For Immediate Release
May 15, 2024
Today, Inclusion Saskatchewan echoes the concerns of self-advocates, families, and disability organizations across Canada about the recent Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) announcement. Instead of receiving $2,400 per month, an amount that would have changed the lives of people with intellectual disabilities by lifting them out of poverty, CDB recipients will only receive a maximum of $2,400 per year. This amounts to up to $200 monthly or only $6 daily. The CDB does not come anywhere close to the intent of Bill C-22 or what was expected by disability organizations and advocates at all levels.
“We held such hope for this framework legislation to be a true benefit for people with intellectual disabilities, but not only is the maximum amount of the benefit a fraction of what people actually need, the eligibility through the Disability Tax Credit also makes this benefit largely inaccessible,” says Inclusion Saskatchewan President, Bluesette Campbell.
Right now, the most important thing for people with intellectual disabilities in Saskatchewan is that this benefit does not get clawed back by the Government of Saskatchewan. While $200 per month is nowhere near an adequate amount, it is a starting point. We call on the Government of Saskatchewan to ensure that Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) and Self-Directed Funding (SDF) are not reduced due to Saskatchewan citizens receiving this federal benefit.
“We’re working on this. It took seven years to get the small increase to SAID that we got last year. $200 a month is inadequate for sure, but it’s a start. If it goes through and SAID starts clawing it back, then we’re not going to end up getting anywhere. Even if they only claw back $20 a month, that’s $20 we could have used for groceries,” says self-advocate Charlene Eger.
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For more information, contact:
Travis Neufeld
Director of Marketing & Communications
Inclusion Saskatchewan
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