Govid Singh, a resident of Toronto, 20, lives with his high level disabilities. Now, Adam is under extreme financial pressure as his federal disability benefits are delayed. Singh was lucky enough to be approved for the new benefit program in July, after applying at the start of the summer. Although he started receiving the first installment of the new benefit that month, he has not been seeing those payments roll in as planned.
Singh was to begin receiving $200 a month starting in August. But without notice, he did not get this payment in August or September, putting him in a tight financial bind. Now making around $11,000 annually, Singh calls this barely livable wage “death wages.”
“I need to pay the rent, I need to take the groceries and my wife is handicapped, she has knee problems and we have a very hard time financially,” Singh expressed, highlighting the urgency of his circumstances.
As of this writing on September 28, 2025, Singh is still angry with the long delay in getting his payments. According to Service Canada, changes needed in the way he reports his employment income have been blamed for these interruptions. These changes are needed to clarify the special exemption that applies to Singh because of his employment income.
A spokesperson for Service Canada noted, “This resulted in those individuals either receiving no payment or an underpayment.” The agency promised Singh and others impacted by the income recalculation that they will receive their payments. This will take place as soon as the recalculation process has been finalized.
Singh has been notified by Service Canada that the original miscalculation was erroneous. “I received a letter that they, Service Canada, [said] they have miscalculated,” Singh stated. As to the stated complaints, he continued, “What they are saying is that they’re going to address the issues. Once they have resolved the issue, we will be notified.”
Rabia Khedr, a longtime advocate for people with disabilities, made it clear just how urgent these matters are. “We’re trying to raise those issues to officials in the system,” she said. Khedr noted that improvements are underway, stating, “The system is working on those kinks. They ironed out, you know, the mishap of some benefits not being delivered to those who qualified in August.”
While hope remains for a resolution, Singh continues to navigate through financial difficulties as he awaits his overdue payments. He is now waiting for a new Letter of 1) outlining what his benefit amount is, effective immediately and he will be retroactively backpaid any difference due him.
