Saskatchewan people with disabilities who can't earn income will no longer have to go on social assistance but will instead have their own tailored income-support program, the provincial government said Wednesday.

While it won't immediately mean more money for people with disabilities, improvements to the program should be easier down the road because the assistance will be targeted, said Social Services Minister Donna Harpauer.

The new system will also be more efficient, because people with disabilities will not have to continually prove they qualify for assistance, Harpauer said.

"Group home workers say, 'You know … they had a disability last night; they woke up with the same disability this morning. Why do I have to take time out of my worker's schedule to do this?'" Harpauer said. "It's common sense.

The changes will take effect this fall, at which point 3,000 people are expected to move to the new program. Eventually, the program could see 8,000 to 10,000 people in it, the government said.

Even without more money, having a separate program is a good idea, said Gary Tinker, who has cerebral palsy and has spent decades advocating for people with disabilities.

"For me, I feel better because it's going to be called Disability Income Planned Support," said Tinker, who is from Pinehouse Lake in northern Saskatchewan.

"I'm so darned happy about it, you know. Now, finally, we don't have to be in the welfare system line."