Sask. Social Services still wants cuts, but existing clients to be grandfathered

The Saskatchewan government is backing off proposed cuts that would have seen some social services recipientsreceiving less money.

"This is a really good day for those 2,700 people who were impacted by the budget," said Saskatchewan Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor. "I think we demonstrated that we listened, we heard their concerns and we responded to that."

In August, the province announced a number of changes to its income assistance programs, including some affecting recipients who were receiving income from two or threedifferent programs.

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The government saidsome people, for example, who were on the Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability program and were also receiving the Saskatchewan Rental Housing Supplement would see some of their benefits reduced.

The idea behind the change was that people should receive income support from one program or anotherbut not both.

On Monday, provincial officialssaid the governmenthas decided it will continue with its overhaul of income assistance programs, but changes as announced will not applyto existing beneficiaries.Instead, those beneficiaries will begrandfathered.

The amendedplan is that any clients who are new to the programs will operate under the changes.

Changes criticized

When the changes were first announced, there was an outcry from clients and groups working with disabled and lower-income people, some who said the bottom line was that thousands of people would receive less money.

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Some 2,700 people received letters that the changes were coming. However, the plans were put on hold while the province took another look.

NDP social services critic Nicole Rancourtsaid while the party welcomes the reprieve for clients, the redesigning of the income assistance program will still hurt many low-income people.

"I think they're [the government] doing this because they need some money and they're cutting services to our most vulnerable people because they've mismanaged all our money," said Rancourt.

In a news release, the provincial government said thechanges "simplify the programs and contribute to their sustainability."