Members of the New Brunswick Coalition of Persons with Disabilities (NBCPD) experience a lack of social assistance improvements as many are disqualified from the provincial government’s $200 household supplement.
Shelley Petit, chair of NBCPD, said that after a recent setback with the provincial government, her members are struggling to survive.
Some NBCPD members claimed they were disqualified from the provincial government’s $200 household supplement for social assistance recipients. Petit said the Feb. 1 payment wasn’t available for people who made $1 more than the provincial supplements amount of $886.
“If I’m on provincial disability and I’ve never worked in my life I get an additional $200 to help out with costs,” said Petit. “If I was able to work a bit and on Canadian Pension Plan disability benefit, I am making $887 or more … I don’t get the $200.”
Persons with disabilities are holding on until they receive the federal disability benefit that is expected in 2025. Until then, social assistance rates will only increase based on the N.B. consumer price index percentage, according to the province.
“People just feel so disrespected and people are giving up,” said Petit. “I’ve had quite a few inquiries about [Medical Assistance in Dying], they feel like giving up.”
Petit reminds members that they’re getting closer to help from the federal government that can bring social assistance to the poverty line. Members are encouraged to keep going back to their member of the legislative assembly or member of parliament for help.
According to Petit, some are even turning to GoFundMe as a final effort to survive until social assistance improves.
“We have more and more people that are also starting GoFundMe. They’re mortified and embarrassed to do it, but we got to keep them alive until next year.”
New Brunswick’s population of disabled people aged 15 and older has risen 8.6 per cent from 2017 to 35.3 per cent in 2022. The 2022 mark is second to Nova Scotia in the country.
NBCPD executives have been working on surveying this population to help the federal government develop their disability benefits. Petit said the federal portion will act as a top-up to the provincial amount.
“We know [the target] is going to be around that $2,000 to $2,200 mark and it’s going to be the form of a top-up.”
The federal government will help people get to this mark so “they can survive.”
Petit will continue to hope for a bridge payment to hold her members over, but she is doubtful the province will step in.
“I think provinces should be doing a bridge payment to hold us over … When we’re sitting on a billion-dollar surplus, they can afford to provide people with disabilities even another $500 a month.”
