Disability, social services spending $2.46M over budget

The P.E.I. government has approved $2.46 million of unbudgeted spending for people on welfare and disability support.

Most of that additional funding went to the disability support program. The province says there was an increase of 36 clients from the previous year.

There was also an increase in the number of people needing welfare, with 68 more people qualifying for help over last year.

"No Islander who is eligible to receive services is turned away," an official said in an email to CBC News.

Investments were also made in specialized residential care for adults with intellectual or physical challenges.

The spending is for the 2015-16 budget.

Budgeting difficult

The department bases its budget on the previous year's demand, and said it's difficult to predict the exact amount of funding that will be required, because programs are based on need.

This is the second year in a row the government has underestimated the required spending. Government approved an extra $1.1 million in spending for 2014-15.

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