Raise Canada Disability Benefit
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to raise the Canada Disability Benefit to $500/month, create a one‑time application for permanent disabilities, and cut application and paperwork burdens. The government responds that the benefit is $200/month, will be inflation‑indexed from July 2026, and measures to streamline applications and offset Disability Tax Credit costs are in place.
Why we would sign this petition
- Increasing the benefit to $500/month would give low‑income working‑age Canadians with disabilities substantially more income to meet basic needs and reduce poverty.
- A one‑time application for permanent disabilities would cut repeated paperwork, reduce delays and stress, and make access to benefits more dignified.
- Reducing application and paperwork burdens would improve accessibility and program efficiency, helping the benefit reach intended recipients faster.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Raising the benefit to $500/month would increase federal costs and require trade‑offs in budgets or other programs.
- A one‑time application for permanent disabilities may complicate ongoing eligibility checks and raise the risk of improper payments without careful safeguards.
- Many disability supports are delivered provincially, so federal changes may need coordination to avoid overlap, duplication or gaps in coverage.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WHEREAS • Canadians with disabilities face disproportionately high rates of poverty, and existing federal income supports, including the Canada Disability Benefit at $200 per month, are insufficient to meet basic living costs; • Individuals with permanent and lifelong disabilities, such as Cerebral Palsy, are required to repeatedly reapply for benefits, creating unnecessary administrative burdens, delays, and stress with little or no public benefit; • Reducing unnecessary administrative barriers improves accessibility, efficiency, and fairness while ensuring federal programs serve their intended purpose. THEREFORE We, the undersigned citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to increase the Canada Disability Benefit to $500 per month, to implement a one-time application process for individuals with permanent disabilities, and to significantly reduce administrative and paperwork requirements associated with the Canada Disability Benefit so that essential supports are accessible, dignified, and effective.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario Signed by Annie Koutrakis The Government recognizes that persons with disabilities are more likely to experience poverty than persons without disabilities. That is why the Government introduced the new Canada Disability Benefit to support the financial security of working age, low-income persons with disabilities by providing them with direct financial support. This benefit is intended to supplement existing income support programs for working-age Canadians with disabilities – many of which are provided by the provinces and territories (e.g., social assistance). The Canada Disability Benefit currently provides $200 per month – up to $2,400 per year to eligible low-income persons with disabilities between the ages of 18 and 64. Note that the Canada Disability Benefit is indexed to inflation and starting in July 2026, it will be adjusted once a year to account for increases in the cost of living. Thus, the benefit amount will only increase and never decrease. The Government of Canada also recognizes that for many, obtaining a Disability Tax Credit certificate, which is required in order to apply for the Canada Disability Benefit, can represent a financial barrier. That is why the Government of Canada has taken action – Budget 2025 announced that the costs of applying for the Disability Tax Credit will be offset by providing a supplemental Canada Disability Benefit payment of $150 for each Disability Tax Credit certification or re-certification resulting in an entitlement to the Canada Disability Benefit. More broadly, the Government of Canada continues efforts to ensure that the Canada Disability Benefit is as accessible as possible. Since June 20, 2025, Canadians have been able to submit their application for the Canada Disability Benefit on the web via the application portal, by phone and in person at a Service Canada Centre. In addition, those who are been approved for the Disability Tax Credit, file their taxes and meet most of the eligibility criteria are sent a letter inviting them to apply for the Canada Disability Benefit using a streamlined application. There have been positive reviews of this application process. To further improve awareness and efficiency, the Government of Canada has funded 14 community-based organizations across Canada to provide accessible, individualized services for free, in order to help navigate the many federal, provincial and territorial programs that support persons with disabilities. The list of organizations providing disability benefits navigation services is available on Employment and Social Development Canada’s website. As with all other federal government benefits and programs, the Canada Disability Benefit will continue to evolve over time. The Government of Canada continues to consider all perspectives provided by stakeholders and the disability community to inform future changes to the benefit.