AISH Payment Dates, Amounts, And ADAP Changes In 2026

Tens of thousands of Albertans rely on Assured Income For The Severely Handicapped (AISH), one of Canada’s major government benefits for people with disabilities, to cover housing, food, and medical costs they couldn’t otherwise afford. In 2026 the program looks different than it did even a year ago: the monthly benefit has climbed to up to $1,940 for a single recipient in the community², and on July 1, 2026, most current AISH recipients will be moved to a new program called the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP)³.

If you or someone you care for is on AISH — or thinking about applying — here’s what you need to know about how the program works in 2026, what’s changing this summer, and how to apply.

What Is Assured Income For The Severely Handicapped (AISH)?

A financial and health-focused program, AISH is offered to Canadians living in the province of Alberta who are living with a severe disability. It offers financial assistance to those living with severe and permanent physical and/or mental health disabilities that limit their ability to work.

AISH vs ADAP: What’s Changing On July 1, 2026

The Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) is a new provincial disability support program launching on July 1, 2026. It is designed to provide financial, health, and employment supports to Albertans with disabilities who are able to work to some degree but still need ongoing assistance. ADAP aims to help people gain skills, pursue employment, and continue receiving benefits as they earn income³.

Once ADAP is implemented, there will be a single combined application for both ADAP and AISH. Applicants are placed into the program that best matches their situation:

• People with permanent and severe disabilities who are unable to work will generally be eligible for AISH.
• Those with disabilities who can work to some degree will typically be placed on ADAP.

AISH vs ADAP At A Glance

Who Remains On AISH After July 1, 2026

About 30,000 current AISH recipients are expected to remain on AISH automatically. You stay on AISH if you:

• Have a severe and profound developmental disability
• Are eligible for or receiving Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) services
• Have a palliative or terminal condition

Who Transitions To ADAP

If you don’t meet one of the above criteria, you’ll be moved to ADAP. Your total monthly payment stays at the AISH amount until December 31, 2027 thanks to the $200 transition benefit. After that date, payments may drop to the ADAP base rate unless you successfully apply (or reapply) for AISH.

What Does AISH Cover?

The program offers many supports, including:

Monthly Living Allowance

These are funds used to cover the cost of rent, utility bills, and food. Typically, the amount will be sufficient to help the recipient afford the necessities to live.

The specific amount issued varies depending on where the recipient resides and how much income and/or their spouse makes.

Child Benefit

This is meant to assist those who are raising dependents under the age of majority. These funds can be put toward the cost of childcare professionals or items like diapers and formula.

The amount issued depends on the number of children under the care of the AISH recipient. It can be used in conjunction with other child care subsidies.

Health Benefits

These funds are designed to cover healthcare requirements for the AISH recipient, their spouse, or dependents. This benefit can help cover costs such as dental care, optical care, diabetes supplies, ambulatory costs and prescription drugs.

This is a particularly useful form of assistance since those living with a disability tend to need to spend more on medical care due to the disability itself.

Personal Benefits

Funds issued for this category are more than the monthly living allowance. They are meant to account for disability-specific needs and include emergency assistance for sudden, unexpected requirements.

Access to the personal benefits depends on the amount of assets held by the AISH recipient.

Who Is Eligible For The AISH Benefit?

In order to access the Assured Income For The Severely Handicapped benefit, recipients must meet all of the eligibility requirements. The criteria include:

Age & Residency Requirements

• The recipient must be 18 years old, at least, and not be an eligible recipient of Old Age Security (OAS).
• They must be a citizen of Canada or have permanent residency status.
• The recipient must reside in the province of Alberta.
• To qualify, the AISH recipient must not be in any type of correctional or mental health facility.

Disability Requirements

To qualify, there must be a medical condition that is likely permanent. It must represent the key reason for the disabled person to be unable to work, meaning unemployment cannot be a result of limited education or other issues.

To assess the validity of the disability, AISH investigates your medical history, treatment schedule, and rehabilitation or training available to help with employment.

