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.