Social Services News Release – May 13, 2011

GOVERNMENT COMMITS ADDITIONAL $2.3 MILLION TO DISABILITY INCOME PROGRAM

Geneva Disability Center (SAID) program will continue to be developed in 2011-12, following the commitment of an additional $2.3 million in funding as part of this year’s provincial budget. Details of how that extra funding will be spent were announced today by Social Services Minister June Draude.

“Our government remains committed to ensuring that people with significant, long-term disabilities no longer have to rely on social assistance as they have guaranteed income with SAID,” Draude said. “That’s why we established SAID in October 2009, and these latest enhancements to the program represent important steps in a much longer journey.”

The additional $2.3 million for SAID will be allocated as follows:

• $1.1 million to complete a research project to develop an assessment tool for SAID and to assess individuals with disabilities for the next phase of SAID enrollment;
• $500,000 for a $50 per month benefit increase, effective January 1, 2012, for existing SAID beneficiaries who live in residential care settings;
• $500,000 to annualize funding for the earnings exemption increase for SAID beneficiaries and Saskatchewan Assistance Program recipients that came into effect in February 2011; and
• $150,000 to annualize funding for the inheritance exemption increase for SAID beneficiaries that came into effect in February 2011.

Draude made the announcement at the official opening of a new SAID Service Centre location in Saskatoon.

Located at 225 1st Avenue North in Saskatoon, the new SAID Service Centre will serve more than 2,000 of the 2,750 Saskatchewan people with disabilities who are currently enrolled in the program. Staff who administer SAID for provincial long-term recipients, as well as for recipients living in Saskatoon, work at this service centre.

“Consultations with the disability community prior to the implementation of SAID identified the need to enhance benefits and administer the program separately from social assistance, including the establishment of separate offices,” Disability Income Support Coalition (DISC) Chair Judy Hannah said. “The benefit increase for existing SAID beneficiaries who live in residential care settings and the opening of a new, separate office for SAID in Saskatoon are welcomed by the disability community, and we look forward to additional achievements as the SAID program develops in the months ahead.”

The SAID program, which came into effect October 1, 2009, represents a milestone for people with disabilities in Saskatchewan, establishing an income support program for people with disabilities that is separate from social assistance.

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For more information, contact:

Brian Miller
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0531
Email: [email protected]

 http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=fbda4ddd-61e7-4dd9-ac0c-6cb385699095