Income Requirements

To qualify for AISH, the assets and income of the potential recipient and their spouse must be lower than the AISH income and asset thresholds.

Both the applicant and their partner must apply for any other financial services for which they are eligible such as Employment Insurance or Workers’ Compensation — and, in most cases, Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D).

How Much Can You Receive With AISH?

When considering AISH, it is important to have real facts and figures with which to work. The amounts are broken down into four categories, each offering a different monetary amount. Per the AISH requirements, you need to spend the funds on matters for which they are allocated. The categories include:

Monthly Living Allowance

The standard living allowance is for those who live in the community and can be as much as $1,940 every month², after the 2% CPI-indexed increase that took effect in January 2026.

For those living at a facility, the amount is up to $322 for personal expenses and up to $2,120 for accommodation costs.

Monthly Child Benefit

For the first child, AISH offers a benefit of $200 every month.
Additional children are offered a benefit of $100 per month.
The total benefit varies based on how many children the AISH recipient has.

AISH Health Benefits

This is effectively an insurance card that gives AISH recipients access to health services such as dental care, prescriptions, chiropractors, and physiotherapy.

It also covers things like ambulance fees and optical care, reducing the burden of expenses on those with disabilities.

Personal Benefits

Representing one-time payments that cover sudden expenses, the personal benefit can offer extra support for dependent children, health issues, and other personal concerns.

To qualify, the AISH recipient must have assets less than $5,000 and express hardship in terms of finances.

AISH And ADAP Payment Dates 2026

Payment dates are issued by Alberta’s Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services and apply to both AISH and ADAP after the July 1, 2026 transition. Direct deposit recipients are paid on the exact date listed; cheque recipients receive payments within 3 business days¹.

*After the July 1, 2026 transition, you remain on AISH if you have a severe and profound developmental disability, are receiving Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) services, or have a palliative or terminal condition. All other current AISH recipients are automatically moved to ADAP, with a $200/month transition benefit until December 31, 2027 to maintain the same total payment amount³.

How To Apply For The AISH Benefit

The AISH application process is straightforward, but it takes time and requires careful documentation. Here’s the step-by-step process from preparation to first payment.

Step 1: Confirm You Meet The Basic Eligibility

Before starting an application, confirm you meet all four AISH eligibility tests: age (18+ and not yet on OAS), residency (Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Alberta), permanent disability that prevents employment, and assets/income below the AISH thresholds. If any of these are uncertain, gather supporting documentation before applying.

Step 2: Gather Your Documentation

Pull together the documents AISH will require (full list in the next section). Doing this upfront prevents delays once the application is submitted.

Step 3: Submit The Application

You can apply for AISH in two ways:

Once the combined ADAP/AISH application launches on July 1, 2026, a single form will be used to assess you for both programs.

Step 4: Submit The Medical Report

Your doctor must complete and submit a Medical Report. They can either return it to you for inclusion with your application, or submit it directly to AISH by fax (1-877-969-3006) or mail.

Step 5: Wait For The Review

AISH administrators will review your application, supporting documents, and medical report. Processing time varies depending on documentation completeness and workload — plan for several weeks to a few months between submission and decision.

Step 6: Approval And First Payment

If approved, you’ll receive a phone call followed by a letter confirming your eligibility. AISH will schedule a meeting to fully establish your file (banking for direct deposit, household information, etc.). Benefits are backdated to the date AISH received your file — meaning you don’t lose the months spent waiting for a decision.

Step 7: Set Up Direct Deposit

Direct deposit ensures you receive payments on the exact dates listed in the payment schedule above, rather than waiting up to 3 business days for a cheque to arrive.

Documents Required To Apply

The single most common reason AISH applications stall is incomplete documentation. Prepare every item below before submitting.

Keep copies of every document you submit. If anything is missing, AISH may pause the application and request additional information — which extends the review timeline.

What Happens If You’re Approved For AISH?

