How did I get here?
Caught in the disability poverty trap |
by Sharon Segal -
MS Society Volunteer |
  How did things end up like this? Here I am, in my fifties, having done all the “right things”, but I find myself living in poverty. Why is this happening?
It’s because I have a disability. I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis almost 35 years ago. Given the unpredictability and episodic nature of MS, I had to seek out employment that didn’t require me to work a regular 40-hour week. Occasionally, I had to quit a part-time position or refuse a contract because of a relapse.
The result was lack of workplace benefits, no
pension plan, reduced CPP contributions and less income. However, these difficulties pale in
comparison with what I’m dealing with now.
A couple of years ago, I had to stop working
altogether. Fortunately, I had been working for
several years at a job with a benefits plan, so I
was able to collect long-term disability (LTD).
But I can’t supplement my income, because the
insurance company that pays my LTD requires
that I be totally disabled and unable to do any
work. I can’t risk violating this requirement.
In some instances, my income is actually
considered “too high”. While I receive marginally
more than the scandalously inadequate
provincial social assistance disability benefits,
I don’t qualify for other financial assistance to
cover expenses like repairs to my scooter or
household assistance. Why? My paltry disability
payments exceed the allowable income threshold.
This is just my story, but it’s one that’s repeated
in many different ways by people living with
disabilities in Canada. It highlights the absolute
necessity for some type of disability income
support program. Perhaps a good place to
start would be to make the disability tax credit
refundable (currently useless for many who
qualify, because they have no taxable income).
The MS Society is urging the federal government
to make a number of changes to financially help
people affected by MS, including making the
disability tax credit refundable.
Take action in support of better income security for people with MS with our advocacy tools and send a message to your MP now. For more information on advocacy, visit
www.mssociety.ca/en/involved/advocacy.
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