customers of Saskatchewan Guaranteed Income for Disability (SAID) say they are struggling to make ends meet through the program, which by province The goal is to provide customers with “greater choice of services and the dignity of participation in their community”.
“I’ve heard that because of the rising cost of living, even people Said Going to the food bank,” said Sean Hargreaves, a nine-year SAID recipient who has lived in Delisle.
“If you want any kind of life rather than living on ramen noodles and stuff from the food bank, I don’t think the rates are high enough.”
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SAID benefits vary based on several factors, including where the recipient lives, the number of people and dependents in their household, and specific limitations associated with their disability.
Hargreaves says that after paying for rent and utilities with SAID and CPP payments, which she says she was forced to register for when she applied for SAID, she doesn’t have enough money to cover all other expenses. has less than $300 a month left over. He said that CPP benefits are subtracted from SAID benefits.
Hargreaves said she encountered other problems when applying for the SAID she receives for mental health issues, including severe anxiety and depression.
“(The government’s) attitude towards (my mental health) was still the same as with many people in the general public – if people can’t see a disability, they don’t believe there is a disability.”
She said her application process took about six months and included paying for doctor’s notes and consulting with a counselor and psychologist.
“It was very difficult. It depended on which worker I was looking at, which team. Some were very sympathetic and willing to guide you and there were others who looked at you and had their doubts. And Unfortunately, they have your benefits in their hands, so you can’t help but feel a little judged. Hopefully it’s been a bit less of a problem so far.
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Lynette Boris, who has spina bifida, is also on SAID and lives in Saskatoon. He is unable to supplement his benefits with work due to his condition.
She said that between SAID and long-term disability benefits, she receives about $1,200 a month.
After paying rent and utilities, Boris said he had little left to make life more enjoyable.
He said, ‘It is very difficult to survive with so much money.
“It’s not pleasant at all. It kind of takes the fun and enjoyment out of life.”
Brenda Edel is a founding member of Barrier Free Saskatchewan (BFSK), advocating for stronger access legislation.
That said SAID rates are a common problem heard in BFSK.
“Rates have always been one of the hardest things. If someone does the work, they can only claim so much and then that money comes back,” Adele said.
Individuals on SAID can earn up to $6,000 before that income is deducted from benefits.
“And rates aren’t going up with the cost of inflation. When you’re living on minimum wage and below the poverty line, every little bit counts.
Other SAID recipients were contacted for interviews but declined to comment for fear of losing their benefits.
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Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan NDP says it intends to raise the issue in the legislature this spring.
“We have a petition that we will start this spring session. It has hundreds of signatures, and it indicates that SAID hasn’t seen an increase in seven years,” said Mira Conway, NDP legislator and social services critic.
Conway said that when accounting for inflation, recipients have seen the value of their benefits drop by 20 percent since 2012.
“I’m hearing some heartbreaking stories of difficulty funding housing, meeting basic needs, paying for food,” Conway said.
“Living with a disability is more expensive than living as an able-bodied person and so people are really struggling. We are hearing a lot from family members who basically need to subsidize their loved ones .
Conway said that according to her consulting and research, adults with disabilities who live alone struggle the most.
“Unmarried people on SAID who live alone are among the most in poverty in that subdivision.”
The NDP petition calls for an immediate increase in SAID rates, to index rates to outpace inflation and “to provide targeted relief to those in severe poverty, such as single individuals paying market rent.”
petition It also calls on the government to “stop discriminatory practices and align policies with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms”.
“We have reached out to people who are getting refunds through methods found to be discriminatory in other provinces, such as Manitoba,” Conway said.
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“The Saskatchewan government continues to force people on SAID to apply for early CPP, even though The Manitoba Court of Appeal found it discriminatory.,
However, Conway reiterated that his biggest concern is rates.
“People need to get enough to meet their needs, and right now they just don’t,” he said.
“Would any minister in this building be willing to cut his salary by 20 per cent? No, I think the most important thing that this government has done is SAID. Unfortunately, since that time we’ve seen a sharp turn to cater to special interests like the Buffalo Party, and we’ve seen less and less of a Saskatchewan Party that serves the concerns of real people, working people, and people struggling to make ends meet. listens to. Get.”
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Social Services told Global News, “SAssistance benefits vary depending on the client’s specific situation and needs, and have different payment levels for living income, disability income and shelter, with no maximum monthly benefit.
“SAID also offers customers an annual earned income rebate, which allows customers who work to earn more money.
“In 2022-23, we have increased SAID funding by $16.7 million to ensure that everyone in Saskatchewan who qualifies for the program is supported,” the statement continues.
“In the Metrie Report on ‘Wellbeing in Canada, 2021’, Saskatchewan is ranked among the top four Canadian provinces in providing income support benefits to single people with disabilities.”
The government of Manitoba announced a new disability income support program last December. It allows recipients to earn up to $12,000 before benefits are cut. In Saskatchewan, as noted in the image above, the exemption tops out at $6,000 for a single person.