National AccessAbility Week 2025: Federal government must provide a better benefit

Canada’s unions are marking National AccessAbility Week 2025 by calling on the newly elected federal government to shape a better Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) that lifts people with disabilities in Canada out of poverty.

“The Canada Disability Benefit was a landmark initiative and legacy program left over by Canada’s last Liberal government,” said Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. “However, the benefit amount and current rollout plans fall significantly short of addressing the disproportionately high levels of poverty faced by persons with disabilities in this country.”

The CDB represents a critical step toward addressing these challenges, providing direct financial assistance to 1.6 million Canadians currently living in poverty—including workers with disabilities—and laying the foundation for a more inclusive economy. With unanimous passage in June 2023 and draft regulations published in June 2024, this new benefit is scheduled to roll out in July 2025.

However, concerns remain regarding the CDB’s low amount of only $200 a month, restrictive eligibility criteria, separate application process, and the risk of provincial clawbacks.

The CDB is a vital opportunity to reduce poverty, advance equity, and uphold the dignity of millions of people with disabilities in Canada. That’s why Canada’s unions are joining disability justice advocates across the country in demanding action from our federal government to ensure the benefit truly lifts people with disabilities out of poverty, including:

• Increasing the base amount—the benefit should lift disabled people out of poverty, providing an income that is above Canada’s official poverty line;

• Cutting the red tape—automatically enroll those already eligible for other disability benefits; and

• Ensuring there are no clawbacks—the CDB must be a top-up to other income and disability support programs for all levels of government.

“The ball is now in Prime Minister Carney’s court: it’s time to improve the benefit and increase access, now,” said Lily Chang, Secretary-Treasurer of the CLC. “By making the Canada Disability Benefit better, our government can solidify its legacy as a champion of fairness and equality, demonstrating leadership that resonates not only with those directly impacted but with all Canadians who believe in a society that leaves no one behind.”

Learn more about the campaign to improve the CDB, led by Disability Without Poverty, here.