EDMONTON — The Alberta government has announced a new benefit for families that they say is intended to help lower-income Albertans make ends meet during tough economic times.

The new Alberta Child Benefit is open to all families who earn less than $41,220 per year in net income.

It offers up to $1,100 annually for families with one child under the age of 18 and up to $2,750 for families with four or more children.

Once the program is established, the government says that 235,000 children in 130,000 families will receive $195 million in benefits.

The first payments are scheduled to be paid out in August.

The government also says that there are several free tax clinics for lower-income Albertans in place to help them file their tax returns.

(CTV Edmonton)

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