Canada Disability Benefit Falls Short of Promises

The new Canada Disability Benefit, intended to lift working-age Canadians with disabilities out of poverty, will help significantly fewer individuals than initially projected. According to recent federal government estimates, the benefit will lift only about 25,000 adults with disabilities out of poverty, far short of the “hundreds of thousands” touted when the legislation was introduced in 2022.

When former Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough presented Bill C-22 to the House of Commons in September 2022, she promised a transformative impact. The bill, which became law in June 2023, aimed to enhance provincial supports and provide up to $200 monthly to low-income Canadians with disabilities. Payments are set to start in July 2025.

Despite 1.6 million Canadians with disabilities living below the poverty line, only 600,000 are eligible for the new benefit according to the federal budget in April. The government’s recent data indicates that by 2028, the benefit will annually lift 25,000 individuals with disabilities and 15,000 of their family members out of poverty.

At a public transit event in Brampton, Ont., Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities Minister Kamal Khera highlighted the unprecedented $6.1 billion allocated for the benefit in the recent budget. However, she did not directly address concerns regarding the reduced scope of the benefit’s impact.

Green Party MP Mike Morrice and advocates expressed disappointment, feeling the government did not fulfill its promises. Morrice emphasized the need for continued pressure on the government, stating the community would face ongoing disproportionate poverty rates without broader support.

Rabia Khedr, national director for Disability Without Poverty, criticized the government’s approach, stating it failed to honor the spirit of systemic change promised. She highlighted the severe impact of the cost of living crisis on disabled individuals, with some contemplating medical assistance in dying (MAID) due to financial desperation.

The Canada Disability Benefit, despite its substantial budget allocation, falls significantly short of its ambitious goals. As advocates continue to push for broader support, the government faces ongoing scrutiny to address the pressing needs of Canadians with disabilities.