Last week, Calgary’s civically engaged twitters were abuzz over city council’s decision to lower the price of the Low-Income Transit Pass <http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Calgary+income+transit+pass+drop/3912745/story.html> . This was quite remarkable considering council had proposed raising the price to $45 from $41.50 and instead lowered it to $40. This change of direction is no doubt in my mind due to the persistent work of Vibrant Communities Calgary <http://www.vibrantcalgary.com/> . However, at the same time, council went ahead with the increase of a regular adult pass from $85.25 to $90. So while I was quite pleased at VCC’s success on behalf of those living in poverty, I was choked that the already unaffordable monthly transit pass I struggle to buy every month is going to increase as of January 1, 2011.
So I should apply for the low income transit pass, right? Well I can’t.
Two months ago I attempted to. And after my failed attempt I sent Dan Meades of VCC this message.
Hi Dan,
This week I decided to apply for a low income transit pass as I am low on funds and likely will be for awhile. I never have before because of being a student and I was usually working more during the summer, enough so I could pay full price for an adult pass. I downloaded the form off the CT website and took a look at the eligibility requirements.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
You must:
- live in Calgary at time of application or renewal and present proof of mailing address (ie: Utility Bill).
- be 18 years old or older.
- provide photo identification for person applying and a photocopy for each family member listed on your application over 18 years of age.
- have a family household* income lower than the amount in the chart below.
* Family Unit – Includes all occupants at one address who are related by blood, marriage or adoption. It also includes couples living together in common-law relationships.
** Total Before Tax (Gross) Income shown on line 150 on the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency “Notice of Assessment” or “Notice of Reassessment” form.
INCOME ELIGIBILITY
Size of Family*Total BeforeTax (Gross) Income**
must be less than:
1 person $16,671.75
2 persons $20,755.50
3 persons $25,516.50
4 persons $30,980.25
5 persons $35,137.50
6 persons $39,628.50
7 or more persons $44,120.25
While I live at home with my parents and paying rent, I consider myself to be a family of two as I’m an adult with a child. My income then meets the cut off for two persons: $20,350 (averaging it out here). So I brought my ID, my 2009 Notice of Assessment and Cianna’s passport (I lost her health care card and I’m getting it replaced).
When the customer service agent looked at my ID he immediately asked if any one else lived at the home. I’m a pretty bad liar so I said I live at home with my parents but I pay rent. And so because I do, I had to add my parents to the people living in the home and become a household of four. Naturally, they couldn’t approve my application as I needed my parents’ Notice of Assessment for 2009. I don’t have to tell you that even though my parents barely make it by, my income combined with theirs is above $30,980.25.
Since Cianna was born I’ve always considered my family to be a small family of two. I do my taxes separately from my parents and fill out every form for every level of government on my own. I live with my parents because I can’t afford to live on my own. But because I live with them, when I apply for student loans and now for a low-income transit pass, the powers that be assume that my parents are able to financially help me out. They aren’t. It feels like they are asking me to sacrifice the support of my parents to get the support of the government. But if I was able to afford living on my own, I’d make too much money to qualify for that support.
I’m sharing this with you because as an adult and a parent, it seems odd to me that I’d have to include my parents financial information in any application for subsidies even though I live with them. If I lived with roommates, would I have to consider them a part of my household? I understand that as my parents they are family, but because I’m 25 and not a student, they aren’t technically responsible for me.
I just bought a pack of 10 bus tickets for $24. As I don’t drive, these tickets are going to go quickly (today I’ll be using 3 tickets). When I get paid next week, I’ll spend $85.25 for a bus pass. That will be $109.25 on bus fare for October at least.
Thank you,
Selina
At the time, when I wrote the e-mail to Dan, I didn’t notice the blood relation stipulation. But the more I look at it and the more I think about it, the more ticked off I get at how stupid it is.
For me to qualify for a Low-Income Transit Pass I would have to continue working part time, and live with a number of roommates (I’m going to estimate at least two) so that rent could be affordable for all of us, including my daughter. I couldn’t live with a boyfriend, lest that be considered common-law; I couldn’t live with any of my siblings or cousins or aunts and uncles and of course not my parents. For all the people I know in this city, I can’t imagine ever finding a living situation like this.
How poor does the city want me to be, just to pay for transit - a system that is often unreliable, unsafe and infrequent?
“Thank you for choosing Calgary Transit,” the feminine sounding robotic voice says when you depart the train.
Well Calgary Transit, my alderman and mayor, for some people it isn’t a choice.
See what Selina’s daily commute with her daughter looks like. Click here.
