Tiffany Friesen receives benefits from the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) Program. Earlier this month she received a letter, saying her benefits would be cut by $150.
“Basically, I’ve had to uproot everything,” she said.
Friesen used to live in a two-bedroom apartment she felt safe and comfortable in. Now, she lives in a small bachelor suite for $750 a month. She said that since the move, she has lost her sense of security.
“My sanctity, and coming home at night, and going for walks, and just having peace in my life isn’t there anymore,” Friesen said.
“I have to worry about what’s outside. I see cops driving up and down my street every single day.”
In addition to SAID, Friesen received money through the Saskatchewan Housing Supplement program. However, the province announced in the June budget that people on programs like SAID would no longer be able to receive Saskatchewan Housing Supplement support.
READ MORE: Saskatchewan government reducing income benefits for disabled people
Friesen is one of about 2,700 people in the province impacted by the cut.
The cut was supposed to take effect on September 1, then pushed to October 1, and has been put on hold once again.
The Saskatchewan Disability Income Support Coalition (DISC) are calling on the government to cancel the cut.
“SAID has been their security blanket, and it’s not so much that anymore”, DISC chair Judy Hannah said.
“Everyone on SAID has a significant and enduring disability, so it’s not a minor issue for them. They’re not able to work and support themselves, so that’s why they’re on SAID.”
Ian Morrison is another person who relies on SAID. He said the benefits give him a sense of independence and he fears what may lie ahead.
“I just had an intense feeling of fear in my gut, because I don’t want to end up back in places like Salvation Army. Not that that’s not good for some people — it is — but I don’t want to go back to that,” he said.
“You can’t take from people that already have nothing.”
Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said she is listening to concerns, and knows that the use of SAID is growing.
“I am concerned about the sustainability of the program, and I am looking to see how we can support those who are the most vulnerable in that community,” Beaudry-Mellor said.
She added that she’s been in the role of minister for four weeks, and is still familiarizing herself with everything in the extensive portfolio.
Meanwhile, she said her ministry recently launched other programs aimed at helping people with disabilities, including a self-directed funding program for people with intellectual disabilities.