CW: Poverty
December 3 is The International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It was also the day that Disability Without Poverty and Campaign 2000 released their second annual 2024 Disability Report Card. Sadly, The Disability Report Card gave Canada a failing score for its slow progress in addressing poverty among disabled people
Despite promises made through the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), the report card shows that the federal government’s present efforts fall far short of expectations. According to this report card, disabled people endure disproportionately high rates of poverty. “Today’s report card underscores the failure of the federal government to address disability poverty,” said Rabia Khedr, National Director of Disability Without Poverty. “A $200 Canada Disability Benefit is inadequate. We are calling on the government to triple the benefit in 2025. This will be a better start toward ending disability poverty.”
Most indicators show that poverty rates rose and deepened in 2021 and 2022, following significant decreases in 2020. The report showed that approximately 16.7% of disabled Canadians lived in poverty. Poverty rates for disabled people remain twice as high as those without disabilities. In addition, disabled people would need, on average, 30 percent more income to reach the poverty line.
Unfortunately, the situation is no better in the United States. In 2022, over 26% of disabled people in the United States lived in poverty, compared to 11.5% of people without disabilities.
Approximately eight million people Americans receive Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. The program was created in 1972 to help disabled and elderly people stay out of poverty. However, the average monthly SSI benefit is just $983.
SSI beneficiaries are also forced into poverty. Beneficiaries are currently limited to having no more than $2,000 in assets at any given time to continue receiving monthly payments. Under regulations that haven’t changed since 1989, married couples are limited to $3,000. Accounting for inflation, the asset limit would be $10,000 today.
Disabled people should not have to worry about how they will pay their bills or keep a roof over their heads. Antiquated policies must also be updated.
Sources:
“Disability Poverty Report Card 2024: Canada Earns an ‘F’ on Addressing Disability Poverty.” Business Wire, Berkshire Hathaway , 3 Dec. 2024, http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203862184/en/Disability-Poverty-Report-Card-2024-Canada-Earns-an-
Romig , Kathleen, et al. “The Case for Updating SSI Asset Limits.” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 25, July 2023, http://www.cbpp.org/research/social-security/the-case-for-updating-ssi-asset-limits?fbclid=IwAR0wZj-zM_VqbPoQ4RV3WZUbOBCKVbnxXlV9lJeWo4GLEVAx2EomA5klzoo_aem_AfEqv7yxyHvw-DLrwMkFZ4LovFDDWokEDXSN5qdX6LwdCd85JZbF0gQkswCdVv1LpVA.
Shrider, Emily A., and John Creamer. ‘Poverty in the United States: 2022’. US Census Bureau, 2023.