The province is putting more money back into seniors' hands, helping them make ends meet, and stay in their homes and communities longer.

Premier Darrell Dexter today, April 3, announced that more of the province's poorest seniors will be exempt from paying provincial income tax, more seniors will have a portion of their income tax returned to them, and the province will increase the maximum property tax rebate available to seniors.

"Today's seniors represent a generation of people who worked their entire lives to help build this province. They put down roots, raised their families, and paid the taxes that built our social safety net," said Premier Dexter. "Taking better care of our seniors -- giving them the quality of life and peace of mind that they deserve -- has always been, and will remain, a top government priority."

Each year, 17,000 low-income seniors have benefited from not having to pay provincial income tax, meaning an average of $450 was put back into the hands of seniors who needed it most.

Starting Jan. 1, 2014, the number of seniors who will no longer pay provincial income tax will increase to 25,000. Another 4,000 seniors will have a portion of their income tax returned to them.

"That's 29,000 seniors who will be able to make choices based on what's best for them, not out of fear of not being able to make ends meet," said Premier Dexter.

The province will also increase the maximum property tax rebate that is available to seniors by $200, from $600 to $800, helping 4,000 seniors stay in their own homes and their own communities longer.

"I am proud of the work we have done for seniors: more long-term care beds; better home-care services; adding nurse practitioners and paramedics into long-term care facilities; and taking the HST off of home energy," said Premier Dexter. "These are significant changes that have made a real difference for Nova Scotia seniors. And they deserve it."

The provincial budget will be tabled in the legislature Thursday.