AISH Payment Dates & Details 2026

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

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. 

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.

AISH Payment Dates 2026

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. 

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: 

What Is The Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP)?

The Alberta Disability Assistance Program is a new provincial disability support program set to launch on July 1, 2026². It is designed to provide financial, health, and employment supports to Albertans with disabilities who are able to work but still need ongoing assistance. ADAP aims to help people gain skills, pursue employment, and continue receiving benefits as they earn income.

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. More specifically:

• 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.

How Does ADAP Affect AISH Eligibility?

All current AISH recipients will be automatically transitioned to ADAP starting July 1, 2026. After the transition, people can be reassessed for AISH if their medical condition or ability to work changes. To remain on AISH after ADAP transition, clients will need to undergo a medical reassessment under updated criteria.

AISH remains a separate program for those unable to work due to severe disability, and eligibility is based on medical and financial criteria similar to current AISH rules.

How Does ADAP Affect AISH Payments?

Under the government’s proposals, ADAP’s monthly base benefit is set at up to $1,740, which is roughly $200 less per month than the projected AISH benefit rate of up to $1,940.

Existing AISH clients who transition to ADAP will receive a transition benefit, maintaining their current payment level until December 31, 2027, after which the amount may drop to the ADAP rate³.

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:

¹Inclusion Alberta. Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) would cut AISH by $200/month. The facts and how to take action. InclusionAlberta.org

²Government of Alberta. Alberta Disability Assistance Program. Alberta.ca

³High River Online. (2025, December 1). Alberta’s new ADAP program raises concerns over reduced benefits for disabled persons. HighRiverOnline.com