Released on June 8, 1998
Social Services Minister Lorne Calvert today toured the BuildingIndependence - Investing in Families Call Centre in Regina. The
centre has been flooded with calls since its inception, receiving
5,194 calls between March 26 and May 31.
The Call Centre inquiry line provides information on the Building
Independence programs available for low income families with children
including: the Saskatchewan Employment Supplement, the Saskatchewan
Child Benefit and Family Health Benefits.
Effective June 1st the line began accepting applications for the
Saskatchewan Employment Supplement. By the end of the day June 7th
the Call Centre had received more than 3,400 calls, more than 1,700
families including 3,500 children had registered with the program.
"I am pleased at the public interest we are seeing in these programs,"
Calvert said. "The Employment Supplement will play an important role
in helping families stay in the workforce and in assisting families
who receive social assistance to achieve independence."
To apply for the Saskatchewan Employment Supplement or for more
information on these programs call 1-888-488-6385, or in Regina at
787-4723. The inquiry line is operated from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays
and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
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For more information, contact:
Virginia Wilkinson
Social Services
Regina Phone: (306)787-0916
BUILDING INDEPENDENCE - INVESTING IN FAMILIES BACKGROUNDER
Through the Building Independence strategy, the Government of
Saskatchewan announced three new programs in the 1998/99 Budget.
The Saskatchewan Employment Supplement provides a monthly payment
to supplement income earned by lower income parents from wages,
self-employment or child/spousal maintenance. It will assist
parents with the child related costs of going to work and will
ensure that families are better off working than they would be on
social assistance.
The Saskatchewan Child Benefit is a monthly allowance that will
be paid to eligible families on behalf of each child under 18
years of age. It will provide for children's basic food,
clothing and personal needs regardless of a parent's
circumstances. It will assist lower income families with the
cost of raising children.
Family Health Benefits, led by Saskatchewan Health, will provide
supplementary health benefits to low income families to prevent
them from falling onto social assistance because of the health
needs of their children and to help families on social assistance
move more easily into the workforce.
The Saskatchewan Employment Supplement and Saskatchewan Child
Benefit come into effect in July 1998. Family Health Benefits
come into effect in August 1998.
These three new programs build on the good work of three existing
programs which include the Provincial Training Allowance, the
Youth Futures pilot project, and the department's enhanced
accountability measures.
The Provincial Training Allowance, which is administerd through
Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training in
partnership with the province's training institutions,is a
monthly payment for students enrolled in adult basic education or
related courses. The Allowance provides a bridge to the worforce
for lower income families or families receiving social
assistance.
The Youth Futures pilot project is a unique community delivered
pilot project in Prince Albert which works to link youth aged 18-21 to education programs, skills training and the workforce. It
is also administerd through Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Education
and Skills Training.
In addition, Saskatchewan Social Services is enhancing its
accountability measures to ensure that assistance is provided to
only those who are eligible for benefits.