As the only publicly available resource that compiles and analyses this data, the annual Welfare in Canada report is the primary source for evaluating Canada’s progress on fulfilling the human right to an adequate standard of living for households receiving social assistance.1 The 2023 edition of the report examines the total welfare incomes of example households receiving social assistance in all. [...] Interpreting the data: Key takeaways from Welfare in Canada, 2023 3 • The only household with a welfare income above the Official Poverty Line in 2023, of all households in the Welfare in Canada report, was the unattached single considered employable household in Quebec receiving benefits through the Manpower Training measure (MAN), which is a stream under the Social Assistance Aim for Employment. [...] • In the territories, two households were living in deep poverty in 2023: in the Yukon with a welfare income of 71 per cent of the Poverty Line, and in Nunavut with a welfare income of only 27 per cent.8 5 Refer to the Quebec section of the Welfare in Canada report for further information about analysis of the Manpower Training measure. [...] • Of the three households in the territories, the unattached single with a disability household in Nunavut was the only one living in deep poverty, with a welfare income at only 36 per cent of the Poverty Line. [...] The welfare income of the household in the Northwest Territories was 97 per cent of the Poverty Line, while the welfare income of the household in the Yukon was 83 per cent.
Authors
- Pages
- 29
- Published in
- Canada
Table of Contents
- Overview 3
- Welfare in Canada Welfare in Canada 3
- Total welfare incomes were deeply inadequate across Canada in 2023 4
- Unattached single considered employable households 5
- Figure 1 Adequacy of total welfare incomes for unattached single considered employable households 2023 5
- Welfare in Canada 5
- Welfare in Canada 6
- Unattached single with a disability households 7
- Figure 2 Adequacy of total welfare incomes for unattached single with a disability households 2023 7
- Households with children 8
- Recent increases to social assistance benefits were highly uneven 9
- Welfare in Canada 2023 9
- Welfare in Canada 10
- Figure 3 Percentage change in social assistance benefits for select unattached single households 2018-2023 current dollars compared to national CPI 2018-2023 10
- Figure 4 Percentage change in social assistance benefits for select households with children 2018-2023 current dollars compared to national CPI 2018-2023 11
- Indexation of benefits and credits 13
- Welfare in Canada 13
- Figure 5 Indexation of benefits and credits received by Welfare in Canada households in all 13 Canadian jurisdictions 2023 13
- Welfare in Canada 2023 13
- Many jurisdictions only have flat-rate income exemptions 15
- Welfare in Canada 15
- Figure 6 Map of earned income exemption approaches for recipients of social assistance in all 13 Canadian jurisdictions 2023 16
- Federal income supports for households receiving social assistance were very limited 18
- Figure 7 Proportion of total welfare income from provincialterritorial and federal sources for unattached single households 2023 18
- Figure 8 Proportion of total welfare income from provincialterritorial and federal sources for households with children 2023 19
- The proposed Canada Disability Benefit will not move households receiving social assistance out of poverty 20
- Canada Disability Benefit Regulation 20
- Figure 9 Impact of expected CDB amount on 2023 welfare incomes of an unattached single with a disability household relative to poverty thresholds 20
- Accessible Canada Act Canada Disability Benefit Act 21
- Recommendations 23
- Welfare in Canada 2023 23
- 1. Provinces and territories should invest in higher social 23
- Welfare in Canada 23
- 2. Governments at all levels should index all social 23
- 3. Provincial and territorial governments should improve 23
- 4. The federal government must deliver a Canada 24
- Disability Benefit that is generous and accessible and supplements existing supports. 24
- Accessible Canada Act 24
- 5. All provinces and territories must commit to ensuring 24
- 6. The federal government should invest in targeted 25
- Appendix 27
- Context and Methodology 27
- Welfare in Canada Welfare Incomes 27
- Welfare in Canada 27
- Welfare in Canada 2023 28
- Welfare in Canada 28
- Welfare in Canada 2023 28
- Welfare in Canada 28
