD Public Housing Assistance Program provides low-cost rental housing to low-income families. All States and territories are served by HUD Public Housing, which has more than 3,300 Local Public Housing Agencies.
You can find out more about eligibility and application requirements by contacting your local public housing agency or by calling the Service Center at 1-800-955-2232 at no cost. You can also visit the website for more information on the assistance offered to single mothers.
Aside from Section 8 vouchers and project-based rental assistance, public housing is one of the nations three primary housing assistance programs for single mothers. Unlike Section 8, public housing offers low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled the possibility of living in a public housing unit for a reasonable rent, even if they come from low-income families. Rent and utilities are generally not more than 30% of tenants incomes.
Most programs serve families with incomes between 80% and 100% of the local median income, although variations may vary by area. You must submit your public housing application to the local housing authority of the city or town where you plan to be considered for public housing. If the HA determines you are eligible, it will add your name to the list.
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Government Job Training And Free Child Care Subsidies
Several federal government agencies are focused on supporting people and helping them find a job or gain new skills. Todays workforce is very competitive and employers are demanding certain skills or training. State and federal assistance programs including One-Stop Career Centers, the Workforce Investment Act, and local employment centers can help the under and unemployed. Continue reading .
Anyone who needs more money can also . There are positions with state or federal government affiliated agencies, private employers, non-profits and even Internet companies as well as websites. All of these will pay cash as a form of financial help.
Day and child care assistance is available in all states. Many parents struggle with paying for child care expenses while they are working, in school or seeking a new job. can be obtained which can help a qualified family with paying for a portion of their bills.
Would Make It Harder For Struggling Families To Put Food On The Table
The 2020 budget would cut SNAP by $220 billion, or about 30 percent, over the next ten years. It would impose large benefit cuts on most households even though current benefits average just $1.40 per person per meal, and would dramatically restructure how benefits are delivered. It includes other benefit and eligibility cuts, as well, that would cause at least 4 million people to lose SNAP benefits altogether. The cuts would affect every category of SNAP participants, including the unemployed, the elderly, individuals with disabilities, and low-income working families with children.
In this area, the budget would:
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Government Assistance For Housing
Finding affordable housing is often difficult, especially if you live in a high cost of living area. These government-run housing programs can help keep you in your home.
Down payment assistance programs
If youre interested in buying a home, but need help with the down payment, there are a number of FHA grants available. Be sure to check the eligibility requirements for each grant, as they vary from program to program and state to state.
You might also be able to get assistance from a VA loan or USDA loan as well.
Affordable housing
There are a number of government programs that help with paying rent, as well as a number of private charities and organizations. To qualify for HUD assistance, you must meet income eligibility requirements as well as guidelines for family size and composition. The type and amount of assistance varies from state to state.
HUD is offering $112M in grants available to expand #affordablehousing for low-income persons with disabilities. AND, for the first time in nearly a decade, new grants to build more!
The three main programs supported by HUD are:
- Privately-owned subsidized housing
- Housing Choice Vouchers
You can find out if you qualify for one of these programs by contacting your local housing authority. Please note that in most areas, the Section 8 waiting list is incredibly long and in some cities, the list is closed to new applicants.
Foreclosure prevention
Types Of Health Care Assistance Programs
Exploring government health care assistance options can be a daunting task. States and local governments run these programs, often under a variety of names and departments. And program eligibility requirements and health care services differ from state-to-state as well.
If you are just beginning to find out about government health care assistance programs, contact your countys Office of Public Assistance or Social Services. A case worker will describe what programs are available, and the eligibility requirements and health care services offered for each one.
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Immediate Food Assistance From State And Federal Government Organizations
Free food from assistance programs are offered by the state as well as federal government. Resources are also offered by local charities, non-profit organizations, and churches that partner with the government. All of these agencies provide free immediately as well as groceries to those in need.
Food banks and free pantries also help people today as well as millions of people per year. Many struggling families receive free food, hot meals and groceries from these non-profit run pantries every year. These centers help the low income, unemployed, working poor, and others make it through a difficult period. Many offer other forms of aid as well, such as clothing. More on .
Section 8 Rental Subsidy
As one of the most critical housing programs that help single moms in the country, Section 8 is a program that assists the neediest families in finding safe and decent housing. Families with very low incomes, those who are elderly, or those who are disabled can qualify for a portion of their rent to be paid by vouchers under this program.
You may be eligible for a voucher covering 70% of your rent and utilities. Although the voucher will cover 70% of your rent and utilities, you must pay for the remaining 30% as the renter.
For instance, a single mother of two might receive a voucher worth about $440 per month for renting an apartment for $700 and working 30 hours weekly at minimum wage.
Section 8 has historically been oversubscribed, resulting in long waiting lists that can last for years without any end in sight. It would be best to contact your local PHA serving your community to find out about wait times in your area.
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Learn More About The Wic Program
Your agency may not have enough money to serve everyone who needs WIC. In that case, it will maintain a waiting list and use a priority system to decide who will get WIC benefits first.
For more information and help applying, contact your state or local WIC agency. You can also call its toll-free number.
Qualify Through Your Child Or Dependent
Any member of your household can make your household eligible if they participate in one of the programs above. For example, if your child or dependent participates in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or is enrolled in a USDA Community Eligibility Provision school, your household qualifies for the ACP benefit.
You can apply online or with the assistance of your internet company.
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Government Assistance Programs For Utilities
One of the largest household expenses after food and housing is utilities. Keeping the lights on and heating and cooling your home can take up a huge portion of your monthly income. These programs can help offset those costs and help you save on energy bills.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
A federally-funded program designed to help low-income families with energy costs, LIHEAP provides financial assistance for paying heating and cooling bills.
#LIHEAP helps the most vulnerable American families afford their home energy bills. We urge Congress to #ProtectLIHEAP and our communities. #LIHEAPaction
National Grid US
It can also help with emergency or crisis issues, like having your heat shut off in the winter or weatherizing your home. It doesnt provide assistance for water or sewer bills.
Weatherization Assistance Program
This is a program run by the U.S. Department of Energy that provides grants to help low-income households reduce their energy costs by improving the energy efficiency and safety of their homes. Families must meet eligibility requirements to receive this type of assistance.
You can read more about the program and eligibility requirements by visiting the Weatherization Assistance Programs website.
