The Canada Disability Benefit Act aims to reduce poverty and bolster the financial security of working-age individuals with disabilities. It establishes the framework for the Canada Disability Benefit, outlining eligibility, payment structures, and administrative procedures. The Act empowers the Governor in Council to enact regulations that will define key elements of the benefit, such as eligibility criteria, benefit amounts, and application processes.
The Act emphasizes collaboration with the disability community in designing the benefit and its regulations. It includes provisions for reporting on the progress of these regulations and for parliamentary review of the Act's effectiveness. The legislation also ensures that the Canada Disability Benefit is protected from bankruptcy, assignment, or seizure, and it clarifies its interaction with other federal laws.
Furthermore, the Act authorizes the Minister of Employment and Social Development to enter into agreements with other government departments and agencies to facilitate the implementation of the benefit. It also includes a consequential amendment to the Income Tax Act, allowing for the sharing of information for the administration and enforcement of the Canada Disability Benefit Act. The Act mandates that the regulations necessary to enable the payment of the Canada Disability Benefit be made within 12 months of the Act coming into force.
In making regulations respecting the amount of the benefit, the Governor in Council must consider the Official Poverty Line, the additional costs associated with living with a disability, the challenges faced by those living with a disability in earning an income from work, the intersectional needs of disadvantaged individuals and groups, and Canada’s international human rights obligations.
Inflation and Cost of Living
The Act allows for regulations to be made that require the Canada Disability Benefit to be indexed to inflation. This means the benefit amount could increase along with the cost of living, helping people with disabilities maintain their purchasing power.
Jobs
The preamble of the act acknowledges that people with disabilities often face barriers to employment. The Canada Disability Benefit aims to support the financial security of working-age persons with disabilities, which may indirectly encourage workforce participation by reducing financial disincentives.
Taxation
The Act includes a change to the Income Tax Act that allows tax information to be shared for the purpose of running and enforcing the Canada Disability Benefit Act.
Spending
The Act establishes the Canada Disability Benefit, which will be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, indicating new government spending. The amount of the benefit and other specific financial details will be determined by regulations.
Crime
The Act allows for regulations to be put in place that create offences and punishments (fines or jail time) for knowingly using false information to get a benefit, advising someone to apply for a benefit with the intention of stealing it, or knowingly making false statements in relation to an application.