ENCOURAGING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES TO RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE (2006)

The government has recognized that the population is aging and we are facing a shortage of workers. Effort is beginning to be made to recognize the skills and education of immigrant workers and to train our youth into the areas where the shortage is currently being felt the most. However, not enough is being done to tap into an existing population where unemployment rates are soaring, people on disability benefits particularly those suffering from Mental Illness. The unemployment rate for people with a mental illness hovers between 80 – 90%.

The province introduced their Employment Strategy for Persons with Disabilities in April 2002. But the number of people on disability benefits continues to increase. There was a 7% increase in the number of people on disability benefits from 2003 to 2005.

The Employment Strategy includes many services to assist people with disabilities in finding employment but many will never seek this assistance for fear that they will not be able to access their benefits again.

The earnings exemption for people with persistent multiple barriers (PPMB) and people on disability benefits was recently increased to $500, meaning these individuals can earn up to $500/month without having their benefits clawed back. However, PPMB clients have a mandatory 2 year re-application for benefits and are deemed ineligible if they have worked in that time period.

The application process for disability benefits is rigorous and particularly difficult if an individual is in a time of crisis. To apply for disability benefits one must complete a 24 page form. This form must be obtained from the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance and the application process must be initiated by the Ministry; they must agree there is a need to initiate the process. Although the package includes a seven-step instruction for completion, this could be very difficult for individuals with disabilities particularly if they are dealing with mental illness and in a time of crisis. A person with a disability may have someone assist them with this application but that is assuming they have, or can find, an advocate to act on their behalf. There are also two sections of the application to be completed by outside agencies, one by a physician and other health professional.

Frequently individuals with mental illness end up homeless and on the streets. This is in part due to the challenges faced in seeking help for their disability.

In the 2004 fiscal year, the provincial government overspent their budget for disability benefits by 22.5 million dollars! In addition to the costs of benefits, there is an immense strain on the healthcare system. In 2002, one third of all hospital stays were due to mental illness. In British Columbia, this translates to 740,000 days. Hospital care costs for patients with mental illness are 1.5 times higher than those for patients with cancer. “A person discharged from a hospital has a better chance of returning to the hospital than of returning to work” Anthony, Cohen and Danley. To break this cycle and alleviate the associated costs, support structures must be developed to all the introduction of these individuals back into society.

In 2004-2005, 53, 730 people were on disability benefits. One in five people will be affected by a mental illness in their lifetime. It stands to reason that there are many skilled, educated workers that are unable to re-enter the workforce for fear of losing their safety net.

The safety of having access to benefits should their illness or disability compromise them in the future is critical to getting these individuals back into the workforce. Although their benefits are minimal, knowing they can access them in the future allows these individuals to feel secure that their basic needs are covered.

If an individual is successfully reintroduced into the workforce, earning enough that their benefits are completely clawed back, why should they have to go through the complete rigorous application process when they fall into a time of crisis? These individuals are scared and will never approach employment knowing what they had to go through to obtain their benefits in the first place.

The province is in need of workers at all levels. The Chamber has identified this with the work it has done on Closing the Skills Gap. Working would give people with disabilities and PPMB a renewed quality of life and alleviate the burden of disability benefits on the provincial budget. Being reintroduced into the workforce is part of the healing process, particularly for those with a mental illness.

Many people with disabilities are able to work, although it may be in a limited capacity depending on their disability. In some cases, part-time and temporary employment, these are exactly the kind of workers needed. “The ability to participate in the workforce is the single most important factor in making a successful transition to the community at large .”. In order to get these people off benefits, they need to get back to work but they need to know that there is actually a safety net, should their disability interrupt their work again.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government;

1. maintain a disabilities database to streamline the re-application process for those who have accessed benefits in the past and to encourage these individuals to return to work when they are able; and

2. continue to support programs to educate employers about mental illness and other disabilities to enable them to work with these populations (i.e. Mental Health Works, programs to encourage Positive Mental Illness, recognizing the signs of stress and depression before they cause loss of work days)