PETITION TO RAISE SHELTER & SUPPORT ALLOWANCES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA & TO RAISE A NON-PENALIZED INCOME A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES CAN EARN EACH MONTH
Note: Only sign if you reside in Canada, and please fill out your address information accurately so that the petition is valid. Thanks!
In British Columbia, Canada, a person who is designated as having a disability by the provincial government receives a monthly allowance of $375 towards rent and $531 for all other living expenses. People on disability income, who are able to work, are allowed to earn up to $500.00/month without deduction to their support allowance. Amounts earned over $500.00 in any given month are deducted from the next month's allowance. The last increase to the shelter allowance was $50.00 in 2007; meanwhile, according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, rent for an average bachelor apartment in the Vancouver area has increased to upwards of $811.00. With only $375.00 provided for shelter, people on disability allowance are forced to use their support allowance to cover rent, effectively decreasing the amount they have for all other expenses including amenities, clothing and food.
Due to the rising cost of living in B.C., and in an effort to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities, we the undersigned call on the B.C. Provincial Government to raise disability benefit rates. We strongly support minimum increases of $100.00 for shelter allowances; $150.00 for support allowances; and $100.00 for the amount people with disabilities are entitled to earn each month without deduction to their benefits. Increasing the allowable income limit will enable people with disabilities to better care for themselves and to improve their quality of life, while giving them a stronger sense of independence.
