[mobglob-discuss] BC - Disabled told to justify benefits

[Graeme Bacque]

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/news/story.asp?id={6FB0B7D2-ABCF-4C11-AA4F-B
9FFFCDF17A0}

Disabled told to justify benefits
Craig McInnes
Vancouver Sun
October 04, 2002

VICTORIA -- More than 18,000 people are getting letters from the provincial
government this week asking them to justify their disability benefits. They
have to return a 23-page questionnaire by Jan. 15 to show that they qualify
under new rules that took effect this month. Most of the questionnaire,
which covers everything from their ability to go to the bathroom to whether
they can handle personal finances, has to be filled out by a doctor and
another health professional. Human Resources Minister Murray Coell said the
new rules are designed to standardize the criteria used in B.C. with those
in other provinces. "What we wanted to do was make sure we are targeting
funds today and funds in the future to those people who are most in need,"
said Coell, who has to cut $600 million from his ministry's budget over
three years.

Advocates for the disabled say the letters are causing panic among many of
the people who get disability benefits. "People are terrified. There is
great concern," said Jan Harder, who was waiting Thursday to hear whether
her son, who is a schizophrenic, is being reassessed. Another 43,000 people
are getting letters telling them they already qualify under the new rules
and will continue to receive their benefits. People who fail to qualify
under the new rules will continue to receive benefits for three months and
then those benefits will be reduced.

Margaret Birrell of the B.C. Coalition of People with Disabilities said the
new rules appear to be designed to cut the number of people receiving
benefits by restricting the definition of disabled in a way that makes it
difficult for people with mental illnesses to qualify. "They're on target
to do what they want to do. Ten thousand will be off Jan. 15," she said.
Coell denied there are any targets and said the rules do allow for mental
illnesses.  "We're encouraging people to get those applications back in and
whoever qualifies, there will be the programs and the funding there for
[them]," he said.

According to a ministry fact sheet, the new rules focus on functional
limitations, which makes the definition of disability consistent with human
rights case law. Under the new rules, people who qualify will continue to
get $786 a month. They also qualify for additional health benefits and
subsidized bus passes. Those who fail to qualify for disability benefits
may qualify for reduced benefits in a new category of welfare called
persons with persistent multiple barriers to employment. In that category,
they can get up to $608 a month and additional benefits. People who fall
into neither category will still get the $510 a month allowed under
welfare, but they will be required to look for work. "If you are reassessed
and you go down to employable, then you are making $500 a month. You know
what the rents are like in Vancouver," Harder said. "Five hundred a month
means you eat in the soup kitchen and live in a hotel room in the Downtown
Eastside...."