Sask. disability benefits could soon increase, government hints
People receiving Saskatchewan disability benefits could soon receive an increase.
Several recipients of the Saskatchewan Assured Income Disability (SAID) benefits were at the legislative building on Monday, saying they can’t make ends meet anymore.
Sydney Chadwick is trying to get by on $1,000 a month.
“They just see us as numbers on a page. They don’t see us as human beings and they don’t understand what it’s like to live with a lifelong disability that’s not going away. This is like our lot for life, right and this is what we have to live on,” she said.
Darren Wall said it’s a combination of benefits not keeping pace with the rising cost of living.
“It’s a combination of both,” he said.
SAID, an income support program for people with disabilities, has not gotten an increase in seven years, according to NDP MLA Meara Conway.
Download the CTV News app to get local alerts sent to your device
However, the government hinted that more money could be announced in this week’s provincial budget.
“We’ll wait for Wednesday for that but understand where folks are coming from,” said Gene Makowsky, minister of social services.
Conway said the NDP would be watching the government closely when the budget is released to make sure it’s an increase that reflects reality.
“What I hope we don’t see with this SAID increase is something like we saw with the SIS, where they gave a buck a day and that didn’t even make up for the cuts that were represented across the board under the program,” she said.
Jamie Ellis, co-founder of Voice of People with Disabilities, said it is time there was an increase in this but brought up another concern.
“I don’t think at all that there should’ve been an age cut-off,” he said. “When I was 65, I was cut off it and I don’t that’s at all fair because there was an awful lot more expenses that they were helping me out with. It makes it really difficult, I really think it should be an ongoing thing, regardless of age.”
The government has been reviewing benefits paid under its social assistance programs and is suggesting that there could be increases coming across the board.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.