Saskatchewan restructuring income assistance program for those with disabilities

Saskatchewan is set to restructure its Assured Income for Disability (SAID) program, aiming to simplify benefit access for residents with disabilities. The changes, effective September 1, will consolidate benefits for laundry and telephone services into a core living program and reduce the existing four-tier rate structure to two tiers.

Social Services Minister Terry Jenson stated that the province is removing underutilized benefits but assured that clients at risk of lower payments will have their benefits maintained. Jenson emphasized that the overall restructuring means 40 percent of recipients will see an increase in their monthly payments, while the remainder will experience no change. The program's budget will remain consistent.

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We’ve heard time and time again that the program is too complicated and we need to make it easier for clients to navigate and simpler to understand.

"We’ve heard time and time again that the program is too complicated and we need to make it easier for clients to navigate and simpler to understand," Jenson told reporters. He added, "At the end of the day, not one single (Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability) client is going to see a reduction in benefits."

Social services workers will directly inform clients about the upcoming changes, and a dedicated phone line will be available to address any questions. The SAID program currently supports over 18,000 people in Saskatchewan.

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At the end of the day, not one single (Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability) client is going to see a reduction in benefits.