Poverty organizations from across Saskatchewan, including the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Moose Jaw Food Bank, and the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry, went to the legislature on Monday to highlight major issues in the Saskatchewan Assured Income Disability (SAID) program..The group asked the government to end the practice of clawing back pensions and have the SAID rates keep pace with the cost of living. .NDP Social Services Critic Meara Conway accused the government of forcing disabled people into deep poverty because of service cuts and no income increase for seven years..“The government should be working to improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities in Saskatchewan. Instead, they cut the rental housing supplement, the special diet allowance and a transportation allowance. SAID rates have not increased for seven years, which amounts to a 20% reduction to benefits,” said Conway. .“Under this government, individuals with a significant and enduring disability that interferes with their ability to work are forced to live in deep poverty. This is absolutely appalling and deeply hurts those who most need and deserve our support.”.Disabled people on the SAID program do not even reach the deep poverty line in Canada, which is 75% of the official poverty line..Social Services Minister Lori Carr said the SAID program is “truly a program of last resort.”.“If you have the opportunity to earn income, one of those being your Canada pension benefits, then it’s something you need to apply for before you apply for income assistance,” said Carr..When reporters asked Carr about the pension clawback, she said “it all equals out in the end.”.However, Carr could not explain what she meant..Carr claimed Saskatchewan was in the top three provinces for the total compensation of disabled people..“We are among the highest, in the top three, benefits given to individuals,” said Carr. .“We do think we are being fair.”.The Western Standard asked Carr to name the other two provinces and she did not know, but would get back to reporters..Carr’s office responded with: “In the single people with disabilities category, Saskatchewan ranks third behind Alberta and Newfoundland and Labrador.”.This top three ranking is based on a study by the Maytree Foundation, which releases a “Welfare in Canada” study each year..In all the other categories, such as couples or parents with one or more children, Saskatchewan is outside the top three..“The premier’s predecessor, the architect of the Saskatchewan assured income for disability or the SAID program, said that he’d make Saskatchewan the best place to live for people with disabilities,” said Conway..“That idea has never been further from the truth than it is today.”
