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An Income Program for People with Disabilities:

The Blueprint

A Presentation by theDisability Income Support

Task Team

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Our Presentation…. Task Team - Background and Purpose

Principles and Goals – The New “Foundation”

Sharing New Ideas – “Building the New House” Who is it for? How do you get in the program? What will the benefit be like? What will the service be like?

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Background October 2006 - Disability Income Support Coalition

(DISC) formed to advocate for a separate dignified income

support for people with disabilities to be developed in collaboration with the disability community.

October 2008 - Minister of Social Services announced the development of a separate dignified income program for people with disabilities.

The announcement included a commitment to collaborate and consult with disability community on the design and roll out of the new program.

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Background

January 2009 - Community and Government Task Team formed

Task Team includes community representation from DISC, PIND, the Saskatchewan Abilities Council and government representation from the Ministry of Social Services

January – March 2009 – regular meetings to develop recommendations for a new program

Task Team will submit a report to the Minister in spring 2009

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Task Team Purpose

Develop recommendations for the new income program – The Blueprint!

Task Team asked for recommendations on: Who should be eligible? How to determine who is eligible?

(eligibility and assessment processes) How should the program work?

(What kind of benefits? What type of service?)

How much? $$$ Money issues not part of Task Team work

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Community Meetings

TODAY…… Want to share the work the Task

Team has done so far NEED YOUR INPUT AND FEEDBACK Are we on track?

MOST IMPORTANTLY - We do not have all the answers and we need your advice and input

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The New Foundation:Program Principles and Goals

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New Foundation

SAP was not designed for people with disabilities

Need a program that reflects that people with disabilities have unique needs and usually need longer term support

Need new program – one that is different

So – we start with a new foundation…..

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New Foundation: Draft Principles

Dignified and respectful Person-centered Empowering Non-intrusive Collaborative Separate Easily accessible Simple Individualized and portable

Flexible Timely Impact-based Fair and transparent Aligned A high quality service Accountable Sustainable

A well designed disability income support program is:

Watch for….

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New Foundation: Draft Goals

Provide income support for those with limited ability to work

Promote participation in community life learning opportunities recreation volunteer activities paid employment

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Building the New House:What might it look like?

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Four areas of discussion:

1. Who is it for?2. How do you get in the program? 3. What will the benefit be like?4. What will the service be like?

What…….

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Who is it for?

People with work-limiting disabilities – initial definition provided

Must be 18 years of age The disability must be SIGNIFICANT and ENDURING The disability must limit the ability to work Individuals must have little or no income

Not everyone who has a disability on SAP today will be part of the new program – the program will be for those with SIGNIFICANT and ENDURING disabilities

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Who is it for?

Significant means a disability that has a substantial impact on daily living/work activities and that requires support

Enduring means a continuous or periodic disability that is expected to be permanent or indefinite

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ENDURING

SIGNIFICANT

New Program

SAPToday

How do you get in?

What do we need to know?

Presence

Impact

Duration

Who??

Primarily doctors

Doctors +

others

Who??

A new approach to assessing for disability…….

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How do you get in?

More emphasis on the IMPACT of the disability

Assessment likely two stages: Determine IMPACT first (variety of people

might be able to do) Then get information to establish ENDURING

(could be from a doctor, could be from others too)

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How do you get in? Also need to assess INCOME

Will be simpler than SAP is today – recognizing that most will have limited income

Less frequent reporting – maybe annual only Simpler & less intrusive Will better support periodic employment

Allow people to keep more of what they earn

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What will the benefit be like? THREE PART BENEFIT

Part 1 – “Basic Living Income”The Alberta Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program provides flat rate benefits. All benefits including food shelter, utilities, personal costs are provided in a single benefit.

Use simple flat rate benefit amounts Monthly Would cover food, clothing,

shelter Simpler Less reporting Greater flexibility

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What will the benefit be like?

Part 2 - “Disability Income” Flat rates for the range of routine costs associated with

the impact of a disability (eg. dietary, special transportation).

Monthly Would require limited reporting or receipts

Part 3 - “Exceptional Needs Benefit” A benefit for emergency or extraordinary items

Would be based on reporting of actual expenses As needed, not monthly Maintains flexibility

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842+

$70+$

$$$$$

What will the benefit be like?

842

$70000

Basic Living Income

Disability IncomeLevel ALevel BLevel CLevel D

Year One

(2010?)

Future Years

(2011+)

Would vary byimpact

Would ↑

withimpact

Exceptional Needs SAP rules New rules

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What will the service be like?

Ability to choose – different service for different needs Overall – less intrusive – less interaction Examples:

Routine – by email, phone, or web Initial application/assessment – in person Complicated circumstances – in person Periodic reviews – some in person, some by mail, web,

etc. Self service where it makes sense – least intrusive

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What will the service be like? Ministry staff will still deliver Staff will have specialized disability related

knowledge and training A less intrusive program will make it simpler for staff as

well – will mean Ministry can shift resources to providing other higher value service to clients

Will also mean a shift….

“Case Work”

Model

“Client Service”

Model

FROM TO

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Next Steps

The Task Team will finalize these recommendations based on your feedback today

Report to Minister in May 2009

We don’t have all the answers – more detailed design to follow later….

This will be a multi year process! Please be patient!

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Help us get it right!