Disability aid rates rise $50 a month

Small increase leaves thousands vulnerable, say poverty advocates

The B.C. government announced a $50-a-month raise to disability assistance rates Friday, a modest increase that advocates say still leaves thousands of vulnerable people living in poverty.

The increase, which takes effect April 1, means that a single person on disability will receive $1,033 a month, up from $983.

Advocacy groups, which have been working with the government for months, wanted the rate increased to at least $1,200 a month and indexed to the rate of inflation.

“Any increase is certainly welcome. However, we had been hoping and advocating for a significantly larger one,” said Jane Dyson of the Disability Alliance.

The increase, which affects about 107,000 people, was announced Friday afternoon — four days before the budget — in a brief information bulletin.

Faith Bodnar of Inclusion B.C., which advocates for people with developmental disabilities, said she felt “blindsided” by the news.

“I’m actually quite shocked and gobsmacked that this has come out prior to the budget with absolutely no indication,” she said.

“We have a committee that has been working collaboratively with the minister since July.”

Bodnar said a $50-a-month hike amounts to an extra $1.61 a day and comes nowhere near to meeting the needs of people with disabilities.

“It’s an amount of money that’s ending up being very token, and I have to say I’m pretty disappointed,” she said.

“We have a huge fiscal surplus in this province and if we can’t do it now, when can we do it? What I think we have standing in the way here is a compassion deficit in our province.”

Social Development Minister Michelle Stilwell said in telephone interview that the government announced the raise on a Friday prior to the budget in order to make sure people recognize the investment of $200 million over three years.

“Announcing it today meant that it would get the attention it deserves,” she said.

Stilwell noted that it’s the second raise in a year for people with disabilities and expressed surprise that advocates would feel blindsided by the announcement.

“I have been advocating on their behalf and passing their messages along and making sure that all members of the cabinet understand the needs of people with disabilities,” she said.

“The fact that I was able to go to treasury and get another increase this year is a significant investment for people with disabilities. “It’s a step forward. “But we have to recognize that there are a lot of demands on treasury. There’s many other ministries that also have needs and asks, whether that’s Health or Children and Families or Education.”

The government raised rates in the last budget by $77 per month — the first increase in nine years — but the change was overshadowed by a new $52-amonth bus pass fee.