More Support for Income Assistance Recipients with Disabilities, Work Underway on Human Rights Remedy

The Province is creating a new funding stream to support income assistance clients with a disability or serious medical condition while taking action on the human rights remedy.

Beginning in April, the Income Assistance Disability Supplement will provide an additional $300 per month to people on income assistance who are not currently in the Disability Support Program.

“There is no question that income assistance clients living with disabilities face increased financial pressures,” said Community Services Minister Trevor Boudreau. “We want people with disabilities to be better able to meet their needs, and this investment is another step in that direction.”

This approach aligns with other provinces and recognizes the higher cost of living with a disability and barriers to participating in the workforce.

The disability supplement will benefit more than 60 per cent of recipients of the Employment Support and Income Assistance program – about 15,000 people. Eligibility will be recognized through existing medical documentation, and clients will begin receiving the increase automatically.

The Province is also taking action to address the Human Rights Review and Remedy for the Finding of Systemic Discrimination Against Nova Scotians with Disabilities, including:

• creating new positions in the Disability Support Program to help people living with disabilities navigate the community resources available
• expanding and modernizing the technology used in the Disability Support Program
• analyzing current addictions and mental health programs to determine how to better support people with intellectual and mental health disabilities living in community.

This work is part pf a larger series of initiatives planned for the next several years to transform the Disability Support Program and improve the lives of people living with disabilities in Nova Scotia.

Quotes:

“This latest announcement is another important step forward for people with disabilities in Nova Scotia. The new Income Assistance Disability Supplement is well aligned with the foundations of the remedy, in particular through supporting the broader population of people with disability beyond the Disability Support Program.”

– Eddie Bartnick and Tim Stainton, international experts in disability and authors of the Human Rights Review and Remedy for the Findings of Systemic Discrimination Against Nova Scotians with Disabilities

Quick Facts:

• the new funding stream represents an annual investment of $53.3 million
• the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission issued a decision and interim settlement agreement on the remedy recommendations on June 29, 2023

Additional Resources:

Disability Support Program: https://novascotia.ca/coms/disabilities/index.html

Remedy report: https://novascotia.ca/coms/disabilities/human-rights-remedy-dsp-final-report.pdf