Disappointed. That’s the reaction from Inclusion Lloydminster on the Alberta government plan to withhold $200 of federal money under the Canada Disability Benefit that was to go to individuals with disabilities who are on AISH.
AISH, or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, offers “financial and health benefits for eligible Albertans with a permanent medical condition that prevents them from earning a living.”
The Alberta government has indicated that the extra money will not go to individuals who already receive $1,901 a month which is above the minimum $1,811 set by the feds, and the highest in Canada.
“Inclusion Lloydminster is very disappointed with the recent announcement by the Government of Alberta to claw back dollar for dollar the Canadian Disability Benefit (CDB) to Albertans living with disabilities who receive provincial income support. While other provincial governments have committed to allowing recipients to receive the federal CDB commencing in July 2025, Alberta is the only province to claw back this federal benefit to those eligible,” states Stacey Andrews, Senior Advocate, Inclusion Lloydminster.
Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services maintains the province will “continue to be committed to it and have already exceeded what the federal government has asked us to do.”
“This decision will have a negative impact to individuals living in Alberta who are receiving AISH locally and thus keeping people with intellectual disabilities in poverty,” concludes Andrews.
Some 76,000 Albertans receive AISH benefits and about 50,000 receive Income Support benefits.
A new program to work alongside AISH called the Alberta Disability Assistance Program, or ADAP has a startup of July 2026.
Related reading: AISH being paid earlier starting in March – Jan. 26, 2024
