Canadians could be eligible for a new benefit cheque

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Some Canadians could be eligible for a new benefit cheque.

The Canada Disability Benefit Act received royal assent on June 22, 2023, after being passed unanimously by the House of Commons and passed by the Senate.

But it could be more than a year before the Canada Disability Benefit payments start rolling out.

The federal budget 2023 committed $21.5 million to continue work on the benefit, including engagement with the disability community and the provinces and territories on the regulatory process.

After the announcement this month, the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities Kamal Khera couldn’t provide any specifics on what the benefit will look like or when eligible Canadians will be able to claim it.

The new benefit is meant to level the playing field as the government finds that working-age Canadians with disabilities are twice as likely to live in poverty as working-age people without disabilities and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has made things even worse.

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In 2022, the employment rate for those aged 16 to 64 with disabilities was 65.1 per cent, compared with 80.1 per cent for those without disabilities, according to Statistics Canada.

Khera said the new benefit is being developed with the disability community.

And federal government is currently asking for feedback.

“This is just one part of the extensive consultations our Government is doing with the disability community on the Canada Disability Benefit,” Khera said in a press release.

“I encourage all Canadians to participate in the consultations. With your help and input, we’ll be able to build a better benefit and a more inclusive and accessible Canada!”

People can provide feedback on the new benefit through the Canada Disability Benefit Regulations Online Engagement Tool until Dec. 21, 2023.

There will also be additional opportunities to provide input after the formal publication of the draft regulations, which is expected to take place sometime in 2024.

For further information, see the Canada Disability Benefit website here.

To find more on other benefit cheques you may be eligible for, see this story.

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