On March 16, 2021, The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (MSDPR) announced a permanent increase of $175 per month to income assistance and provincial disability assistance rates. There will also be an increase of $50 per month to the senior’s supplement. 

DABC has been advocating for an increase of $300 per month, which is the amount that the provincial government temporarily provided to recipients of the Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Benefit as COVID-19 relief last year. While we congratulate the provincial government for implementing this $175 rate increase and recognize that it is a positive step forward, we know that this is not enough to meet the needs of many people receiving provincial assistance. We will continue to advocate for a further increase that matches at least the poverty line and which is indexed for inflation year-on-year, in order to bring financial security to low-income people with disabilities.  

For more information about the rate increase, please see the provincial government’s press release: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2021SDPR0024-000483.