A coalition representing people with disabilities wants to see an increase of $250 a month in provincial funding. Right now, about 15,000 people are enrolled in the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability Program.
Most are barely getting by. Today, they held a news conference at the Regina food bank to tell their story.
Charlene Eger was born with Spina Bifida and is now confined to a wheelchair. She is fiercely independent and enjoys her life despite the many challenges. Her budget is very tight. She gets about $1,300 a month under the program. By the time she pays rent, bills, and buys food, there is little left over for her. Going out for a cup of coffee is a luxury. She says it is these little social outings that make a big difference.
“Then I could go out and do more recreational things and be with friends or go for a restaurant meal or even just going for a cup of coffee,” she says.
The co-chair of Saskatchewan Disability Income Support Coalition, Judy Hannah, says the expanded program has been in place since 2012. She congratulates the government for implementing it , but she says it still falls short. Hannah has met with MLAs and says the reception was good. She is hoping to see an improvement in the program in next year’s budget. She says it will also mean a big improvement for the 15,000 people who rely on it.
“But there is still a challenge you know,” she says. “If I can’t go out with my friends for a cup of coffee, if can’t go out to a community event because I don’t even have five bucks for it, there is a lack of dignity there.”
A survey done for the coalition found 39% of respondents felt a socially acceptable amount for a severely disabled person should be $2,000 a month — 25 per cent felt it should be even higher than that.
Only 12 per cent felt it should be $1,400 or lower.
Social Services minister, Donna Harpauer, would not rule out a funding increasing but cautioned it all depends on government revenues. She says the program has received increased funding since it was first introduced in 2009 and more funding will be part of next year’s budget considerations.
“In the middle of a tight fiscal year are we going to say yes automatically to $250 more… no,” says Harpauer. “But we will continue our commitment to individuals with disabilities and we will continue as a government to hold that as a priority.”
Harpauer went on to say any increase would likely be phased in.