Disability Poverty Report Card 2025

December 3, 2025

The third annual Disability Poverty Report Card was released today, offering a national snapshot
of the ongoing and deeply entrenched poverty experienced by people with disabilities in
Canada. Drawing on the newest data from the Canadian Income Survey and the Canadian
Survey on Disability, the report confirms what many have long known: poverty for people with
disabilities remains widespread, persistent, and shaped by systems that continue to fall short
of fairness, accessibility and economic security.

This year’s report shows only marginal progress. Canada’s federal grade has shifted from last
year’s failing grade to a D, reflecting limited and uneven action. While the rollout of the
Canada Disability Benefit began in July 2025, the current $200 monthly amount is far from
adequate. One and a half million people with disabilities remain below the poverty line and many continue to face barriers to accessing the support they need.

The findings illustrate a worsening reality. People with disabilities are still nearly twice as likely
to live in poverty as non-disabled Canadians, and the depth of poverty is increasing. On
average, individuals with disabilities lived 30% below the poverty line in 2023, a widening gap
that underscores the urgent need for coordinated policy action. Working-age adults and
people living alone experience the highest rates of poverty, highlighting the profound
inequities that continue to shape daily life for so many.

Behind every statistic is a person navigating high costs and barriers that
should not exist in a country committed to inclusion. The report serves as a critical reminder
that action is not only needed but long overdue.