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Disability Without Poverty says a budget built on "affordability" has nothing new for the people who can least afford to wait
TORONTO – Disability Without Poverty (DWP) is deeply disappointed that Budget 2026 contains no new measures for disabled people living in poverty. The Canada Disability Benefit remains at a maximum of $204.20 a month, and the barriers that keep eligible people from receiving it remain in place.
"Disabled people were promised a benefit that would lift them out of poverty," said Rabia Khedr, CEO of Disability Without Poverty. "Today they were told to keep waiting. You cannot build a stronger, more affordable Canada while one million working-age people with disabilities live below the poverty line."
DWP's Disability Poverty Tracker shows that people with disabilities continue to be trapped in poverty. In the second quarter of 2026, one in three survey respondents told us they had skipped or cut back on food because of financial constraints, and more than one in three (35%) went a whole day without eating because there wasn’t enough money for food.
While we see that the government is enhancing the Canada Groceries and Essentials benefit with a 50% top-up in the new year, it’s simply not effective for people with disabilities living in deep poverty.
This is not a question of affordability for government. The CDB represents a small fraction of federal spending – Cardus estimated that under 0.2% of 2026–27 projected expenditures. Leaving disabled people in poverty shifts costs onto hospitals, shelters, food banks and provincial budgets.
DWP put practical, low-cost fixes in front of the government, including automatic Disability Tax Credit eligibility for people already approved for provincial and territorial disability assistance. That change would use information governments already hold, reduce CRA processing, and remove a welfare wall that keeps people from working and saving.
"These aren't partisan asks. They're common sense," said Khedr. "We will be calling on every party in the House, government and opposition, to fix this before the budget implementation act passes."
DWP is asking supporters to reach out to their MPs and continue their advocacy for an adequate and accessible Canada Disability Benefit.