Revisions include quadrupled mental health sessions and higher pension income thresholds
The government has announced changes to the Financial Assistance Regulations to better support some of our most vulnerable residents – seniors and those dealing with mental health challenges.
Currently, seniors on financial assistance can have up to $500 of their pension excluded from income calculations. But because pensions have gone up, some seniors are seeing their assistance reduced.
Tinee Furbert, Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, says to remedy this, the threshold will increase.
The second change to the legislation, tabled in the House of Assembly on Friday, will see the number of mental health sessions offered under financial assistance quadrupled.
The changes will affect some 370 pensioners but are yet to be Gazetted and reflected in Government’s system – processes which Minister Furbert hopes will take place by October.
