Benefits and Pensions Monitor’s Post

The Canada Disability Benefit can offer more for people’s basic needs, but the nuances of living with a disability in poverty can only be understood through genuine co-creation — involving persons with disabilities in creating the details of the benefit. Disabled people in poverty need this benefit and they need it now. Disability Without Poverty is calling on the Minister of Finance to “Budget the Benefit” and reassure Canadians that the benefit will be of an adequate amount, and reach people before an election is called. Let’s hurry up and regulate this benefit so that disabled Canadians in poverty can have some relief and can live with dignity. #BudgetTheBenefit #EndDisablityPoverty https://lnkd.in/es8DX2vf

"The Canada Disability Benefit can offer more for people’s basic needs, but the nuances of living with a disability in poverty can only be understood through genuine co-creation — involving persons with disabilities in creating the details of the benefit. Disabled people in poverty need this benefit and they need it now. We are ready and able to provide the necessary co-creation support needed for the system to implement the Canada Disability Benefit and get money to the people who need it most. Let’s hurry up and regulate this benefit so that disabled Canadians in poverty can have some relief and can live with dignity." #BudgetTheBenefit https://lnkd.in/eEgMD4dX

We now have the numbers to show the estimated impact of the Canada Disability Benefit. About 1.6% disabled people will no longer be considered as living in poverty by 2028. The feds expect 25,000 disabled Canadians to be "lifted out of poverty." That's the phrase a number of people seem to want to use about this. There are currently about 1.6 million disabled folks living in poverty.

When did it become ok for government to disregard legislation? So incredibly disappointed that the Federal government announced the Canada Disability Benefit amount in the budget that is less than anyone imagined #MissingAZero . There was no consultation on what was announced - $200 per month ($6 per day) will not lift people with a disability out of poverty. The purpose of the Act is to reduce poverty and "the amount of the benefit must take into consideration (a) the Official Poverty Line; (b) the additional costs associated with living with a disability". An additional amount of $2,400  per year will not bring any person with a disability in our province above the poverty line who are currently receiving provincial disability assistance. Persons with a disability and single mothers are the most impoverished populations in NB. The Canada Disability Benefit is a chance to prototype a living wage with our most vulnerable citizens. I hear this every day and it keeps me up at night: "What do I choose this month? Food, power, phone, rent, over the counter medications, assistive devices, incontinence supplies, snow removal, accessible transportation, hearing aids.... Poverty does not allow me to choose health, recreation and socialization." The Government of Canada needs to reverse this decision - 35% of New Brunswickers with a disability is a lot of votes.        

The proposed Canada Disability Benefit could help address inequality — but only if it’s a top-up that doesn’t lead to provincial benefits being clawed back. The ongoing negotations between the federal and provincial/territorial governments will be very important to ensure no loss of existing benefits and services. #BudgetTheBenefit #EndDisabilityPoverty https://lnkd.in/e46U3TvV

Read our QUOI Media Group client op-ed in Post Media: It seems there’s not much Canadians politically agree on these days. Which is why it was heartening to see that regardless of partisan allegiances or regional differences, most Canadians agree that it’s long past time the federal government funded a disability benefit. An Angus Reid survey released this week revealed that an overwhelming nine in ten Canadians support a federal disability benefit. This support comes from Conservative voters (88 per cent), Liberals (98 per cent), NDP (99 per cent) and Bloc Quebecois voters (98 per cent). Moreover, seven in ten Canadians believe that the federal government is moving too slowly to roll out the benefit. Most respondents don’t trust the government will deliver on their promise of a benefit at all. From Rabia Khedr Disability Without Poverty and Neil Hetherington Daily Bread Food Bank #cdnpoli #disability #disabilitypoverty #CanadaDisabilityBenefit #budget2024

📢 In June 2023, the federal government enacted Bill C-22, establishing the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) – a crucial step towards combating poverty within the disability community. However, with critical details like eligibility criteria and disbursement still pending, many individuals with disabilities are left waiting in legislated poverty. Statistics Canada reports that 27% of Canadians have disabilities, with 1.4 million living in poverty. As we await the government's announcement of the federal benefit this April, it's imperative that we push for adequate funding and inclusion of the CDB in the next federal budget. Join us in urging the government to prioritize this vital initiative. Write to your MP and sign the petition to show your support for the disability community's urgent need: https://ow.ly/jXWf50RaUqr Together, let's make a difference! 💪 #DisabilityRights #CDBUpdate #CanadaDisabilityBenefit #PHACanada #PHCommunity

"...the government should consider the costs of not fully funding the program in this budget carefully. People are struggling. They're finding themselves in deeper and deeper poverty," she said. "People with disabilities may end up requiring more support and services through healthcare, through social services, than if they had their basic needs met." - @RabiaKhedr We must keep up the pressure to ensure there is enough money to lift people with disabilities out of poverty. Now! #FundTheDisabilityBenefitNow #EndDisabilityPoverty https://lnkd.in/gFe-idHG

Canada: Slap in the face’: Canadians decry Ottawa’s new disability benefit At $200 a month, and with many disabled Canadians ineligible, experts say the new Canada Disability Benefit will not relieve poverty #DisabilityRights #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAwareness #Accessibility #SDGs #AXSChat #WeAreBillionStrong https://lnkd.in/gx7YAWnw

“…Whether a person’s disability is invisible or visible, whether we require assistive devices or accommodations or not, there are always unseen barriers and costs that are built into the structure of our institutions, and which most non-disabled Canadians will never notice. These costs illustrate one of the many reasons why I support the creation of a national disability benefit program that seeks to end disability poverty in Canada. The need for such a program is urgent and will offer many Canadians the simple dignity of being able to meet the demands of daily life, like going to school, paying off loans, starting a career, and raising a family. Importantly, this will also benefit the rest of Canada as well. Income support provided to disabled Canadians will quickly find its way circulating through the economy as we become more empowered to contribute to our communities…”