Sliding Scale Program & Subsidy Fund

The Sliding Scale policy covers all new clients of NDMOW.  It is intended to relieve some of the financial burden for clients who fall in certain economic brackets, while making our meal delivery program more sustainable in the long term.  Thanks to very generous donations by 100 Women Who Care CBRM, 100 Men Who Care CBRM and many other individual and group donations, most meals sold through New Dawn Meals on Wheels are able to be subsidized to some degree.

Beginning in January 2021, The New Dawn Meals on Wheels Sliding Scale Program has replaced our former subsidy program.  The payment level at which new clients are placed, is now based on their yearly household income level.  With this change, the MOW program is attempting to meet each client where they are at financially, while creating a sustainable business model for the future. 

A copy of the sliding scale program information will be included with all new client information packages and a reminder will be sent to current clients/family annually to inform of any changes to the program or any requirement to re-submit their financial information.

Client Assessment

• All CRA income statements submitted to MOW must have been issued within the last two (2) years.  NDMOW will use line 150 from the Notice of Assessment Form to determine the client’s subsidy level.   
• Clients can obtain a copy of their Income Tax Assessment Form by calling Revenue Canada at 1-800-959-8281.
• New MOW clients will be given a two (2) month grace period from the time they register for the program, during which they must submit their proof of yearly household income. 
• If the subsidy application form is not submitted with proof of the client’s yearly household income, Meals on Wheels will begin billing the client at $12 per meal.   

If there is a difference between the client’s verbal declaration of income given during their registration and the income level found on their CRA income statement, the client’s price per meal will be adjusted to the correct level and the client may be billed retroactively for the difference on meals already consumed.   

• The MOW Program Coordinator will confirm with the client/family, in writing, which sliding scale level they have been placed at and confirm the details of this policy.
• If a client is approved for a sliding scale level, but leaves the program for any reason and then returns to the program within the same year, they are still eligible to remain at their sliding scale level.  They do not need to re-submit their Notice of Assessment.

Third Party Billing & Payments by Family or Friends

• If the yearly household income of the family member who is paying also falls within one of the first three levels on the sliding scale, they will also be eligible for that subsidy level.  The family member would have to go through the same application process as a client would.
• If the family member has power of attorney and is paying for the client’s meals out of the client’s money, the client is still eligible for a subsidy level as long as their yearly household income from the last two (2) years falls somewhere within the first three levels on the sliding scale.
• Clients are only eligible for subsidy levels if they are paying for their own meals, not if a Governmental or Non-Governmental Agency is paying for them.
  • Such agencies include:
    • Department of Veteran Affairs
    • Department of Community Services
    • Membertou Health Department and Wellness Centre
    • Nova Scotia Health Authority
    • Any other Governmental or Non-Governmental Agency that subsidizes meals or pays the full cost of a client’s meals.

Last updated: June 15, 2021