Starting in July 2026, Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) participants will have to undergo a new application process and evaluations to determine whether they can stay on AISH or a new program, the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP).

AISH exists currently to allow Albertans with disabilities the ability to live independently regardless of their ability to work. ADAP is being created to allow Albertans with disabilities to “receive the support they need while pursuing meaningful careers,” according to the Government of Alberta. 

What is ADAP?

Those who can work are currently getting small deductions based on that pay period’s income. The new program will see the monthly living allowance go from about $1901 to $1701; however other details regarding individual benefits and coverage of ADAP have not been made clear. 

The only real information participants have received is the loss of wages. As a fully able-bodied citizen, I cannot fathom how the Alberta Government can justify calling that small monthly income a livable wage. Maybe the Alberta government should supplement the difference from their own paycheque?

Andre Poitras is a current AISH recipient and wants to come to NAIT to learn a trade. Poitras said he doesn’t agree with ADAP and worries what would happen if he were transferred to the new program.

“If my medical problem gets more severe or things change, I would have to reapply to AISH,” he says. 

Poitras noted the process can take upwards of eight months, which would have the disabled recipient unable to have income support. If he’s moved to ADAP, Poitras said he would have to work more to make up for the income loss, “which would put more of a strain on [his] body.” 

Tammy Mooney, an AISH recipient and CDI College graduate who works as an Educational Assistant, says the changes make her feel “confused, frustrated [and] scared.” 

A lack of clarity

This seems to be a noticeable trend among AISH recipients. If they are moved to ADAP and can no longer work in the future, it’s unclear what the process to get back on AISH will look like. 

It’s also unclear what kind of employment support ADAP will provide. With Alberta’s unemployment rate sitting at 8.4 per cent — the second-highest unemployment rate in Canada — most able-bodied students are already worried about finding a job after graduation. 

“It’s very rare that a person on AISH can find an actual career,” says Poitras. “You can find a part-time job but finding an actual career to try to make something better of your life and for yourself,” that’s where the struggle comes in, Poitras explains.

I can barely deal with the stress of school, work and living costs without even being on AISH. 

Disabled students need to be able to focus on school; they shouldn’t have to worry about losing medical coverage if they have some ability to work but can’t find employment after graduation. 

For that matter, a lot of people with disabilities are born with their disabilities, and the government dropped the ball on their care. Why do they have to suffer for the government’s lack of sympathy and support?

Case workers may be a thing of the past 

Recent changes to AISH have had the participants not only lose benefits and wages, but also their own individual case workers. AISH was widely based on a case-by-case basis, with each recipient only ever discussing any concerns with a case worker who was familiar with their own specific file. 

Recent changes to AISH have had the participants not only lose benefits and wages, but also their own individual case workers. AISH was widely based on a case-by-case basis, with each recipient only ever discussing any concerns with a case worker who was familiar with their own specific file. 

However, last spring, AISH recipients reported hearing that individual case workers would be replaced with a “team.” Recipients are expected to call a hotline and wait for an available representative.

When Mooney wanted to go back to school, she talked to her case worker at the time.

“She put me in touch with student finance, and I was able to get complete funding through them with two different grants,” she says.

AISH recipients who are in school or planning on going back to school may not struggle at the beginning if they receive funding.

However, as Mooney states, “I’m tasked with paying that back.” 

Let’s keep in mind, AISH recipients are not guaranteed work after college. Can you picture finishing your degree, then being stuck with student loans and no hope or answers whether you can pay it back? 

As you can only apply to AISH if you are over the age of 18, students going on AISH and ADAP will be of college age and will have to consider priorities in the future if they are to go to school. 

Paying back student loans may not seem too difficult to swallow, but AISH recipients get deductions from their paycheques if they have worked a certain amount. 

Another frustration among the crowd is that if they can work a lot one day, they could be kicked off AISH simply by having a good health day. As a student, imagine you have finished school, found a career and finished the required education to find that career, just to find out that none of it matters.

 Can you imagine not only being unable to earn enough money to pay your student loans, but you get a lifetime supply of medical problems stopping you from living an almost normal life? 

I sure can’t.

Feature image by Erik Mclean on Unsplash