The province announced yesterday a new income support program. Saskatchewan Income Support will help people receiving income assistance overcome challenges, earn more income, become more self-sufficient and start a career.

Social Services Minister Paul Merriman said the new, simpler program is designed to help transition clients to greater independence through more contact with support staff.

“The most fundamental shift we're making has to do with our relationship with our clients, how we interact with them and how we support them,” he said. “The system that is in place today is complicated and cumbersome, and takes time away from our workers that could be spending more time with our clients.”

Through motivational interviewing, staff will be able to support clients to make positive decisions, manage their benefits/household expenses, and reach their goals.

Clients who are currently on the Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP) or Transitional Employment Allowance (TEA), will remain on those programs until they are wound down in the summer of 2021, or until clients voluntarily move to the new program or no longer require income support. As of July 15, SAP and TEA will no longer accept new applications. However, the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program will remain in place and continue to run alongside the new program.

“While our programs provide for clients' basic needs, none of these processes help their clients actually deal with the challenges that brought them to us in the first place,” addressed Merriman. “We should be working with our clients more to help them become self-sufficient, gain employment, start a career, and possibly overcome their life challenges.”

The program is the first of its kind in more than 50 years in the province and has been tailored to suit the modern needs of those receiving income assistance. For example, applications can be done online, and monthly earned income exemptions allow clients to keep more of their money as they move into the workforce.

“The traditional income assistance model, with all of its complexities, was designed with the very best of intentions to help people in their times of need,” he noted. “But it was always meant to be a last resort for people who are unable to meet their basic needs. The purpose is to provide temporary support until people are able to regain their self-sufficiency.”

One of the ways Social Services is changing its supports is by joining together with Ignite Adult Learning to help young at-risk adults become independent and self-supporting. They've also enlisted the help of READ Saskatoon to assist with financial literacy skills and tools such as creating household budgets.

Since 2007-08, government funding for income assistance programs has increased by $275 million, or 89 per cent.

The SIS will begin accepting applications on July 15, 2019.