Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)

What is AISH? Am I eligible to receive AISH? Who receives AISH? How can I apply for AISH? Can I work and receive AISH? Can I appeal decisions about AISH? Can I receive Alberta Works Income Support benefits while I'm receiving AISH benefits? Where can I get more information about AISH?

New AISH Act to provide more flexibility to respond to client needs: On March 9, 2006, the Government of Alberta introduced the updated Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Act in the legislature. This new legislation will be debated by government during the Spring Session. Link to  Bill 21: Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) Act. The Alberta Government has recently settled a lawsuit related to how the government managed situations where overpayments and underpayments were made to Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, Income Support and Widows' Pension recipients. Any Albertans who received AISH benefits and who were required to pay back money due to an overpayment or anyone who received only partial reimbursement for an AISH underpayment may be entitled to a settlement.  Notice of Settlement For information about the class action lawsuit and how to make a claim, please contact the Income Support Class Action hotline at 1-877-507-7706 or visit   www.incomesupportclassaction.ca. AISH Clients to Access More Benefits    New booklet makes finding information easier    AISH Program Information Resources: The AISH Guide provides an overview of the AISH Program. The Guide is also available in printed format at an AISH Office.    Greater Access to AISH Information. The AISH Policy Manual is now available online.      The AISH Benefits Administration Program works to help AISH clients to manage their AISH benefits where they have no one else willing or able to perform this role. Participation in the program is voluntary and there is no cost for this service.

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) provides financial and health benefits for adult Albertans with a permanent disability that severely impairs their ability to earn a living. The level of benefits depends on income and assets. The maximum living allowance is $1000 per month and additional benefits (personal income support benefits) may be provided to meet clients' special needs.

Personal income support benefits include funding for continuous needs such as costs associated with raising children, special diets and service animals and one-time needs such as children's school supplies, exceptional travel and emergencies. For a complete list, please see pages 2 and 3 of the  AISH Guide.  For general information, please refer to the AISH Policy Manual, Section 02-03-05. For a complete list of the continuous benefits, please refer to the AISH Policy Manual, Section 02-03-06. For one-time (non-continuous) benefits please refer to the AISH Policy Manual, Section 02-03-07.

Health benefits for AISH clients and their families include:

• prescription drugs
• premium-free Alberta Health Care Insurance
• eyewear
• eye exams
• dental work
• emergency ambulance services
• essential diabetic supplies
• co-payment fee waived for Alberta Aids to Daily Living.

If you no longer qualify for AISH because of employment earnings or an indexed increase to your Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D) benefits, you can continue receiving health benefits through the Alberta Adult Health Benefit (AAHB).  People who have left AISH since January 2002 because of a CPP-D increase and are not receiving AAHB should contact the nearest AISH office. For more information:   People leaving AISH due to increased CPP-D keep health benefits

To qualify for the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program, everything on the following list must match your situation:

• You must have a severe disability.
    
• The disability must be so severe that it substantially limits your ability to earn a living. Your disability must be the main factor – not your age, lack of education or the lack of available jobs.
    
• The disability must be permanent. You may not qualify for AISH if treatment for your condition will help you to be able to work.
    
• Your income and the income of your spouse or cohabiting partner must not exceed the limits allowed under the program.
    
• Your assets and the assets of your spouse or cohabiting partner must not exceed the limits allowed under the program.
    
• You must claim or collect the benefit of any asset you qualify for (such as an inheritance).

• You must be 18 years old or older, but not eligible to receive an Old Age Security pension.
    
• You must be a permanent resident of Alberta.
    
• You cannot be residing in an institution such as the Michener Centre in Red Deer or an Alberta psychiatric hospital, since the institutions provide for all your needs.
    
• You must apply for other income benefits you qualify for, such as Canada Pension Plan disability benefits.
    
• You must not have refused to take or look for reasonable employment for reasonable wages.
    
• You must not have quit work that you were capable of doing.
    
• You must not have refused or neglected to take training, rehabilitation or medical treatment which would help you to be able to work.

Please note: This list serves only as a general guideline for program eligibility.  An AISH Administrator determines whether you qualify for AISH benefits.

About 33,000 Albertans receive AISH: about 32 percent because of mental illness, 23 percent because of developmental disabilities, and 45 percent have various physical disabilities.

To apply for AISH, you must complete an application form that identifies yourself, your disability, your and your spouse/cohabiting partner's income and assets, and whether you can work or train to be self-supporting.  You will need to provide a medical report on your disability.  You can apply at an AISH Office.

It can take some time when you apply for AISH before a decision is made. While your application is being processed, you may receive assistance through the Alberta Works Income Support Program if you meet that program's eligibility criteria. You can apply at any  Alberta Service Centre that delivers Income Support benefits.

Yes.  You keep your earnings; it is your AISH living allowance that may be affected. For example a single person can earn $400 a month without affecting their AISH living allowance. With this combination of AISH and other income, you will have more monthly income overall. For more information about employment income exemptions, talk to your worker or see page 7 of the  AISH Guide.

If you no longer qualify for AISH because of your or your spouse/cohabiting partner's employment earnings, you can keep receiving your health benefits through the Alberta Adult Health Benefit.

You may qualify for Rapid Re-instatement of AISH benefits if, for any reason, you should lose your employment income.  No medical is required if application is made within two years and your medical condition has not changed.

AISH clients can volunteer for an assessment of employability, or seek assistance to connect with opportunities to learn, volunteer or work.  For more information, contact your worker or an  AISH Office.

Yes. You have the right to appeal decisions made about AISH benefits.  More information about appeals is available from an  AISH Office or from the Appeals Secretariat.

No.  However, if you have needs in excess of the AISH benefits and otherwise qualify for  Alberta Works Income Support assistance, you can transfer to Income Support to receive benefits, including a handicap benefit of $175 per month.

More details about the AISH program are available in the AISH Guide or from an  AISH Office.

You can reach government offices toll-free by calling 310-0000 and then entering the government number you need, including the area code.  Assistance is available Monday to Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Callers with TTY Deaf or Hard of Hearing Relay can reach Alberta government offices by dialing (780) 427-9999 in Edmonton or 1-800-232-7215 in other Alberta locations.

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Related Links:  Income Supports

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