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Do I qualify for Disability Benefits in Alberta?
There are two types of Alberta disability benefits available—Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL). Under the right circumstances, you can qualify for both at the same time.
Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
AISH Alberta is a set of financial and health benefits that are available to eligible residents of the province. To qualify for the disability benefits of AISH, you must have a permanent medical condition that prevents you from earning a living, and which cannot be improved through any medical treatment, therapy, rehabilitation, or training.
You must also be at least 18 years old, not eligible to receive Old Age Security, live in Alberta, and be a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident. To explore the full eligibility criteria, visit the official AISH eligibility website or check the AISH Adjudication Guide to learn more about the official process AISH uses to determine an applicant's Alberta AISH payments and eligibility.
The Disabilities That Qualify for AISH
When it comes to getting approved for AISH, there are no specific disabilities that you need to qualify. However, your disability does have to meet the requirements. For one, you have to have a medical condition that is likely to remain permanent. Your medical condition must also be the main factor as to why you’re unable to work.
When AISH is determining your eligibility, they’ll look at medical treatments, therapies, and other options avialbe to help you be able to earn a living again. That said, even if you can work you could still receive AISH if you’re eligible.
AISH Disability Benefit Amounts
The amount that you’ll receive for AISH in Canada is based on the income you receive and the number of dependent children you have. That said, you could get up to a maximum of $1,901 per month for a living allowance. You could also receive the child benefit, which is $227 per month for the first dependent child, and $114 for each dependent child after that. For those who live in a facility, there’s also the modified living allowance.
Along with these benefits, there are also health benefits and personal benefits that you could qualify for. These benefits are approved on a case-by-case basis and are based on your employment income, your dependent child’s income, income taxes and income tax refunds. Your benefits will also be based on any income you earn from the Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP D), Employment Insurance, as well as other non-exempt income.
The idea of this program is to help cover the costs of basic needs for persons with health conditions. This program offers resources for those who have the ability to earn income, and those how don’t. It’ll cover the cost for special diets
2025 AISH Payment Dates
- January 28, 2025
- February 25,2025
- March 26, 2025
- April 25, 2025
- May 27, 2025
- June 25, 2025
- July 28, 2025
- August 26, 2025
- September 24, 2025
- October 28, 2025
- November 25, 2025
To learn more about the program or apply for AISH Alberta, click here.
Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL)
The other disability benefits available to eligible residents of Alberta are the AADL—Alberta Aids to Daily Living. This program is designed to help anyone with a long-term disability, chronic illness, or terminal illness pay for basic medical equipment and supplies, such as oxygen, walking aids, wheelchairs, and more.
To qualify for AADL, you’ll need to be assessed by a medical practitioner to determine your eligibility for the program and identify your basic medical needs. To qualify for some medical equipment, your assessment needs to be completed by an approved AADL specialist.
To apply or learn more about eligibility and coverage, visit the official AADL website.
Don't Forget about the Disability Tax Credit
The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a tax credit designed to reduce the amount of income tax owed by disabled persons and their supporters. By paying less income tax, you can allocate more of your money towards disability costs.
Furthermore, if you qualify for the DTC, you might also qualify for related programs like the registered disability savings plan, the working income tax benefit, and the child disability benefit.
How to Start Receiving Benefits
If you’re look to receive AISH Benefits from the Alberta Government, you are going to have to apply. You can apply online or with a paper application. If you’re having trouble then you can call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre. Once your application is done for the AISH program, it will go to the AISH application processing centre.
When eligible adult Albertans and Alberta seniors fill out the application, an AISH worker through social services will review it to determine if their health status meets the medical and financial criteria in order to qualify for income support. A family doctor should also provide information regarding developmental disabilities and other factors to determine if your disabilities qualify.
In terms of other eligibility, you also need to provide information regarding whether or not you were in a correctional facility, your asset limits for non-exempt assets, and any other income you receive. This includes income from the Workers' Compensation Board. You’ll also need to provide the number of dependent children you have, if you’re a single person and your direct deposit information.
Can I Get a Loan While on Disability?
You can get approved for a personal loan while collecting disability benefits. Read about how you can use your AISH disability benefits as an AISH recipient to get a cash advance loan.
Spring Financial serves Canadians facing all types of credit situations with practical advice and credit-building solutions. We also offer personal instalment loans online, so you can get the financing you need in a few clicks. Apply today to see how we can help!
