Persons with Disabilities can Relate!

 By Kendall Worth!

 

 

Nicola Jane Hobbs

Recently, I published this piece. As well, I have covered concerns and hopes about Bill C-22 and the important connection between Disability Rights and the upcoming Federal Disability Benefit.

In this piece, I suggest reasons why Nova Scotian’s with disabilities are affected by eligibility requirements for Income Assistance (IA). In that same BLOG post I outline, that I hear from contacts in other Provinces, that their rules are the same, or very similar to Nova Scotia’s Employment Support and Income Assistance program. (ESIA)

This morning as I am writing this current piece, I am thinking about the hopes and dreams of what the reality of Bill C-22 might be, once it passes third reading, gets royal assent and is proclaimed in force. This morning November 26^th 2022, a contact that I have in the Disability Community, brought the following video, circulating on twitter, although 5 years old, (Nov. 2017) to my attention.

That video is of a woman in B.C. speaking at a rally, about how their system of receiving income assistance forces her to apply for CPP. Nova Scotians with disabilities can relate to that video because in Nova Scotia, one is required to apply for CPP when we turn 60 years old. This has been fixed by the NDP government in BC, and now you do not have to collect CPP in BC until you are 65. You can continue to collect Income Assistance until then. In fact, BC has a system of top ups for Seniors unlike anything in N.S.

During Ian Rankin's short time as Premier, from spring of 2021, till August, when Tim Houston was elected, they were working on trying to stop this requirement (to apply for CPP at age 60) and also trying to stop this 100% claw back of CPP from Income Assistance. In The 2021 provincial budget for Nova Scotia, they even announced the clawback would stop. . .As far as my community knows, this work did not move forward when Tim Houston became Premier in August of 2021. To this day I still hear stories of income assistance recipients getting directed by their IA Caseworkers to apply for CPP at age 60. There should be no such requirement.

Evidence in this video proves that things are much the same province to province. Whether in Nova Scotia or, as I understand from contacts in other provinces, it is the same in most of Canada.

And here is another video that illustrates something-else that is important about Bill C22 – https://twitter.com/i/status/1596300097872363520. It must provide enough income for people to live in dignity!

The mental health of Nova Scotians with disabilities are also hurt by this 100% clawback.

Right now is the opportunity, while BILL C22 is still being debated in Parliament, for Persons with Disabilities to stick up for their rights.