Announcing The Winner of Our Financial Literacy Scholarship (Spring 2022)
We are awarding $750 to a student every semester. All you have to do is show us how financial literacy has made a difference in your life.
Alberta has historically been regarded as a powerhouse province, offering an abundance of employment opportunities, a high standard of living, and some of the highest wages in the country. It’s definitely the place to be if you’re looking to get ahead while the economy’s booming.
However, Alberta’s economy is based primarily on energy, a sector that experiences dramatic downturns during recessions, resulting in massive unemployment. In addition to economic contractions, Alberta’s economy has been marred in the last decade by rising deficits, low oil prices, decreased investment in the fossil fuel industry, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
During these turbulent periods, many people experience financial hardship and face difficulty paying for basic living expenses. Hit especially hard are those who have a disability, lack employable skills, or earn a low income.
To prevent people from falling deep into poverty, the Alberta government has created numerous social assistance programs, one of which is Income Support.
Alberta’s goal with the Income Support program is to provide financial aid to individuals and families struggling to pay for basic expenses, such as food and shelter.
The amount of aid you can qualify for depends on your needs, your ability to secure and maintain employment, and the size of your family.
The Income Support program also offers additional financial aid to help pay for childcare, special diets, emergencies, school expenses, work-related expenses, and more.
The bulk of financial assistance received under Income Support falls under a category called core benefits, which encompasses most basic living expenses. Core benefits are comprised of the following:
The amount you can expect to receive is determined by three factors: the number of members in your household, your living arrangement, and your foreseeable employment status (based on the likelihood of you finding a job). Your total benefit amount after accounting for these factors is called total care benefits.
Below is a table that summarizes the total care benefits under different scenarios.
Household Composition | Living With Relatives | Social Housing | Private Home |
Single Adult | $518 | $535 | $745 |
Single Adult, 1 child | $718 | $827 | $1,173 |
2 children | $818 | $975 | $1,293 |
3 children | $918 | $1,132 | $1,414 |
4 children | $1,018 | $1,292 | $1,534 |
5 children | $1,118 | $1,452 | $1,655 |
6 children | $1,218 | $1,611 | $1,775 |
Couple, no children | $773 | $863 | $1,116 |
Couple, 1 child | $973 | $1,132 | $1,458 |
2 children | $1,073 | $1,287 | $1,578 |
3 children | $1,173 | $1,447 | $1,688 |
4 children | $1,273 | $1,607 | $1,809 |
5 children | $1,373 | $1,766 | $1,929 |
6 children | $1,473 | $1,925 | $2,049 |
Each add’l child add | $100 | $100 | $100 |
Each child 18-19 add | $205 | $205 | $205 |
Household Composition | Living With Relatives | Social Housing | Private Home |
Single Adult | $639 | $656 | $866 |
Single Adult, 1 child | $839 | $948 | $1,294 |
2 children | $939 | $1,096 | $1,414 |
3 children | $1,039 | $1,253 | $1,535 |
4 children | $1,139 | $1,413 | $1,655 |
5 children | $1,239 | $1,573 | $1,776 |
6 children | $1,339 | $1,732 | $1,896 |
Couple, no children | $954 | $1,044 | $1,297 |
Couple, 1 child | $1,154 | $1,313 | $1,639 |
2 children | $1,254 | $1,468 | $1,759 |
3 children | $1,354 | $1,628 | $1,869 |
4 children | $1,454 | $1,788 | $1,990 |
5 children | $1,554 | $1,947 | $2,110 |
6 children | $1,654 | $2,106 | $2,230 |
Each add’l child add | $100 | $100 | $100 |
Each child 18-19 add | $205 | $205 | $205 |
In addition to the core benefits, you may be eligible for various supplementary benefits:
This benefit intends to help cover the cost of childcare programs, such as babysitting, while you’re working, searching for work, or attending a training program. Here is how much you can get:
This benefit provides an additional allowance for households that have special dietary requirements due to medical reasons.
The following table is an overview of the amount you can receive if eligible.
