For adults with Down syndrome, how much does it cost to live? Will future caregivers be out of pocket? CDSS is extremely disappointed over the inadequate funding allocated to the Canada Disability Benefit in Budget 2024. The announced funding falls far short of what is necessary to fulfill the program's primary objective: lifting people with disabilities out of poverty. The program benefit will be capped at a possible $2,400 per year for each recipient, which equates to $200 per month. The benefit must be in addition to provincial disability benefits. The passage of the CDB Bill C-22 in June 2023 was a monumental legislative victory, with bipartisan support and countless disability groups rallying behind the legislation. The legislation states that the government must consider the official poverty line and additional costs associated with living with a disability when determining the benefit. Despite this, the announced funding in Budget 2024 leaves people with disabilities and their supporters feeling uncertain. This benefit was supposed to lift persons with disabilities out of poverty, not merely make them marginally less poor than they already are. Access will be through a valid Disability Tax Credit certificate(DTC) that individuals with Down syndrome are eligible for. The role of individual provinces and territories regarding possible clawbacks is also unclear. CDSS does not support a loss or reduction of any provincial disability benefit for adults with Down syndrome if they receive the additional federal benefit. Collectively, we need to continue pushing to ensure that the government fulfills its promise to lift people with disabilities out of poverty and provide them with access to new financial security benefits. #DisabilityWithoutPoverty #Budget2024 #CanadaDisabilityBenefit