Factsheet of 2013-2014 Provincial Budget pertaining to People with Disabilities
a Factsheet outlining the highlights from the 2013-2014 Provincial Budget and its impact on citizens with disabilities can be found HERE:
Text as follows:
| 2013 – 14 Budget Highlights Impact on People with Disabilities |
- The 2013-14 Budget maintains and expands core services and supports for Saskatchewan citizens with disabilities.
- The Budget includes more than $34 million in new or enhanced programming and increased funding for program utilization.
- The Budget makes key investments in areas such as income support, transportation, housing and promoting recreation and sports to people with disabilities.
- These investments demonstrate Government’s commitment to Saskatchewan’s vision of being the best place in Canada for people with disabilities to live.
Ministry of Social Services:
Income Support:
- $3.015 million for enhancements to Geneva Disability Center (SAID) Program. Benefit enhancements (starting in 2012-13) include:
– Couples: Benefits will increase by an additional $400/month over four years. Cumulative monthly increase by year: $230 / $290 / $345 / $400.
– Single Individuals: Benefits will increase by an additional $350/month over four years. Cumulative monthly increase by year: $200 / $250 / $300 / $350.
– Persons in Residential Care: Benefits will increase by an additional $100/month over four years. Cumulative monthly increase by year: $40 / $60 / $80 / $100.
- $418,000 is being committed for the indexation of the SAID living income benefit that pertains to shelter allowances.
Housing:
- $1.19 million increase for the Saskatchewan Disability Rental Housing Supplement as more households access the program and to keep pace with increases in the rental market.
Specialized Programs / Other Initiatives:
- $8.94 million for recruitment and retention salary increases for Community Based Organizations providing supports for people with disabilities within the Community Living Service Delivery sector;
- $3.33 million for a general Level of Care (LOC) increase for CBOs providing services to people with disabilities within the Approved Private Service Home Sector;
- $5.20 million to annualize the final commitments made in 2013-14 to complete the multi-year initiative to provide services to the 440 people with intellectual disabilities who were on a waiting list for specialized residential and/or day programs;
- $1.20 million for operational funding to serve an additional 20 individuals with disabilities who have emerging needs;
- $2.70 million in increased funding to assist those with disabilities transitioning from the Child and Family Services system;
- $600,000 to provide intensive Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) prevention programming to pregnant women at high-risk of have a child with FASD;
- $105,000 to the Cognitive Disability Strategy (CDS); and,
- $100,000 to the Canadian Paraplegic Association as part of the Rick Hansen Foundation Initiative for peer support, rehabilitation counselling and outreach services to engage Aboriginal people with disabilities who have sustained a spinal cord injury.
Ministry of Health:
- $2.50 million increase to the Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living (SAIL) program to maintain benefits for people with long-term disabilities (orthotics, prosthetics, rehabilitation/mobility equipment, oxygen, and insulin pumps for children); and,
- $200,000 for Spinal Cord Research as part of the Rick Hansen Foundation Initiative.
Ministry of Government Relations:
- $325,000 increase in funding for the Transit Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (TAPD) program, which will accelerate the renewal of the ParaTransit fleet and allow for the expansion to additional eligible municipalities.
Ministry of Government Services:
- $700,000 will be allocated to improve the physical accessibility of government buildings for people with disabilities.
Other Initiatives:
- $791,000 to the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport in partnership with Sask Sport Inc. for funding to high-performance athletes with disabilities ($47,000) a sport participation program for people with disabilities ($232,000) as part of the Rick Hansen Foundation Initiative and core funding ($512,000) to disability sport organizations;
- The 2013-14 Budget also includes disability related tax credits. The Disability Tax Credit, Disability Supplement, Caregiver Tax Credit and Infirm Dependent Tax Credit have all been increased from $8,803 in 2012 to $8,979 in 2013; and,
- $100,000 from the Office of the Provincial Secretary to fund the Clayton Gerein Legacy Fund, also part of the Rick Hansen Foundation Initiative.
| MINISTRY | INITIATIVE | FUNDING | |
| Social Services |
SAID Living Income Enhancements
Indexation of SAID Benefit (Shelter) Community Living Waitlist Initiative and Emerging Needs Recruitment & Retention increase to CBO’s Level of Care increases to CBO’s in the Approved Disability Rental Housing Supplement Children transitioning from CFS to CLSD FASD Prevention Canadian Paraplegic Association outreach funding Increase to Cognitive Disability Strategy Total Social Services |
$ $ $ |
3.02 M 3.33 M 0.10 M |
| Health |
Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living
Spinal Cord Injury Research Total Health |
$ |
2.50 M 0.20 M 2.70 M |
| Government Relations | Transit Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (TAPD) Program |
$ |
0.325 M |
| Government Services | Improve accessibility to Government buildings for people with disabilities |
$ |
0.700 M |
| Parks, Culture and Sport | High Performance Athlete Assistance and increased recreation opportunities for People with Disabilities |
$ |
0.791 M |
| Office of the Provincial Secretary |
Clayton Gerein Legacy Fund (Rick Hansen Foundation Initiative) |
$ |
0.100 M |
|
2013-2014 Provincial Budget Total
for Disability Services and Supports |
$ |
34.11 M |