Welfare in Canada, 2024: Deep poverty remains widespread

Welfare incomes across Canada continue to fall short. Maytree’s latest edition of Welfare in Canada reveals that nearly all tracked household types receiving social assistance were living in poverty, most of them in deep poverty.

Key insights from this year’s findings

• Persistent inadequacy: 98 per cent of household types tracked remained below Canada’s Official Poverty Line; 73 per cent were experiencing deep poverty, which is defined as having less than 75 per cent of the poverty line.
• Unequal improvements: While many households saw income increases, most of which were above the rate of inflation, those increases were insufficient to get people out of poverty. Some actually saw their incomes decline.
• Regional disparities: Welfare income adequacy varied significantly, making geography a determining factor in whether people can meet basic living standards.

This report is crucial for policymakers, advocates, service providers, and anyone committed to ensuring that social assistance supports dignity and well-being.