Life on welfare: separating fact from fiction
The following le
tter was published on The Vancouver Sun’s website today, in response to a January 26 article titled “BC welfare rates are adequate.”
“The authors believe that $1,800 a month is enough to pay for the basic needs (shelter, food and clothing) of a family of four.
They refer to Chris Sarlo’s “basic needs” measurement to support their position.
What they fail to mention is that a paper published by the University of Calgary in September 2011 (Income Support for Persons with Disabilities), using Sarlo’s measurement, concluded “the level of support provided to disabled persons in B.C. is disturbing; it falls slightly below that measure of income required to meet basic
Given that the provincial disability benefit rate is $300 a month more than basic assistance, it is hard to fathom how the authors can conclude B.C.’s welfare rates are adequate.
Neither the basic assistance rate nor the disability benefits rate provide people enough money to live with dignity.”
Jane Dyson Executive director, BC Coalition of People with Disabilities
