The BC government has announced a permanent increase to income and disability rates in the province, along with the first-ever increase to the senior’s supplement.
Starting in April 2021 individuals on income and disability assistance through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction will automatically receive a permanent $175 increase to their monthly payment. This is the third rate increase since July 2017, but is still less than the $300 people on assistance were receiving at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April 2020, the Ministry of Social Development announced it would temporarily increase income assistance and disability rates by $300 per month. In December 2020, the government announced it planned to first reduce the payments to $150 starting January 2021, with the COVID-19 supplemental income ending completely in March 2021.
While the rate increase is welcome news for many, it still leaves those on assistance living under the poverty line, with an individual on provincial disability (PWD) receiving approximately $14,400 per year, or $1,358.42 per month. Advocates are calling on the provincial government to increase the rates to an amount that is at the poverty level — about $1800 per month for an individual.
A grassroots gathering of people with disabilities, advocates and allies to demand a more adequate monetary increase to assistance rates is planned for the afternoon on Thursday, March 18. Advocates will hold a press conference at the BC legislature, along with an online gathering on Facebook to call for a rate increase that is more in line with economic reality.
The province is also increasing the senior’s supplement for the first time since 1987 by $50 per recipient.
You can read our previous coverage on income and disability assistance here.