The Honourable Paul Pike, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development, today announced that the Employment Stability Pilot for individuals in receipt of Income Support will be expanded province-wide this fall.

People in receipt of Income Support throughout the province who begin a new job or continue to work can keep more of their earnings and immediately experience increased financial supports and benefits from working. Some of the enhanced supports and benefits include:

• A new earnings exemption formula that allows people to retain higher earnings and results in higher overall monthly incomes; and
• Employment continuation bonuses to provide escalating financial rewards for continuous employment and to increase experience working. Bonuses are $250 at six months, $500 at 12 months and $1,000 at 24 months.

Minister Pike was joined by collaborating partners Laura Winters, Chief Executive Officer, Stella’s Circle, and Sheldon Pollett, Executive Director, Choices for Youth. The pilot was officially launched in January 2023, and is currently delivered in collaboration with Stella’s Circle and Choices for Youth to people in the St. John’s metro area.

There are over 170 participants enrolled in the pilot and nearly 40 of these participants no longer need Income Support to supplement their earnings. By working more, participants engaged in the workforce or who have increased their hours of work now have higher overall monthly incomes.

The pilot is undergoing an independent evaluation to inform further changes to the province’s Income Support Program.

Quotes
“As a government, we remain committed to better supporting the well-being and financial situation of families and individuals throughout the province. By expanding the financial benefits of the Employment Stability Pilot province-wide, we will be able to help more people in receipt of Income Support to transition to employment. In partnership with Stella’s Circle and Choices for Youth, this program has been successful to date and I look forward to its continued success to help those who can increase their labour market attachment.”
Honourable Paul Pike
Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development

“The Employment Stability Pilot expansion is a shift towards progressive, person-centered policy. When community organizations are given the opportunity to uplift the voices of participants; and when partners in government are open to hearing those voices; we’ve proven we can work together to make the system better to support community members. These improvements to Income Support province-wide will empower people to make the changes they seek in their lives.”
Laura Winters
CEO, Stella’s Circle

“At Choices for Youth, we are thrilled to see the excellent results of this pilot project in successfully supporting young people’s transition to the labour market through financial incentives and wrap-around supports. We are pleased to see several components of this pilot project extended to help address the financial needs of those who are making the often very challenging transition from the income support system to employment. We look forward to continuing to work with our partners at Stella’s Circle and the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development as we collectively strive to reduce systemic barriers to employment for vulnerable populations in our province.”
Sheldon Pollett
Executive Director, Choices for Youth

-30-

Learn more
Well-Being NL

New Employment Support Stability Pilot Project Officially Launched

Follow us on Twitter @GovNL and @CSSD_GovNL

Like us on Facebook