Thanks, Deanna.
The first priority area is the area of income security and support.
MS has a profound impact on the ability to work. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40, with the average age of diagnosis at 30. Secondly, MS is a disease that is episodic in nature, especially in the first ten to fifteen years, when it is characterized by unpredictable attacks followed by periods of recovery. Nearly 80% of people with MS are eventually unable to work full time. The challenge we have is that federal disability benefit programs, namely the Canada Pension Plan disability benefit and the disability tax credit, are both tied to income.
For those with episodic disabilities, such as MS, lupus, mental illness, and AIDS, long-term attachments to the workforce become difficult or impossible. For people with MS, there are two threads to the income security discussion. The first concerns people who are unable to work because of the severity of their condition. Programs tied to earning an income often preclude them from eligibility. Given that the issue of income security is a complex one, we recommend that the government establish a special group to study the issue of income support for people with episodic and other disabilities. We believe there is an opportunity to do this within the context of the government's proposed national disability act.
The second thread of the income security discussion concerns people who are well enough to manage part-time work. The current disability benefit programs don't recognize or accommodate the needs of people with episodic disabilities for flexible work options and income support, nor do they recognize the concept of part-time work.
The MS Society has identified specific opportunities for short-term policy and program improvements that would make a meaningful difference in the lives of disabled Canadians and would potentially create savings in administration and program costs. For example, allowing for part-time benefits with part-time work within the employment insurance program would encourage an ongoing attachment to the workforce. Harmonizing the applications for the disability tax credit and CPPD would make it simpler for applicants and provide cost savings to government.
Another recommendation is to allow CPP administrators to do research and carry out a pilot project on approaches that could target people with episodic disabilities. A similar recommendation was also made by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology in its recent report on mental health.
Deanna.