DABC Recommendations for BC Budget 2027
The Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services holds an annual public consultation on the next provincial budget. DABC recently submitted our recommendations for Budget 2027. Read it below or download it: DABC Recommendations for BC Budget 2027.
Learn more about the consultation process here: https://consultation-portal.leg.bc.ca/consultations/195.
Please note that we were only able to submit a maximum of three recommendations.
Budget 2027 Consultation
Disability Alliance BC (DABC) Submission to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services
Disability Alliance BC (DABC) is a provincial cross-disability charity, advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. The focus of our submission will be on ensuring that the BC Government invest in programs which will improve the financial security of low-income people with disabilities across our province, particularly focused on Disability Assistance, Public Transportation, and Medical Equipment.
Recommendation 1 (300 characters): Indexing Disability Assistance rates to inflation, and removing clawbacks from employment insurance income and spousal income for people on Disability Assistance.
Explanation (2000 characters):
DABC notes the small increase to Disability Assistance made in December 2025 for couples, however overall rates to the support portion of Disability Assistance has not been increased for individuals since 2021. DABC argues that the rate of inflation over the past 5 years has been significant, particularly so for people with disabilities and low income individuals and families. DABC calls upon the BC government to make good on their commitments to poverty reduction as listed on page 34 of the 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy, specifically: “considering the case for indexing rates to inflation”, and “Considering income exemptions that could stack benefits and help people retain more income – Examples could include changing the rules around spousal income or exempting federal benefits like Employment Insurance from income.”
People on PWD deserve to feel financially secure; they should have reassurance that their PWD income will increase if inflation increases; and they should feel secure in knowing they can access their federal right to Employment Insurance (EI) without having their PWD income clawed back.
EI should be treated as a form of earned income, not unearned income, because workers contribute their employment earnings to EI through a deduction in their pay cheque. Everyone who pays EI premiums can rely on EI benefits being there when they need them, including PWD clients, however the difference is that PWD clients “are required to pursue and accept the other income or means of support,” meaning that they must accept EI if they are eligible, but have no recourse to stop their PWD income from being clawed back. We believe this clawback of EI benefits discriminates against PWD clients, which hinders them from escaping the cycle of poverty.
Recommendation 2: Streamlining the provincial bus pass program for people with disabilities to include HandyDART rides:
Explanation:
DABC calls upon the provincial government to make good on a campaign promise within the BC NDP’s action plan from the 2024 election, namely “Improve transit for people with disabilities by bringing BC’s HandyDART service into government, instead of sub contracting the service to a private company.” DABC wishes to see HandyDART brought within government control not only because it will guarantee greater accountability to the public and the disability community on the state of its operations, but will also pave the way for HandyDART to more easily become integrated into the BC bus pass program, which is available to seniors and people on Disability Assistance.
Transport 2050 states that its goal is “a “fairer and more just and inclusive transportation system that truly delivers on the promise of Access for Everyone.” A more inclusive public transportation system would involve bringing HandyDART into the BC bus pass program so that low income people with disabilities who are unable to navigate conventional public transit would be able to access this much-needed service. Currently, people on Disability Assistance have to pay out of pocket for HandyDART, which we believe is a form of financial exclusion.
Recommendation 3: Establish an Assistive Devices Program in BC
Explanation:
In BC, most financial coverage available for adults for assistive devices is available for people on Disability Assistance only. Aside from Disability Assistance coverage, some people also may qualify for assistive devices through WorkBC if they can establish a work-related barrier due to a disability; however, this still excludes many people with disabilities.
People with disabilities who do not qualify for these two options above are left to purchase expensive medical equipment on their own or to seek out help from non-profits and charities. This creates an inconsistent system of care for people with disabilities in our country, as both Alberta and Ontario have programs that provide this coverage. The Province of Ontario has the Assistive Devices Program, and the Province of Alberta has the Aids to Daily Living Program.
DABC recommends that the BC government follow the lead of other provinces in establishing this support program that is offered to people with disabilities beyond those who receive Disability Assistance. An immediate first step would be to extend eligibility to low income seniors and to people who solely receive CPP-D.
DABC Calls Upon Global News to Issue a Formal Apology for their Discriminatory News Piece
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.
DABC and Community Partners call for full removal of the PWD spousal cap
November 21, 2025 by DABC
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
