Income Support

Income Support provides financial benefits to individuals and families who do not have the resources to meet their basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter.

The level of assistance varies depending on each individual’s situation including financial resources, ability to work and the number of children in the family. For example, a single person who is looking for work would receive $402 a month, while a two parent family with three children (under 12 years) would receive $1,126 a month while the parents look for work plus $324 a month from the federal National Child Benefit Supplement.

Supplementary benefits provide additional money for particular needs, such as costs related to looking for a job, caring for children or medically required diets.

People in three general situations may qualify for Income Support:

• People who have difficulty working because of a chronic mental or physical health problem or because of multiple barriers to employment (Not Expected to Work)
• People who are looking for work, working or unable to work in the short-term (Expected to Work)
• People who need academic upgrading or training so they can get a job (Learners)

People who are eligible for Income Support also receive:

• health benefits for themselves and their dependants
• information and training to find a job
• help to obtain child support payments

People can work while receiving Income Support. This increases their total income and provides valuable work experience. When people receive ongoing financial assistance, they keep all of their wages, and only a portion of their employment earnings are taken into account when their benefits are calculated. This is called an earnings exemption.

The amount of the earnings exemption varies depending on an individual's family situation and client category.

 

People receiving Income Support as an Expected to Work or Not Expected to Work client who leave Income Support for work can continue to receive health benefits through the Alberta Adult Health Benefit.

More information about Income Support benefits for people assessed as Not Expected to Work and Expected to Work is available in a booklet called Your Guide.  Learners can get more information about Income Support benefits from their training provider or by contacting Alberta Human Resources and Employment.

Emergency Assistance for Albertans Facing Utility Disconnection – Low-income Albertans who have received a disconnection notice from their gas or power company and have no other way of paying their overdue utility bills may be eligible for emergency assistance.