Today Premier Christy Clark announced a number of changes effective October 1st, 2012 for people receiving the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Benefit. These include an increase to the annual earnings exemption from $500 to $800 per month for a single person and an increase to the allowable asset level for a single person from $3,000-$5,000.

While these changes are positive, they do not address the fact that the disability benefit rate is inadequate. The BCCPD, in partnership with BC Association for Community Living, Canadian Mental Health Association (BC division), SPARC BC and the Community Legal Assistance Society, are calling on the Province to increase the PWD Benefit rate to $1200 per month to better reflect the cost of living in BC.

For more information on the government’s changes, please visit the following link:

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2012/06/common-sense-changes-encourage-work-protect-vulnerable-families.html

We will also be providing more information when we have reviewed the changes more carefully.

A new federal All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus is being formed and will hold its first event on Parliament Hill on June 12th. Congratulations to Canada Without Poverty for its work to catalyze the formation of this bi-partisan caucus.

The All-Party Anti-Poverty Caucus co-chairs are the Hon. Michael Chong, MP (Conservative), Jean Crowder, MP (NDP) and Hon. Art Eggleton, Senator (Liberal). The caucus treasurer is the Rev. Don Meredith, Senator (Conservative). Canada Without Poverty encourages you to send a message of thanks and support to each of them: michael.chong@parl.gc.ca, jean.crowder@parl.gc.ca, egglea@sen.parl.gc.ca, and meredd@sen.parl.gc.ca.