Seizures and other disabilities: Dad has high hopes for new legisture that could help son's future

Ted Kuntz has his fingers crossed that a new savings plan for people with disabilities will win approval in the House of Commons in a budget vote in February so he and his family can help provide financial security for his son, Josh.

“Children with a disability are consistently outliving their parents,” said Kuntz, a director of PLAN (Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network). “Our social safety net didn’t anticipate that.”

The Tri-City man, whose 22-year-old son suffers chronic seizures and needs 24-hour care, said he applauds the recommendations of a federal panel to establish a Registered Disability Savings Plan under the Income Tax Act. It’s expected to cost $112 million a year and would be for the severely disabled who are unable to work.

Family members and friends would be encouraged to contribute to the savings plan for living expenses and special needs of the disabled person. Their contributions would be matched by the federal government. Kuntz said it’s a recognition that governments should partner with families to provide financial security for disabled people, most of whom live in poverty.

“We need to be able to do this together,” said Kuntz, a psychotherapist and author who also writes a monthly column for The Tri-City News.

Although there are no tax benefits for the contributor, federal contributions would be tied to income, with low-income families getting larger matching grants. The fund would be allowed to grow to a lifetime maximum of $200,000.

The plan, modelled after the Registered Education Savings Plan, isn’t as rich as registered retirement savings plans, which gives participants credits toward their taxes, but Kuntz said it’s a good first step. His group, which helps families organize long-term care for their disabled grown children, is collecting names for a petition in support of the plan.

If the minority Conservative government’s budget fails in a non-confidence vote, Kuntz expects the move would still be supported by other parties because it’s a “motherhood and apple pie issue.” But the proposal, championed by Finance Minister James Flaherty, who has a disabled son, would probably be delayed.

Still, there are other hurdles, Kuntz said, because in B.C., unearned income is clawed back dollar for dollar from disability payments, currently $780 month.

“The province has got to get on board,” Kuntz said, noting that under the present system, he can’t contribute to his son’s support without the government reducing his monthly disability payment.
In a meeting with Flaherty, however, Kuntz said he was reassured the B.C. government is sympathetic and will likely participate in negotiations on the issue.

In the meantime, Kuntz said he would like to see the province overhaul the social safety net so disability payments aren’t lumped in with welfare, which is supposed to be temporary. For Kuntz, whose son spent several days at Royal Columbian Hospital last month while doctors tried to stop constant seizures, making sure Josh is financially secure is not a short-term affair.