DABC Calls Upon Global News to Issue a Formal Apology for their Discriminatory News Piece

DABC is shocked and deeply disappointed at Global News which, on December 3, 2025, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, decided to publish an inflammatory and antagonizing piece claiming allegations of fraud conducted by people receiving disability assistance and income assistance (known collectively as social assistance), from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR). This piece highlighted only one viewpoint: through the biased lens of one SDPR worker. The video provided no context, information or alternative viewpoints regarding the real lived experiences of people who receive social assistance.

Throughout this video, Global News mentions a lack of “proper verification,” yet fails to provide any information regarding the complex and rigorous application and eligibility verification process that people must undergo in order to receive social assistance to begin with. This process includes but is not limited to the applicant providing:

• all financial and bank account documents;
• at least three months worth of income documentation;
• proof of assets;
• eligibility interviews;
• forceable work searches;
• for people who have been living with someone for more than 12 months, all the above documents are also required for their partner; and
• proof of disability through medical confirmation from their healthcare practitioner and a separate assessor (for people applying for disability assistance).

The social assistance system is incredibly onerous and complex. Global News’ assertion that SDPR has a lack of “proper verification” does nothing to reflect the reality of folks who require assistance in order to meet basic living needs, and who have to jump through many hoops and verification processes just to receive it.

In their video, Global News mentions “millions of dollars of fraud” which DABC argues is a wild assumption to assert based on the viewpoint of one whistleblower, particularly when said whistleblower voiced no clear evidence to back up this information. The whistleblower failed to mention that many clients on social assistance are routinely monitored and reviewed by SDPR with no just cause. These reviews require clients to provide months if not years of financial documents. If they fail to do so or are late in submitting this documentation, they are penalized by having their social assistance cut off. DABC has observed that these random reviews are often conducted over and over again, leading to further anxiety and stress on those receiving social assistance.

There is no recognition in this video that monthly social assistance income is a meager amount which keeps many people below the poverty line in this province. There are several mentions within the video claiming that people on social assistance are financially successful, such as an example of “a family who is receiving more than $6,000 a month in government money”. DABC believes that Global News has failed to fact-check this story according to proper journalistic standards. The highest rate of disability assistance in BC is currently set to $3,207 per month – that is for a family of 10 people where both adults are approved for disability assistance.

The Global News video mentions an increasing amount of people applying for social assistance, yet provides no critical analysis or explanation as to why that may be; such as higher cost of living and increased number of people with disabilities due to the impacts of COVID.

This sensationalized piece purposely leads viewers to believe that people on social assistance are defrauding the system and stealing taxpayer money. DABC soundly rebuffs the viewpoint of punishing individuals on low income and people with disabilities for an overloaded social assistance system that is causing SDPR workers to be overwhelmed by their increasing caseload. The fault of a system should not fall on the backs of people with disabilities.

We wholeheartedly reject the frankly ableist and discriminatory perception that this video has produced and abhor the negative narrative it perpetuates: that people with disabilities are untrustworthy or trying to “cheat the system”. The Global News piece is a gross example of one-sided, salacious, fear-mongering journalism that is used as a tactic to gain views at the expense of our common humanity. We ask that Global News release a formal apology and retract their statements made in the video, immediately.

The Province of BC recently announced that couples in which both people are receiving Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Benefits will soon receive the same PWD support allowance (this unfortunately does not also apply to the shelter allowance) as they would if they were two individuals—a welcome change, but inadequate. Disability Alliance BC, the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition and the Centre for Family Equity have issued a joint letter to the Province, calling for the full removal of the spousal cap for all persons with disabilities and their households.

Read the full letter in PDF format or view the text below.

We will continue to monitor this issue and will inform the community of any further changes through our blog, social media and e-newsletter.

November 20th, 2025

Re: Spousal Cap Changes announced November 13th, 2025

Dear Minister Malcolmson, Minister Wickens, and The Honourable Premier Eby,

We are writing on behalf of the Centre for Family Equity, Disability Alliance BC and the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition. We are writing to you regarding the recent announcement by the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction of changes to the spousal cap rules for persons with disabilities in BC.

We welcome the announcement that, starting December 1, 2025, couples where both partners receive disability assistance will receive the same support as if they were single, and that starting January 1, 2026, couples where one partner has the Persons with Disabilities designation will see increased earnings exemptions. This change is a meaningful and welcome step toward dismantling the outdated ‘spousal cap’ that for too long kept people with disabilities trapped in poverty.

We want to begin by congratulating and commending you for the changes, which will doubtlessly improve the quality of life, economic security, safety, and health of many people with disabilities in BC.

However, this admiral change and update to a discriminatory policy still leaves many people with disabilities and their children, youth and families who are still experiencing clawbacks on their income based on their partner’s income, or whose benefits are impacted by their spouse, behind.

Children and youth being raised in households impacted by parental disability status have a right to the full income of their parents and caregivers. The spousal cap assumes a non-disabled partner is responsible for the disabled partner’s livelihood and well-being. This circles back to outdated, patriarchal laws of many decades prior. The spousal cap is in direct opposition with a person’s right to independence and equal opportunity, and therefore discriminates against people with disabilities and their families.

Our organizations will continue to advocate for the full removal of the spousal cap for all persons with disabilities and their households, and for the elimination of all income clawbacks that keep people and families in deep levels of poverty. Until people are supported adequately regardless of relationship status, many will continue to live with insecurity and exclusion.

We advocate for policies that support access to income and greater pathways to labour market inclusion and attachment for those marginalized by poverty and disability.

We implore you to go the full distance and remove the spousal cap entirely for all people on disability assistance in BC.

We look forward to the Province moving quickly to fulfill the commitment to ending the spousal cap to ensure that no one with a disability and their family unit is left behind.

We would be happy to meet with you to discuss this matter further.

Best regards,

Viveca Ellis
Executive Director, Centre for Family Equity

Rowan Burdge
Provincial Director, BC Poverty Reduction Coalition

Helaine Boyd
Executive Director, Disability Alliance BC

The Province of BC announced today that starting Dec. 1st, 2025, couples who are both receiving Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Benefits, will receive the same support allowance as they would if they were two single people. Additionally, beginning Jan. 1, 2026, couples where one partner has the Persons with Disabilities designation will see an increase to their annual earnings exemptions, meaning they can keep more of the money they earn.

DABC commends the Province for these changes, which will benefit thousands of families in BC. At the same time, we will continue to advocate for the full removal of the PWD spousal cap. It can still have negative impacts, particularly in circumstances where one person in a couple has a disability and the other does not and has employment income.

As we noted in a post from July 2024, which also details some of our advocacy work on this issue, there are many negative impacts to restricting a person’s disability income because of a partner/spouse’s income:

• Creates unequal power dynamic between partners.
• In scenarios where a person on PWD is in a live-in relationship with a non-disabled person, it expects that the non-disabled partner is responsible for the disabled partner’s livelihood and well-being. This circles back to outdated, patriarchal laws of many decades prior.
• Particularly for people who identify as women/femmes, this can create a level of dependence on the non-disabled partner that may lead to spousal abuse.
• Creates a level of financial dependence on the disabled partner whereby they may feel they have no choice to end a relationship.
• In the context of dating/seeking relationships, being on PWD prevents people from entering into relationships on an equal footing, or even deters prospective partners because of the expectation that they become financially responsible.

Read the Province’s full news release here.