• Canada has an established set of welfare benefits and regulations.o' canada image by Kathryn Palmer from Fotolia.com
  
  There are 13 different welfare systems in Canada, all established to meet the personal and emotional needs of its citizens. Developed and expanded in the late 1900's, these services are generally referred to as the personal social services. Canada developed welfare services for a number of purposes, most of which are for families, the elderly, the developmentally and physically challenged persons, youth and children.
  
  

Child Welfare

• In 1998 the National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) was established by the Canadian federal government to provide financial benefits to low-income families with children. The general child welfare system in Canada provides mental health centers for residential care and counseling services for children with psychological problems, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia website. Group home, residential services and foster homes are available through Canada welfare services for neglected or abused children removed from their natural parents. Adoption services are also part of the child welfare system. Pre-school children day-care services have also been established for low-income families.
  
  

Elderly and Disabled

• Small community-based nursing homes and larger centers for long-term care of the elderly are services covered under the Canada Social and Welfare system, according to the canadianencyclopedia.ca website. For the mentally and physically challenged, residential services have been developed that include foster and group homes and larger-scale institutions. Workshops to provide training to integrate a challenged person into the community have also been introduced in some Canadian jurisdictions.
  
  

Working Income Tax Benefit

• In 2007 the Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) was established for low-income Canadian citizens who generate an income from employment or a business, according to the National Council of Welfare. WITB pays a maximum amount to individuals and families depending on their net income. Conversely there is a ceiling net income amount for single persons with no children and for families in which WITB benefits would not be paid. These amounts are adjusted on an annual basis as income fluctuates.