FREDERICTON (CNB) - Low-income seniors will be able to apply for the provincial Low-Income Seniors' Benefit for 2008, Finance Minister Victor Boudreau announced today.

The annual benefit is a $200 cheque from the Government of New Brunswick to help low-income seniors.

"The government is committed to help seniors who are most in need, and we are pleased to provide this benefit once again this year," Boudreau said.

To be eligible for the benefit, seniors must have been residents of New Brunswick on Dec. 31, 2007 and received one of these federal benefits:

  • The Guaranteed Income Supplement (65 years or older);
  • The Allowance for Survivor Program (between 60-64 years old); or
  • The Allowance Program (between 60-64 years old).

Where both spouses received the Guaranteed Income Supplement and resided in the same household, only one payment will be allocated.

The deadline to apply for the supplement is Dec. 1, 2008.

Application forms are available at Service New Brunswick centers and online at http://www.gnb.ca/Finance.

Completed applications can be returned to the Department of Finance, P.O. Box 3000, Centennial Building, Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5G5.

For more information individuals can call 1-800-669-7070, Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.

08-04-08