Proposed changes for people receiving assistance from the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program will not be carried out as announced earlier this year.
In making the announcement on Monday, government officials said they will proceed with to reviewing and redesigning its income assistance programs to better serve those receiving the benefit.
“Our government has listened to the concerns of those who would have been affected by these changes, and we have decided against implementing them for existing clients,” Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said.
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During the release of the 2016‐17 budget, the province had proposed a number of policy changes to programs like SAID.
Those changes were put on hold in mid‐August to allow government and clients more time to hold consultations.
The following income assistance program changes were scheduled to take effect at the start of September or October:
- Consider the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement when calculating benefits for families and people with disabilities who receive extra or “excess” living income through SAID;
- Saskatchewan Assistance Program (SAP) and SAID: end the grandfathering provision of excess shelter benefits under both programs in communities that previously had low vacancy rates;
- SAP and SAID: end the practice of exempting Seniors’ Income Plan (SIP) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) top-up benefits; and
- Saskatchewan Employment Supplement (SES): end the practice of grandfathering benefits for families with children aged 13 and over.
Government officials determined that the proposed changes will not apply to 2,700 existing beneficiaries, who will be “grandfathered.”
However, the changes have been applied to new program applicants and existing clients whose individual circumstances have changed, such as a change of residence, or those receiving income support for people over 65 years old.
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Social Services has started the work of redesigning income assistance programs. The redesign aims to simplify administration, improve client service and support transitions to independence and participation.
“We are committed to ensuring that our programs serve those in greatest need, that they are effective, and that they are sustainable,” Beaudry-Mellor said.
“To that end, we will be focusing our efforts on reviewing and redesigning our income assistance programs to support those who need them most and help people participate in the economic and social life of our province.”
The redesign will not focus on SAID or on income supports for people over 65.
Beneficiaries with questions can contact their income assistance worker, assured income specialist or the client service centre at 1-866-221-5200.
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