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
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
These snakes not only fake their own deaths, they use gory special effects to do it
Awards season may be over for human actors this year, but there’s no rest for some of nature’s most audacious thespians.