On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Disability Without Poverty and Campaign 2000 released their second annual 2024 Disability Poverty Report Card, assigning Canada a failing grade for its lack of progress in addressing poverty among people with disabilities.
Despite commitments made through the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB), the report card finds that the federal government’s current efforts fall drastically short of expectations.
“Today’s report card underscores the failure of the federal government to address disability poverty,” said Rabia Khedr, National Director of Disability Without Poverty. “A $200 Canada Disability Benefit is inadequate. We are calling on the government to triple the benefit in 2025. This will be a better start toward ending disability poverty.”
This report card finds people with disabilities experience disproportionately higher rates of poverty. There is a trend across most indicators of rising poverty rates and deeper levels of poverty in 2021 and 2022 after significant reductions in 2020.
Key findings include:
– 1 in 6 people with disabilities lived in poverty.
– Poverty rates for people with disabilities remain twice as high as those without disabilities.
– 1 in 3 people with disabilities living alone lived in poverty.
– People with disabilities would need, on average, 30% more income to reach the poverty line.
“The Canada Disability Benefit is an opportunity that cannot be missed to eliminate poverty for people with disabilities across all socio-economic locations,” added Leila Sarangi, National Director of Campaign 2000. “It must work together with other income support programs, as well as adequate housing, health services, childcare and decent work opportunities.”
“The City of Mississauga fully recognizes the severity of the situation facing those in our community living with disability and struggling to stay above the poverty line,” said Carolyn Parrish, Mayor of Mississauga. “We need an immediate increase to the Canada Disability Benefit and on an ongoing basis, ensure that it remains at levels that allow people to experience distinguished and full lives.”
“Residents of Brampton living with disabilities shouldn’t have to struggle to pay their bills and raise their families,” said Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton. “As elected officials, we need to work together at all levels of government to ensure that people with disabilities have the financial security to thrive.”
The report card outlines seven principles to strengthen the CDB and offers recommendations for the federal government to fulfill their promises and human rights obligations and make poverty elimination for people with disabilities a reality.