Alberta introduces plan to allow people with disabilities to work and receive benefits

The Alberta government announced a new support program for people with disabilities that starts next year, but without releasing how much benefits will be. 

The new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) will start July 2026. It will co-exist with the current Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), which will still be available for people who cannot work due to a disability. 

"For those with a disability who can work, the supports offered through AISH fall short," said Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, on Tuesday.

"Those individuals will be much better served through a program that offers robust employment supports, generous earning exemptions, and ultimately a path toward greater independence."

The government hasn't released the financial details of the new plan nor the criteria that will be used to evaluate clients.

Nixon said the government needs to do more consultation before releasing those additional details. 

About 77,000 Albertans receive AISH each month. The government said about 10,000 recipients have some form of employment but believe more would work if their benefits weren't clawed back. 

A single person on AISH receives $1,901 each month. 

Nixon said there will be a single application process for benefits. The government will decide what program to put an applicant in depending on their disability. 

If an applicant becomes eligible for ADAP, they can reapply for AISH if their condition changes in a way to impede their ability to work. 

No transparency

People currently on AISH will be evaluated to determine if they qualify for ADAP.

Those recipients still keep the health benefits they were eligible for under AISH, even when they make enough money through employment to no longer need monthly payments 

Nixon said the province will increase supports for ADAP recipients to help them secure employment and get employers to offer more opportunities to people with disabilities.

Marie Renaud, the NDP opposition critic for community and social services, said the government is creating a second program to move more people off AISH using criteria that hasn't been disclosed to the public. 

"What they've done is given themselves the ability to go through this list and say "you go there, you go there, you go there, you go there," when we know this process is not transparent," she said.

"People are waiting for months to even get a decision.The appeal process is not even accessible."

Renaud said Alberta doesn't have legislation to ensure workplaces are accessible.

She said people with disabilities have higher rates of unemployment and the government doesn't appear to have made the investments to change that.

Trish Bowman, the CEO of Inclusion Alberta, said the lack of details accompanying Tuesday's announcement could alarm people who rely on AISH. She said they have to be involved in consultations about the changes to avoid any of what she calls "unintended consequences."

"There will absolutely be apprehension from people as this goes forward that they may be moved off of AISH to a program that provides potentially a lower level of support," she said.