February 23, 2024

BC Budget 2024: A Lean Budget With Few New Disability Supports

The BC Budget for the 2024/2025 fiscal year was announced at the legislative assembly in Victoria on February 22, 2024. Helaine Boyd, Disability Alliance BC (DABC)’s Executive Director, was invited to attend the announcement and review the budget materials.

In June 2023, DABC submitted our recommendations for the 2024 Budget, and in August 2023, the Select Standing Committee on Finance released their Report on Budget 2024 Consultation. Our Statement in response to this report can be found here.

Our top recommendations for the 2024 BC Budget were:

1. Increase the Disability Assistance Rate (known as PWD) and Index for Inflation

2. Invest in a comprehensive program for assistive devices and medical equipment for people with disabilities

3. Support accessibility retrofits for existing social housing and establish a fund for rental subsidies for low income people requiring accessible housing

Unfortunately, none of these recommendations were brought forward into concrete commitments within Budget 2024. Overall, there is little to celebrate around supports for the disability community in this budget, as no dedicated, new investments were made for disabled British Columbians. In our view, this budget focused on maintaining previously announced commitments and some increases in funding to match demand for services arising from population growth.

Credits and Benefits

There were a few credits announced that attempt to combat the higher cost of living pressures this year. The Province announced a new BC Electricity Affordability Credit, which will save individuals on average around $100 on their electricity bill in a year. As announced in last year’s budget, starting this year as people file their 2023 income taxes, renters may see up to $400 come back to them through the B.C. renter’s tax credit. There will also be a one time “bonus” payment to the BC Family Benefit. There is no certainty that these credits will exist past 2024; as mentioned in previous statements, these types of credits are not sustainable and they are not reliable sources of monthly income. However, they may contribute somewhat to easing some of the increased costs of living that British Columbians have experienced over the past two years. People with disabilities have higher daily living expenses than non-disabled individuals, such as extra healthcare costs including medical equipment, caregiving and home support, education and employment costs including assistive technology, and we call upon the government to ensure that these benefits and credits are set up in such a way to provide equitable access to those that need financial empowerment the most. For instance, by supporting those who may not be able to access these credits and benefits due to barriers such as people with no fixed address, no technological means, or have difficulties accessing government-issued identification. We will work to clarify with the Province that any of the newly announced credits will be exempted from clawbacks for those on disability and income assistance.

Autism Supports

Within this budget, the Province will be supporting an increased number of families in access services for individualized autism support for children with autism, particularly surrounding autism diagnosis. However, this is not a new stream of funding, but rather to maintain previously announced commitments. This funding currently supports children under age six with reimbursement up to $22,000 per year in services, and youth aged 6-18 with reimbursements up to $6,000 per year. This type of funding support doesn’t address the growing need for adults with autism who need diagnosis and ongoing support after they have aged out of these benefits. DABC calls upon the Province to look meaningfully at how they can better support covering these services as youth with disabilities transition into adulthood.

Home Health and Better at Home

DABC is heartened to see an investment of $227 million for more home health services to help seniors and people experiencing short or long‑term disability, to manage their health care needs and remain living at home. These services are provided by regulated professionals including nurses, occupational and physical therapists, and social workers. Home health services also include services delivered by community health workers who help clients with their activities of daily living, such as bathing, grooming, lifts and transfers, and nutrition.

The Province also announced $127 million in increased funding for Better at Home, which supports seniors with day-to-day tasks like grocery shopping, light housekeeping, minor home repairs, snow shovelling, and transportation to and from medical appointments. Better at Home is a useful service, which DABC recommends should have a broadened eligibility for adults with disabilities, not just seniors. There is currently no dedicated support for these types of services for adults with disabilities, with the exception of the Choice in Supports for Independent Living (CSIL) program, which currently only certain people with disabilities are eligible.

No Increase for Income and Disability Assistance

The Province’s announcement around Income and Disability Assistance was solely to address increased demand for accessing these services, and does not translate into any additional income for people on IA and PWD.

While DABC was relieved to see an increase in the shelter rate from $375 per month to $500 per month in last year’s budget, to see no further increase or commitment to index assistance rates to inflation in this budget, DABC fears that British Columbians living on disability assistance will continue to see their income spread thin as costs rise. We strongly recommend that assistance rates are safeguarded through a change in legislation that allows for scheduled rate increases, so that people living on PWD and IA are not dependent on the whims of budget announcements.

What’s Missing?

There was no mention on efforts to increase healthcare coverage for mental health and addictions in this budget. In last year’s budget, there was some targeted funding for counselling support, but to really safeguard this it needs to be permanently built into our province’s Medical Services Plan.

There was nothing in this budget to further support individuals using the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program or the rental assistance program (RAP), but the Province has said that recommendations to improve these programs are forthcoming.

Other Announcements

DABC notes further related announcements in the budget:

– Joining the ranks of Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, BC will now be covering one year of invitro fertilization

– A new House Flipping Tax to disincentivize speculators in driving up the cost of housing

– BC Builds, which is a new program that will help speed up the development of new housing for middle-income families.

– A new family law clinic specializing in access to justice for people experiencing family violence

Looking Ahead

In the coming years, we will hopefully see increased accessibility in our province through the introduction of standards under the Accessible BC Act. Standards will require the public sector, and hopefully the private and service sectors as well, to make changes that will improve accessibility in society. As a result, we foresee a need for dedicated funding that will bring important accessibility measures into reality. Without funding for this, the implementation of the Accessibility BC Act will fall short of bringing meaningful change for people with disabilities in our province.

Overall Assessment

In our view, Budget 2024 did not adequately commit funding to poverty reduction efforts or dedicate support to equity seeking groups. On the other hand, there were no apparent cuts to previously established programs and supports. Indeed, it would have been reckless of the BC Government if they were to cut much needed supports during a time when many people are experiencing affordability concerns.

It is important to recognize that this budget has been announced during an election year, and we may expect to see further announcements in the coming months. DABC is also anticipating the launch of a new poverty reduction strategy this year as the last 5-year strategy was published in 2019. It is our hope that this new strategy will bring with it more announcements on poverty reduction measures.

DABC will continue to advocate for changes that will increase dignity, independence, and equal and full participation for people with disabilities in our province.