Photo from the Saskatchewan Assured Income Disability (SAID) handbook, courtesy Saskatchewan Government.
A northern Saskatchewan Disabled rights activist says the Saskatchewan Government “dropped the ball” with the changes to social assistance.
The changes coming will see around 2700 people receive less benefits from the province’s social assistance programs.
The changes will affect the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program and the Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP).
Gary Tinker of Pinehouse says he’s confused as to why the province would take money away from the province’s most vulnerable.
“A lot of people with disabilities always get picked on even the seniors and elders, they always get picked on,” said Tinker.
Tinker who himself is on the SAID program says he will not be affected by the changes, but felt compelled to speak out because he knows many in northern Saskatchewan who will be affected.
One area in particular Tinker was upset about was changes to one of the subsidy programs for people with disabilities for housing allowances. He says these subsidies were given to people for a reason and they should not be called back.
“People with disabilities applied for those subsidies but now the government is saying we made a mistake and people have to pay back that money, so I think the government dropped the ball there,” Tinker said. “They are saying people with disabilities are double dipping, well that’s the government’s fault not my fault.”
Earlier this week, Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer spoke on the changes. She says they were put into place to make sure people living in similar situations are getting the same income. A news release from the government on Monday said it was about “equity and fairness.”
On Thursday the Saskatchewan Government announced they are going to slow down the process in order to accommodate the clients affected.
There were previous September 1st and October 1st deadlines, but the government now says they want to ensure individual cases are getting the attention needed.
They say it will likely take several months for all clients affected to be accommodated.