Special Diets | Monthly Pate Per Adult Or Child |
Low sodium | $21.00 |
Low cholesterol of low fat | $21.00 |
High fibre | $21.00 |
High calcium | $21.00 |
High protein | $21.00 |
Lactose free | $21.00 |
Low or high potassium | $21.00 |
Baby’s needs – pregnancy | $26.00 |
Baby’s needs – Breast feeding mother (of baby up to 12 months old) | $31.00 |
Baby’s needs – infant formula | Up to $205.00 |
High calorie (over 2,500 calories) | $37.00 |
HIV/AIDS or Hepatitis C | $37.00 |
Diabetic of Heart Healthy | $41.00 |
Milk free | $52.00 |
Celiac/gluten free | $82.00 |
Renal failure/insufficiency | $113.00 |
This benefit’s intent is to assist households who’ve had their gas or power disconnected and cannot pay the past-due bills. You can obtain coverage of bills for multiple instances of disconnected service. However, you must repay the total amount of the benefit if you utilize it more than once for the same utility. You must repay any reconnection fees as well.
The purpose of this benefit is to reimburse individuals for costs associated with job searches, employment maintenance, employment preparation programs, and training. Some of the expenses covered are clothing, deposits, testing fees, tools, grooming, meals, and transportation.
If eligible, you and every working adult in your household can receive up to $511.00 per calendar year (January 1 – December 31).
This benefit provides financial aid to parents who incur costs associated with their children’s school attendance. It covers various school-related expenses, including school fees, locker fees, school supplies, gym shoes, and field trips.
Income Support payments are issued on the first of the month. Below are the expected payment dates for 2022
Month Of Assistance | Benefit Payment Dates |
January | December 01, 2021 |
February | February 01, 2022 |
March | March 01, 2022 |
April | April 01, 2022 |
May | April 29, 2022 |
June | June 01, 2022 |
July | June 30, 2022 |
August | August 01, 2022 |
September | September 01, 2022 |
October | Septemeber 30, 2022 |
November | November 01, 2022 |
December | Decemeber 01, 2022 |
Eligibility for Income Support is based on criteria in the following three categories: age and residency, personal finances, and ability to work.
To satisfy this requirement, you must be at least 18 years old, live in Alberta, and be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or refugee claimant.
To satisfy the personal finance requirement, you must:
Your circumstance with regard to employment must fall under one of the following:
The Alberta Income Support application process consists of two steps:
This form can be completed and submitted online. You can also fill out a paper application and drop it off at a local Alberta Supports or Alberta Works Centre location.
Once your application has been processed, you’ll receive instructions on setting up a meeting with an Income Support worker. Ensure you bring the following documents with you to the meeting:
The Income Support application process generally takes around two weeks.
If you reside in Alberta and find yourself struggling to pay for basic needs, such as food, clothing, and shelter, it’s wise to seek help from government social assistance programs. Income Support, in particular, is a unique program because it helps cover a wide range of needs and can be tailored to your specific circumstance. The program’s extensive resources will allow you to focus on getting back on your feet instead of stressing over past due bills.
Rating of 5/5 based on 6 votes.
Save time and money with Loans Canada. Research and compare lenders before you apply. Share your experiences with Canada's top lenders.
Whether you have good credit or poor credit, building financial awareness is the best way to save. Find tips, guides and tools to make better financial decisions.
We are awarding $750 to a student every semester. All you have to do is show us how financial literacy has made a difference in your life.
Create an account with Bitbuy and get $40 free after your first deposit of $250+.
Earn an average 5%¹ cash back at thousands of partners and at least 1%² cashback guaranteed.
Build credit while spending money with the Refresh Financial VISA card.
With KOHO’s prepaid card you can build a better credit score for just $7/month.
Check out our interview with addy; a platform that allows Canadians to invest in different properties across Canada with as little as $1.
All consultations and conversations with Loans Canada and its partners are confidential and risk-free. Speak with a trusted specialist today and see how we can help you achieve your financial goals faster. Loans Canada and its partners will never ask you for an upfront fee, deposit or insurance payments on a loan. Loans Canada is not a mortgage broker and does not arrange mortgage loans or any other type of financial service.
When you apply for a Loans Canada service, our website simply refers your request to qualified third party providers who can assist you with your search. Loans Canada may receive compensation from the offers shown on its website.
Only provide your information to trusted sources and be aware of online phishing scams and the risks associated with them, including identity theft and financial loss. Nothing on this website constitutes professional and/or financial advice.