Hi All,

Spencer van Vloten here.

BC Disability recently met with Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, as well as several members of his team.

We gave a presentation on why spousal caps on disability assistance need to be removed, and then had a follow-up discussion with the minister. We presented data, personal stories, and the arguments for policy change, bringing attention to the tens of thousands of people calling for change.

Although lukewarm about completely removing the spousal cap, the minister was very interested in the idea of raising the spousal means threshold, so that only persons with high-income spouses would have their spouse factored into means testing for assistance. Currently, even many low-income spouses make enough to disqualify their partner from receiving full assistance.

Although this wouldn't be the perfect solution, it would be a first step, and far more disabled British Columbians would be eligible for disability assistance without having to worry about it being cut due to their spouse's income. The proposed change would mean that no one who is low- or middle-income would be counted on to be their disabled partner's financial caregiver.

This was just our first meeting with the minister, and there is a lot more that needs to be done before the policy is changed; these types of things come with a fight and do not happen overnight. But it was a positive first step!

We really need your support to help keep up the momentum and voice for change, as policy reform has a much better chance of being achieved when there is public pressure on the government.

So please keep spreading the word about the issue, contact media, write to the editor, keep sharing the petition, and if it's within your means, please chip-in to the movement. We're on the way there and just need to keep our feet moving!

All the best =)

Spencer van Vloten

BCDisability.com; Facebook.com/DisabilityBC

spencer@bcdisability.com