New Brunswick Social Assistance: Extended Benefits Program for Blind, Deaf or Disabled Individuals

Program Overview

Social Assistance in New Brunswick is administered by the Department of Social Development. It provides financial support to individuals and families who have no other financial resources to meet their basic needs. The official page states there are two main programs:

Transitional Assistance Program: provides short-term financial assistance while supporting clients along the continuum of employability.
Extended Benefits Program: provides support to clients who have been assessed as blind, deaf or disabled by the medical advisory board.

As of the September figures listed on the official page, 26,949 individuals were receiving social assistance in the province: 20,438 under the Transitional Assistance Program and 6,511 under the Extended Benefits Program.

Eligibility for the Extended Benefits Program

According to the official page, the Extended Benefits Program supports clients "who have been assessed as blind, deaf or disabled by the medical advisory board." The assessment is made by the medical advisory board, not self-declared by the applicant.

Two changes effective October 1, 2021 relate directly to disability assessment:

New definition of deaf: The Department of Social Development updated the definition of deaf in social assistance programs to facilitate better assessments for people who are hearing impaired. The official page states the modernized definition enables the use of hearing testing methods and thresholds that provide a more accurate and relevant assessment of complete or nearly complete hearing impairment. The previous definition had been in place since Regulation 95-61 was filed in 1995 under the Family Income Security Act.
Nurse practitioners authorized to sign medical forms: Nurse practitioners are authorized to sign medical forms for social assistance clients applying for disability designation. The official page states this streamlines the application process for individuals.

How Benefit Amounts Are Calculated

The official page does not list specific amounts for the Extended Benefits Program. Eligibility for social assistance is determined by adding up all income from all sources of all people in the household. If total household income is less than the rate for the family type, the household is likely eligible to receive financial help; the amount received depends on total household income.

The official page lists a Social Assistance Rate Schedule under Related Links. Specific amounts should be confirmed against that schedule.

Changes Effective October 1, 2021

The official page states the following changes represent an annual investment of $10.8 million and are effective October 1, 2021:

Income exemptions: Social assistance recipients will no longer have their benefits reduced if they also receive child support payments, the Canada-New Brunswick Housing Benefit, or compensatory money related to personal injury. The official page states that no longer considering child support payments as income will affect 1,700 families on social assistance; the average child support amount for children of single parents on social assistance is $207.40.
Wage exemption increased: Social assistance recipients can keep up to $500 of income earned each month, plus 50 cents of each additional dollar earned over $500. Prior to the changes, the wage exemption for a single client was $150 monthly plus 30 cents of each additional dollar earned; for household units of two or more, it was $200 monthly.
Elimination of the shelter deduction: The Department of Social Development will no longer reduce social assistance for clients living with parents or spending less than 25 per cent of their monthly assistance payment on housing.
Indexation of all social assistance rates to inflation: On April 1 each year, social assistance rates will be increased by the percentage change in the New Brunswick Consumer Price Index.

Relationship with Federal Disability Benefits

The provided official materials do not describe the relationship between New Brunswick's Extended Benefits Program and federal disability benefits. They do not mention coordination, offset, or application order with federal disability benefits such as the Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefit or the Canada Disability Benefit.

For federal disability benefits, consult the official pages of the relevant federal department.

How to Apply

The official page lists the following steps for social assistance:

Gather information: Before contacting the Department of Social Development, provide your mailing address, residence address (if different), and rental or mortgage costs. For every member in the household, provide first and last name, birthdate, Medicare number, Social Insurance Number (SIN), income (such as employment, child support, Employment Insurance), and assets (what every family member owns, such as a car or a house).
Call for screening: Call the provincial number for screening and intakes at 1-833-SDDSTel (1-833-733-7835). The official page states you will be asked questions to determine if you may be eligible to receive Income Assistance.
Appointment: If eligible, an appointment will be scheduled to complete the application package and provide required documentation. The official page refers to the Checklist of Documents to bring to your appointment.

Other Benefits

The official page states that in addition to Income Assistance, the Department of Social Development offers a number of benefits, including Health Cards, Emergency Fuel Benefit, Emergency Special Benefits, and Medical Transportation.