(K'JIPUKTUK), HALIFAX - “I was always taught to fight for what you believe in,” says George Cartwright, a 33-year old resident of Sydney, Nova Scotia who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair.

So fight he did when the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services told him he was no longer eligible for financial support.

The problem started when Cartwright moved in with his long-time partner a year ago.

Community Services informed him recently that he would stop receiving his benefits because his spouse earns too much.

“But she really doesn't make enough money to support me,” says Cartwright, who explains that he received about $5800 per year from the department prior to the decision.

Cartwright argues that the rule creates undue hardship for people who live with disabilities.

And it doesn't make sense, he says. The care that his partner provides for free would cost at least $12,000 per year if provided by professional caregivers.

Rather than accept the decision by Community Services, Cartwright started making a bit of noise.

In early September he wrote a letter to the editor of the Cape Breton Post, and the paper followed up with a longer story. He also started a petition.

All of a sudden things improved.

“Two weeks ago I had a meeting with the supervisor in the North Sydney Community Services office,” Cartwright tells the Halifax Media Co-op.

“Apparently there was some money that I was entitled to all along that Community Services had never mentioned before,” says Cartwright.

With the newly-found money Cartwright is essentially back to the same level of funding he received prior to the decision.

Lori Errington, spokesperson for Community Services, told the Cape Breton Post that she cannot speak to the specifics of Cartwright's case because of privacy concerns.

She also mentioned that Community Services is reviewing its support programs, and plans to consult with stakeholders and income assistance recipients.

Cartwright wonders how many people on social assistance are out there, in the same boat but unable to speak up.

Some people on income assistance feel intimidated, and others simply don't know their rights, he says.

“Basically I feel I was handed a bone to shut me up,” says Cartwright. “If I was entitled to this before, than why wasn't I told this earlier?”

For further information or to sign the petition, send an email to george_20@hotmail.com

Follow Robert Devet on Twitter @DevetRobert