Dear Editor:
Re: Ministry Responds to Bus Pass Clawback Outrage, March 9 Mailbox.
What the response letter from the government fails to acknowledge is that their efforts have not resulted in significant help for anyone on disability assistance.
In the case of the bus pass, they fail to acknowledge that Vancouver and area citizens pay higher costs in other areas as well and that this alone should have made the government rethink and restate how exactly their strategy as it stands is considered adequate in any way.
What they have not stated regarding the earnings exemption is that they have effectively capped the amount a person can earn while still remaining on the government disability income. (The earnings exemption is $500 a month.) In truth that amount even added to the government pension does not begin to cover real expenses.
The old system allowed (people with disabilities) to have earnings that went up and down throughout the year, as is typical for the disabled who work part time.
The new system provides more income from government at the beginning of the year, covering expenses initially, but then cuts off when (the annual earnings exemption of) $9,600 is reached. Who can live on that?
Complicating matters is that individuals all have unique situations.
Susan Gutmann
New Westminster
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