Advocates urge government to secure funding for disability program to lift recipients out of poverty
A coalition of anti-poverty and disability groups has urgently requested the federal government to fulfill its pledge by elevating the incomes of all recipients of provincial disability support programs above the poverty threshold.
This plea comes with an emphasis on the necessity for complete funding of the proposed federal disability benefit program, a topic that has garnered significant attention ahead of the anticipated budget announcement.
Despite the enthusiasm that greeted the introduction of Bill C-22, there is a prevailing worry among advocates that the 2024 federal budget will not allocate sufficient funds to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities.
One of the individuals standing to benefit from the proposed federal enhancement is Bobby Giles, who is grappling with schizophrenia and a debilitating foot condition, rendering him unable to work.
Giles' current financial lifeline consists of $1,382 from the Ontario Disability Support Program, an additional $113 for a special diet due to his diabetes, along with the support he receives from a church community and food banks.
This assistance, however, falls short of providing him with enough financial leeway to meet basic life needs and desires. Giles, expressing his frustrations, stated, “The system is broken,” highlighting the dire choice many in his situation face between securing housing or nourishment, a predicament that has led to an unprecedented reliance on food banks.
The essence of Bill C-22 was to alleviate poverty among disabled persons by augmenting provincial support funds. Nevertheless, with the program's funding and detailed planning still pending, there is a growing concern that the intended impact will not materialize in the current budget cycle.
Giles voiced a sentiment shared by many, yearning for “simple financial freedoms” currently beyond his reach, such as affording lactose-free milk, a small luxury that symbolizes the broader financial constraints faced by many with disabilities.
Neil Hetherington, CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank, has quantified the need for substantial budgetary allocation, suggesting that bringing disability support recipients above the poverty line would necessitate an investment of $10bn to $12bn.
This figure is predicated on the gap between the poverty line, roughly $2,300 monthly in Toronto, and the insufficient amounts currently provided by provincial benefits.
Despite a meeting with the Department of Finance, Hetherington and his colleagues were left with the impression that the federal deficit and high interest rates might constrain the desired level of funding, receiving a cautionary note on the feasibility of their financial expectations.
Inquiries to the Department of Finance by CBC Toronto regarding budget figures and related concerns were met with a non-committal response, underscoring the typical governmental reticence prior to a budget's formal introduction.
However, government representatives have indicated ongoing consultations with the disability community to ensure the forthcoming benefit is shaped by their insights, emphasizing a commitment to swift implementation.
Amidst these discussions, advocacy organizations have mobilized public support, evidenced by nearly 60,000 letters sent to politicians advocating for the full funding of the federal disability benefit.
Rabia Khedr, national director of Disability Without Poverty, remains hopeful yet apprehensive about the potential underfunding of the benefit. She warns of the adverse effects insufficient funding could have, potentially exacerbating the struggles of disabled individuals and eroding the trust built with the disability community.
As the federal budget announcement looms, the debate over the funding of the federal disability benefit program represents a critical juncture in the fight for disability rights and financial inclusion in Canada.
