| A Calgary couple and their four children are facing a huge slash in their disability cheque from the provincial government after they became one of the province’s first recognized same-sex family units.
The couple’s plight is a strange development in a province that has vowed to fight the federal government’s decision to make gay marriages legal, but has just adopted court-prompted legislation recognizing same-sex relationships.
Tami Flaig and Laurie Clark, who live together with their children, have both received money from the government under the AISH program (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) for several years.
However, that support was slashed by $600 a month after the couple was officially recognized as one of the province’s first same-sex family units under Alberta’s new Adult Interdependent Relationship Act – the piece of legislation the government adopted to comply with court rulings ordering the recognition of same-sex relationships.
Flaig says the decision is based on the government’s idea that family units need less financial support than single-parent families.
"To be honest, when we first heard (about the legislation), Laurie and I were high-fiving and hugging and kissing," Flaig says.
"But we didn’t have any warning (about the payment cutback). It really sucks... I don’t know why they think (we need less money). What are we supposed to do?"
The couple appealed the decision that recognized their relationship in an effort to have their disability cheques restored, but after a two-week delay, that appeal was rejected.
Flaig says her anger is compounded by the government’s pledge to fight same-sex marriage. She says her family feels like it’s in limbo – they are being forced to live with the financial consequences of the new same-sex legislation, but they still can’t be legally married.
"I think it's wrong that they can financially couple us, but we can't legally marry," Flaig says.
"I don’t know how they can do that," she adds. "Everyone I tell this to is just shocked... but nobody seems to be able to do anything about it."
An Alberta government spokesperson would not comment on the couple’s case, citing confidentiality laws, but acknowledged that a change in the recognition of a family unit can have implications on government support.
"We do consider people in that relationship – we consider income when we consider what benefits they receive," says Mary Lou Reeleder, a spokesperson for Alberta Human Resources and Employment.
"Our programs are geared towards people who are most in need. The income and assets of both parties are considered. That’s always been the case."
However, she adds that the new act does offer same-sex couples other benefits.
"It’s also true that prior to the Adult Interdependent Relationship Act, partners in what we were describing as co-habiting relationships would not have been able to receive health benefits if their partners were on AISH," Reeleder says.
"Now you can get health coverage."
Flaig says that is irrelevant to her family’s situation, adding that it would be better not to have their relationship recognized because they would have more money to make ends meet.
The $600 cutback represents a huge chunk of their income at a time when they, like many other families on fixed incomes, are struggling to meet rising costs of living – the couple’s power was recently cut off because they couldn’t meet their rising electricity payments and was only restored after a successful appeal to the government.
Flaig says they are considering telling the government they broke up in order to get their old AISH payments back. But for now, she plans to keep pleading her family’s case and figuring out how a six-person family can make do on their reduced income.
"I don’t know what to do now. I‘m going to need some support," she says. |
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