Disability Related Sources of Income and Expenses: An Examination Among the Elderly in Canada

Abstract

The primary purpose of this paper is to examine disability-related sources of income and expenses among high and low income older Canadians. Specifically, the paper attempts to answer three questions: Do low and high income seniors experience disability equally? Do low and high income seniors incur equal disability- related non-reimbursed expenses? And, Do low and high income seniors receive equal disability-related pensions and tax credits? The analysis is based on the Health and Activity Limitation Surveys of 1986 and 1991. Both surveys were cross-sectional, designed to gather information on disabilities and their impact on daily living. Among the seniors (those 65 and over), between 10.3% (men in 1986) and 23.2% (women in 1991) were classified as low income and about 40% reporting having at least one disability, compared to one-quarter of women and men of all ages. The analysis indicates that low income seniors are disadvantaged in that they experience more disability, incur more non-reimbursed expenses, and receive less in terms of disability- related pensions and credits than do high income seniors. It thus appears that interventions should be policy based rather than individual based.elderly; disability; income