N.W.T. won't claw back child care benefit from income support families
Premier says retroactive payment will be exempt from unearned income limit
The Northwest Territories government won't claw back the retroactive universal child care benefit payment from families on income assistance, says the premier.
In the N.W.T., people on income support are allowed to claim $1,200 per year of unearned income, such as GST rebate cheques, tax refunds and gifts. Any more and that money gets subtracted from their income support payments.
The federal government increased the amount of the child care benefit this year and is applying the increase retroactively to Jan. 1. Eligible residents are expected to receive retroactive payments over the next few weeks.
"The GNWT has made the decision to exempt the federal retroactive payment," Premier Bob McLeod was quoted as saying in a news release issued Friday.
Otherwise families on income support "would not necessarily benefit from the full retroactive payment in the same way as other N.W.T. residents with children," the release said.
McLeod says the territorial government must be "innovative and flexible" with programs and services to help residents "live strong and independent lives."