British Columbia will do away with rules that claw back funds from couples on disability assistance.
Currently, spouses who both receive Persons with Disabilities (PWD) benefits are eligible for less support than what they received as single individuals. The clawback applies to couples who live together, regardless of marital status.
“To make people feel safe, welcome and included, we’re changing the spousal rule so that couples receiving disability assistance will receive the same support allowance as they would if they were two single people,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction in a statement on Thursday.
The changes take effect Dec. 1, and will be automatically applied to eligible families.
The province said the move addresses longstanding concerns from advocates and people with disabilities that the clawback discourages relationships and increases financial hardship for couples.
The NDP government’s co-operation agreement with B.C. Greens, known as CARGA, included commitments to end the spousal clawback on disability payments this year, and review social assistance and disability rates.
“With meaningful policy changes like this, the government can extend one more helping hand to people living with disabilities,” said Green MLA Rob Botterell. “Having a disability should not mean living in poverty, and we look forward to a broader review of social assistance and disability rates as part of the CARGA agreement this year.”
Other changes coming in January will increase annual earnings exemptions for couples where one partner receives PWD benefits.
British Columbians who receive disability assistance are limited in how much money they can make in a year while still receiving their full benefit amount. Any income earned over that limit is deducted from their assistance payments.
Currently, the limit for a couple where one person has a PWD designation in $19,440 a year. As of Jan. 1, the limit will increase to $23,400.
Disability Alliance BC (DABC) said the changes will benefit thousands of families across B.C. But the group is calling on the province to entirely remove the cap on spousal income for people for who receive PWD.
DABC said in a statement there are many negative impacts to restricting a person’s disability income because of their non-disabled partner’s income, including the potential for financial abuse.
“The spousal cap is in direct opposition with a person’s right to independence and equal opportunity,” said DABC. “It expects that the non-disabled partner is responsible for the disabled partner’s livelihood and well-being. This circles back to outdated, patriarchal laws of many decades prior.”
The group said it has raised the issue repeatedly with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
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