Province says cuts to caregivers’ benefit won’t impact Nova Scotians who rely on it

The Nova Scotia long-term care minister says the caregivers benefit won't be affected by the budget cuts.

After weeks of uncertainty around cuts to the provincial caregivers’ benefit, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care Barbara Adams confirmed Monday that anyone who receives the $400 per month subsidy won’t be impacted by spending cuts.

Families have been protesting cuts to the caregivers benefit at the legislature and asking for government to reconsider the 20 per cent cut.

Kari Robertson shared her family’s story at the legislature last week and instead of government cutting spending to the program she’s been asking government to increase the monthly benefit.

Robertson cares for her 45-year-old son Graham at home, who lives with severe epilepsy and can not live on his own.

“I had to give up my career in order to take care of Graham,” said Robertson. “No job I had would have allowed me the time I needed to be with Graham.”

Sixteen years ago, the Robertsons first heard of the caregivers benefit and applied for it.

“It made a huge difference to the essentials of our lives,” said Richardson. “More than that it told me the government actually cared and valued what I was doing.”

Robertson said she is angry and anxious about what she called “cruel cuts” and what they could mean for her family.

“Our family relies on this benefit, like our son relies on us to take care of him,” said Robertson.

It was revealed the province was cutting $2.5 million from the nearly $13 million caregiver benefit program – news that came out when the Houston government tabled its budget two weeks ago.

After two weeks of uncertainty around the impacts to those who receive the grant, Adams confirmed Monday the roughly 3,000 people who rely on the grant will not see any reductions.

“There’s been a lot of noise around the legislature and getting all of the messaging out has been a bit of a challenge,” said Adams. “And so, I am really happy to have this opportunity to reassure all Nova Scotians who are getting the caregivers benefit that their benefits are not going to be impacted.”

Adams says the $2.5 million in cuts come from savings within the department who suggests that fewer people are relying on the benefit. Adams credits the addition of more long-term care beds to helping reduce the list.

“The expectation with this is that there maybe less utilization next year because we are opening up so many nursing homes,” said Adams.

Last week the province couldn’t say what the impact of the reduced spending would be for those who rely on the caregivers’ benefit. Minister Adams at the time told media that more details would emerge after the budget passed through the legislature.

The opposition NDP tabled a bill last week that would double the caregivers benefit to $800 dollars per month if passed. That’s an increase that the executive director of Caregivers Nova Scotia agreed with.

“If this program is reduced, caregivers will feel it immediately,” said Jenny Theriault in a press release last week.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said the province’s inability to provide more details around the caregivers benefit and the cuts last week only caused further stress and anxiety for families.

“Caregivers like the families who have been reaching out to their MLAs and the ones who were here in this house, they need that answer yesterday,” said Chender. “These are people who are dealing loved ones with complex needs, things don’t change on a dime.”

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