VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – People living on disability cheques in this province say they’re barely able to make ends meet and it’s time for the provincial government to up the pay. But right now, the province says they won’t be getting any more money.

“Currently, people on disability are getting $906 a month to live off of and it’s inadequate. It really needs to be almost double in order to just reach the poverty line,” believes Tom Page with a tenants group called ACORN Canada.

Social Development Minister Moira Stilwell says the province can’t up the rates right now and that even doing so by 10 per cent would cost taxpayers $120 million a year. Instead, she points out changes have been made to policies to make the disabled more independent.

Page is on disability and says he was once living in the upper-middle class.

“I didn’t plan on being disabled. I have tried to work. There is this large ghetto of people who are really living in third world conditions,” he adds.

Page believes with inflation and food prices rising, this is a problem that will only get worse.

Statement from the Hon. Moira Stilwell, M.D., Minister of Social Development

We are always looking for ways to improve supports and services to individuals with disabilities.

That’s why, on October 1, we made some changes to our policies that will assist individuals with disabilities to lead more independent lives. Creating a better life for people with disabilities is about finding a balance between providing supports to take care of daily needs and finding ways to encourage the greatest level of independence possible.

I understand that people living with a disability face unique, complex challenges. However, when setting assistance rates, governments are obligated to take a balanced approach between what is fair to individuals seeking assistance and what taxpayers can support.

B.C. has a good record when it comes to support for people with disabilities, and is home to some of the most comprehensive supports for people with disabilities in Canada. Currently, we are not in a financial position to raise assistance rates in B.C. A 10 per cent increase for all clients would cost $120 million per year.  In the longer term, raising the rates is certainly something we’d like to be able to do.

But we also understand that there is always room for improvement.