Tribune
WEEKEND Friday JUNE 15, 2012
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VOL. 23 NO. 24
REACHING 10,675 HOMES WEEKLY
Strawberry tea (and cake) enjoyed at Elks Hall
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Charles and Edith Fawcett were among those who enjoyed the Royal Purple Lodge 126 Annual Strawberry Tea held at the Elks Hall in Williams Lake Wednesday. The Fawcetts have lived in Williams Lake for 59 years. Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
Job search, assistance benefits extended Tom Fletcher Black Press
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The B.C. government is extending the mandatory job search for new income assistance applicants from three to five weeks, and increasing the amount of earned income people can keep without losing part of their welfare payments. Premier Christy Clark and Social Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux announced a list of reforms to the income assistance program Monday. Employable social assistance re-
cipients will now be able to earn up to $200 per month without losing benefits, and recipients will be required to file income tax returns. Cadieux said B.C. was the only province that deducted all the earned income from employable people. The $200 exemption will allow them to develop skills and take advantage of temporary work that becomes available, she said. People receiving disability benefits will now be able to retain up to $800 a month, up from
$500. The exempted earnings can also be calculated as $9,600 a year, to allow disabled people to work more during times when their health allows it. Families on income assistance will get an increased school startup supplement before each school year, up from $84 to $100 for each child aged five to 11, and an increase from $116 to $175 for children 12 and over who are returning to school. Clark said the total cost to taxpayers for enhanced benefits will be about $5 million per year. The government is also easing
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restrictions on assets people can keep while collecting income assistance. A single person can have up to $2,000, including cash, while families are allowed to have up to $4,000 in assets. Disability assistance recipients can have up to $5,000 worth of assets for individuals and $10,000 for couples and families. Clients who are expected to work can keep a vehicle valued at up to $10,000. Cadieux said the opening of 85 WorkBC centres in April will help people find work and get off income assistance.