Good news as NB government reverses loss of $1,000 benefit over $1.70
New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham
Mike Kennedy had an annual $1,000 disability supplement returned in a common sense decision by the Graham Liberal government of New Brunswick.
Kennedy who is disabled with MS and cannot work lives on an annual disability pension of $ 7,000. When the federal pension went up $1.76 a month or $21 a year, the Province of New Brunswick cut off Kennedy’s annual $1,000 disability supplement that pays for fuel oil and other large living expenses.
“Those New Brunswickers who are living with disabilities, if their income is a few dollars over, we simply reduce the benefit by that number of dollars, but they still get it, and that’s important because they need it,” said Lamrock, who ordered changes to the cut-off policy after hearing about Kennedy’s case. In addition, the disability supplement will now be given out in monthly payments instead of a lump sum, he said.”
“Starting this month, Kennedy will receive an extra $83.33 a month. “It helps me because my disposable income is very short,” said Kennedy, who relies on the provincial supplement to pay his heating bills. “I don’t need a lot to live on; I just need enough to live on, you know.”
CBC
During the last provincial election campaign, Premier Graham promised to reform the system of limited social supports than keep some citizens in poverty. He repudiated his promise soon after being elected claiming NB’s financial straits were too dire to help those living in poverty.
The Federal Government’s LICO for a single person in New Brunswick is approximately $18,000. Mr. Kennedy is still living somehow on $9,500 less than what the government says he needs.
The decision by the Graham government to punish Kennedy and other people with disabilities was heavily reported in the local press including CBC who covered it with seven stories. The Conservative opposition on NB took up Mr. Kennedy’s case. Local poverty groups wrote letters and we covered it with four stories on NJN Network.
We wrote to government officials as well including Premier Graham who wrote back what we thought was a non-reply “Unfortunately the rules regarding the disclosure of personal information do not permit me to provide you with the specific details of an individual’s situation without their express written consent. You may be assured, however, that your comments and concerns have been noted and will be taken into consideration.”
Something worked in Mike Kennedy’s favor. Was it the election year politics with the Liberals sinking in the polls? Or did Graham have a change of heart?
Whatever the reason, Graham and his government deserve thanks for using some common sense. Now if they would just move the ball forward on poverty reduction so that all New Brunswickers with disabilities don’t have to live in poverty. That would be nice.
How would Premier Graham, his cabinet, the MLAs and their Deputy Ministers like to try living on $8,500 per year? Most of them are spending more than that on their annual vacations.
Leave a Reply