Short for Assured Income For The Severely Handicapped, AISH is an Alberta government-sponsored arrangement that provides ongoing funds to Canadians living with a severe disability.
Employment rates decrease as the severity of the disability increases. The worse the issue, the less able the AISH recipient is to work and thus to provide for themselves. As a result, tens of thousands of Albertans rely on these funds to survive.
If you are looking into AISH for yourself or someone in your care, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the program.
Key Takeaways
| Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) | AISH offers financial assistance to those living with severe and permanent physical and/or mental health disabilities that limit their ability to work. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Applicants must be at least 18 years old, Canadian citizens or permanent residents residing in Alberta. Applicants must have a permanent disability. |
| AISH Payment Dates | AISH payments are paid once a month. Exact dates are listed in the table below. |
| Application | Applicants can apply for AISH online or through a paper form and will require a medical report from their doctor. |
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.
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.
Financial
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.
AISH Payment Dates 2024
| AISH Payment Date 2024 | Covered Period |
| February 1, 2024 | February 2024 |
| February 26, 2024 | March 2024 |
| March 25, 2023 | April 2024 |
| April 25, 2024 | May 2024 |
| May 28, 2024 | June 2024 |
| June 25, 2024 | July 2024 |
| July 26, 2024 | August 2024 |
| August 27, 2024 | September 2024 |
| September 24, 2024 | October 2024 |
| October 28, 2024 | November 2024 |
| November 26, 2024 | December 2024 |
Note. Recipients registered with direct deposit will receive the payments on the exact dates. Those receiving payments via cheque will get it on or within 3 business days of the payment date.
How to Apply For The AISH Benefit
You can apply for AISH online or via paper application.
| Online | Apply online |
| Paper Application | Application form Mail To: AISH, PO Box 17000 Station Main, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4B3 |
Documents Required To Apply
Medical Report – You’ll need to ask your doctor for a complete Medical Report. You can either submit this document yourself when applying online or via mail, or you can ask your doctor to submit it via fax or mail.
- FAX – 1-877-969-3006
- Mail – AISH, PO Box 17000 Station Main, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4B3
Keep in mind that your doctor may assign a fee for this service. You will be responsible for paying this amount unless you are on income support and can claim the cost. Be sure to keep your receipts and a copy of the document for your records.
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.
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 $1,685 every month. For those living at a facility, the amount is as much as $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 |
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.
