Tag Archive: welfare

New AG report on access to welfare disability benefits

May 16, 2014
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Yesterday (May 15), BC’s Auditor General released an important new report on access to welfare disability benefits. The report didn’t get much media attention, but it should have. The report, news release and short video summary can be found here. Among the AG’s findings: The government has limited information on how effectively welfare’s PWD (Person… View Article

My Welfare Food Challenge: Day 7 – The End

Oct 22, 2013
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Well, I’ve made it to the end of my week eating only what I could buy for $26. But eating the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner for seven days is no damn fun. I can’t wait to eat something different and fresh. Did a final weigh-in this morning. I lost 4-5 lbs. this… View Article

My welfare food challenge: Day 6

Oct 21, 2013
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I can see now that I’m going to make it to the end of this week (last year, a number of people who took the challenge didn’t make it). With my $26 I was able to purchase sufficient quantity, but not great nutrition. I’ve had no fresh or leafy green veggies, and only one kind… View Article

My welfare challenge: Days 4 and 5

Oct 20, 2013
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Fascinating to see all the comments on these blog posts. I want to highlight Dale’s comments in response to my Day 3 post in particular. Some may read these posts and point out that people with a recognized disability (those with PWD status in our welfare system) receive marginally more on welfare (a single person… View Article

My welfare food challenge: Day 3

Oct 18, 2013
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It is very boring eating the same food every day – oatmeal, peanut butter sandwich, an apple, soup or pasta. No treats, no variety. My other observation is that living on this budget means you think about food all the time – When can I next eat? How will I make this last? Where will… View Article

My welfare food challenge: Day 2

Oct 17, 2013
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Day 2, and I’ve already bent the rules. The battle against the cold is no going well, so I’m taking some cold medicine and drinking tea (which was not in my budget). Otherwise, still on the plan. For dinner last night I had some of the large soup I made in preparation (it’s actually pretty… View Article

My welfare food challenge: Day 1

Oct 16, 2013
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Today is Day 1 of my welfare food challenge, during which I will spend one week trying to eat on a total budget of $26. You can read more about the Welfare Food Challenge here. I’ve been researching and writing about welfare policy since the late 1990s (including a major 2008 study entitled Living on… View Article

Seeking a Real Families First Agenda this First BC Family Day

Feb 7, 2013
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By Seth Klein and Adrienne Montani On February 11, British Columbians will enjoy a well-deserved new stat holiday. With the inaugural Family Day, Premier Christy Clark has made good on a promise made during her bid for the BC Liberal leadership. The winter stretch needed a new long weekend, and many will appreciate this new-found… View Article

The case for exempting child support from welfare

Jul 20, 2012
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Based on recent announcements, it seems that the Ministry of Social Development is in the mood to address some of the long-standing problems within BC’s welfare system (although welfare rates remain distressingly low). Seth Klein recently recapped the Ministry’s June 11th announcement, which set out almost 30 proposed changes to the system. More recently, the… View Article