Premier Brad Wall promised a major expansion to social assistance for people with disabilities as the Saskatchewan election campaign entered its second week.
Wall says the Saskatchewan Party would expand the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program to about 7,000 more people with disabilities who are living outside residential care.
In addition, benefits would be increased by $100 a month over the next four years for people with disabilities in residential care.
People with disabilities who are living alone outside residential care would see their benefits increase by $350 a month over the same period.
Meanwhile, couples living outside residential care would receive an increase of $400 a month.
The expansion of the SAID program is estimated to cost $18.4 million in the first year. In the fourth year, that figure is expected to increase to $33.3 million.
Wall said it is the most expensive campaign promise the Saskatchewan Party will make in its 2011 election platform.
Wall says his party would also boost funding for autism by $4 million over the next four years and will work with disability organizations to improve the retention and recruitment of front-line workers.