There will be a waiting period once you submit your application to allow the AISH administrators to process the application. If you are approved, you will receive a phone call as well as a letter indicating your eligibility.

AISH will schedule a meeting with a staff member to establish your file in full. Benefits are backdated to the point at which AISH received the file.

AISH And CPP Disability (CPP-D): How They Work Together

Most AISH applicants are also required to apply for Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) — the federal disability benefit for Canadians who paid into CPP and have a severe, prolonged disability. Here’s how the two programs interact.

You Must Apply For CPP-D If You Might Qualify

AISH requires applicants to pursue every other benefit they may be eligible for. If you have a sufficient CPP contribution history and a severe disability, you must apply for CPP-D before — or alongside — applying for AISH. Failing to do so can pause or deny your AISH application.

CPP-D Is Deducted From Your AISH Amount

AISH is income-tested. If you receive CPP-D, your AISH living allowance is reduced by the amount you receive from CPP-D — so your total income stays at the AISH maximum, not above it.

For example, if your CPP-D benefit is $1,200/month and the AISH living allowance is $1,940/month, AISH will pay the $740 difference. You still receive the full $1,940 in total monthly support, just split between two sources.

CPP-D Has A Different Tax Treatment Than AISH

CPP-D is taxable income. AISH, by contrast, is technically non-taxable but is reported on a T5007 slip and counts toward your total income for federal benefit calculations (like the GST credit, Canada Child Benefit, and Climate Action Incentive). This means moving from full AISH to a CPP-D + AISH mix can change your tax filing — though your total income doesn’t rise.

What Happens At Age 65

When you turn 65 (and have at least 10 years of Canadian residency after age 18), you become eligible for Old Age Security (OAS) — and AISH eligibility ends. CPP-D automatically converts to a CPP retirement pension, and you’ll need to apply for OAS, Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), and Alberta’s GAINS top-up separately. Plan ahead by starting the OAS application about 6 months before your 65th birthday.

What To Do Next

If you or someone you care for is considering AISH:

• Already on AISH? Watch for Alberta’s mid-May 2026 mailing telling you whether you remain on AISH or transition to ADAP on July 1. Save the letter — you’ll need it for tax filing and any future reassessment.
• Applying for AISH for the first time? From July 1, 2026 onward, a single combined application covers both AISH and ADAP. Gather every document on the checklist above before starting.
• Receiving CPP-D or planning to apply? Apply for both at the same time. CPP-D is mandatory for AISH eligibility if you might qualify.
• Approaching age 65? Start your OAS, GIS, and GAINS applications around 6 months before your birthday to avoid a payment gap.

For program updates, the Government of Alberta’s AISH page and ADAP page are the authoritative sources and are typically updated as regulations are finalized.

Additional Reading

Disability Tax Credit Consultants

Can You Get A Loan With BC Disability Assistance?

How To Create A CRA Account In 2026

Final Thoughts

AISH is an important program that sustains the lifestyle of thousands of Albertans every year. It is designed to support those living with a severe disability who would otherwise not be able to make their expenses. If you, or someone in your care, is struggling and you feel that AISH may assist, the application process is fairly straightforward. So long as you plan ahead and honestly communicate with the AISH administrators, it is likely that you will be approved. For those who need it, the service assists with everything from medical expenses to basic living costs, making Alberta a safer, easier place to live. 

AISH FAQs

References

1. Government of Alberta. (2026). AISH and Income Support payment dates. https://www.alberta.ca/aish-and-income-support-payment-date-change
2. Government of Alberta. (2026). What you get with AISH. https://www.alberta.ca/aish-what-you-get
3. Government of Alberta. (2026). Alberta Disability Assistance Program — Fact Sheet. https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/alss-adap-fact-sheet.pdf
4. Canada Revenue Agency. (2025). Line 25000 – Other payments deduction (T5007 social assistance). https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html
5. Service Canada. (2025). Canada Pension Plan Disability Benefits. https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/publicpensions/cpp/cpp-disability-benefit.html