The Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program provides support for Albertans with disabilities. The payments are typically made four days before the beginning of each month.
AISH payments help those with qualifying medical conditions by providing a monthly living allowance and a child benefit for dependents, if applicable.
Key Takeaways
- There are 12 AISH payments issued per year, with each being paid out four days before the beginning of the next month.
- AISH eligibility includes details regarding age, residency, health factors, and household income.
- The three main components of AISH include core benefits, health benefits, and personal benefits.
- Payment amounts vary significantly, based on which benefits you qualify for and require.
- Applying for AISH involves filling out Part A of the form and having your doctor fill out Part B.
AISH payment dates 2025
AISH payments are paid out four days prior to the beginning of a new month. Each payment covers the assistance amount for the previous month – so the February 1st payment represents assistance for January and so forth.
Here are the payment dates for 2025:
December 12, 2024 (for the January 2025 pay period)January 28, 2025February 25, 2025March 26, 2025April 25, 2024May 27, 2025June 25, 2025July 28, 2025August 26, 2025September 24, 2025- October 28, 2025
- November 25, 2025
Visit the AISH and Income Support payment dates page for more information.
Payment type will determine exactly when you get your payment: If you have your payments set up to go directly into your bank account (direct deposit), you will receive the money just after midnight on the date above.
But if you get your payment by cheque instead, it could take up to 3 business days longer for you to receive the cheque in the mail.
What is AISH?
AISH stands for Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Program, an initiative for adult Albertans with a permanent disability, where the disability prevents them from earning enough income to provide a living wage.
Eligible Albertans receive a monthly AISH payment and have certain costs covered, including specific health-related expenses.
Do I qualify for AISH?
You must meet all of these criteria to be eligible to receive AISH payments:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Live in Alberta
- Be 18+ years old
- Ineligible for Old Age Security
- Not residing in a correctional or mental health facility
- Have a permanent medical condition which is the main factor limiting your ability to earn a living
- Your income level remains under the program's threshold
- Applying for and/or receiving all other benefit and income assistance programs you qualify for
To qualify for AISH, you'll also need to get a doctor to demonstrate that your disability impacts you as such:
- Impairs your mental and/or physical functioning
- Limits your ability to earn a living
- Is likely permanent, with no improvements to your ability to earn a living
AISH income thresholds
Here are the details regarding income exemption:
| Household | Employment income exemption | Passive business and spousal income exemption |
|---|---|---|
| Single | * Max possible income exemption: $1,541/month * Up to $1,072/month: fully exempt * Up to $2,009/month: 50% exempt | * Up to $300: fully exempt * $300+: 25% exempt |
| Family | * Max possible income exemption: $2,981/month * Up to $2,612/month: fully exempt * Up to $3,349/month: 50% exempt | * Up to $875: fully exempt * $875+: 25% exempt |
3 types of AISH benefits
AISH benefits can be grouped into these categories:
| Benefit type | Inclusions |
|---|---|
| Core benefits | * Living allowance * Modified living allowance * Child benefit |
| Health benefits | * Prescription drugs * Dental care * Optical care * Diabetes supplies * Emergency ambulance service * Request Additional Health Benefits through the Health Benefits Exception Committee (HBEC) |
| Personal benefits | * Child care * School expenses for kids * Emergencies * Employment training and support * Escaping abuse * Setting up a new residence * Funeral planning * Prenatal care * Preparing and caring for infants * Moving expenses * Costs of living in remote areas * Travel expenses * Medical or disability-related expenses |
AISH core benefits
The AISH core benefits are broken into three sub-categories:
- Living allowance: This helps pay for housing and other living expenses for those residing in a private dwelling, shared residence, nursing home, or other type of accommodation
- Modified living allowance: This helps pay for housing if you live in a continuing care home and is broken into two parts: personal allowance and accommodation rate
- Child benefit: Helps with the costs of raising children
AISH health benefits
The AISH health benefit pays for the health care expenses not covered by your provincial health insurance plan. This includes:
- Prescription drugs
- Dental care
- Optical care
- Diabetes supplies
- Emergency ambulance service
There are also assistance programs to help you qualify for the Alberta Adult Health Benefit, which can provide continued support once you no longer qualify for AISH.
AISH personal benefit
Like health benefits, AISH personal benefits help cover these qualified expenses:
- Child care
- School expenses for kids
- Emergencies
- Employment training and support
- Escaping abuse
- Setting up a new residence
- Funeral planning
- Prenatal care
- Preparing and caring for infants
- Moving expenses
- Costs of living in remote areas
- Travel expenses
- Medical or disability-related expenses
If you believe you qualify for any of the above benefits, you can speak with your AISH worker and they'll guide you through the process of getting the expenses covered.
How much are AISH payments?
These are the maximum amounts you can receive for the core benefits associated with AISH:
| Benefit | Max amount |
|---|---|
| Standard living allowance | $1,901 |
| Modified living allowance | $365 |
| Child benefit (first child) | $227 |
| Child benefit (subsequent children) | $114 |
These amounts are what's available for AISH personal benefits:
| Benefit | Max amount |
|---|---|
| Child care | * Parent portion of subsidized rate per dependent child * Actual cost of deposit or application fees * For private child care: Actual cost up to $7/hr for the first child, $4/hr for additional children up to a maximum of $13/hr |
| Children's school expenses | * $59 per child 4+ years old/grade K * $115 per child grade 1-6 * $199 per child grade 7 - 12 * School lunch expense: actual cost |
| Employment and training support | * Actual cost up to $566/year |
| Escaping abuse | * New residence: actual cost up to $1,130 * Moving: actual cost * Damage deposit: actual cost |
| Establishing a new residence | * Actual cost up to $1,130 |
| Infant care (one-time payment) | * $284 per infant |
| Moving | * Actual cost |
| Prenatal needs (beginning at 14 weeks) | * $111.00/month |
| Remote community | * $46/month per client and per dependent child |
| Service animal | * $59/month |
| Travel - transportation | * Actual cost of the most economical form of public transportation * $0.35/km for a private vehicle * Actual cost of taxi fare |
| Travel - accommodation | * Actual cost |
| Travel - food | * Up to $24 per day per client * Up to $18 per day per dependent child |
Here is an overview of the emergency benefits you may receive through AISH:
| Benefit | Max amount |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | * Actual cost |
| Child care | * Actual cost |
| Damage deposit (available once every 3 years) | * W/o dependent children: Up to $397 * W/ dependent children: Up to $1,130 |
| Rental arrears | * W/o dependent children: Up to $397 * W/ dependent children: Up to $1,130 |
| Food | * Up to $24 per day per client * Up to $18 per day per dependent child |
| Home or appliance repair | * Actual cost |
| Replacement clothing | * Up to $243 per client * Up to $182 per dependent child |
| Transportation | * Actual cost |
| Other goods and services | * Actual cost up to $1,130 |
AISH will provide these amounts to cover funeral benefits:
| Benefit | Amount |
|---|---|
| Burial/cremation in Alberta | Up to $4,421 (plus other necessary benefits listed here, as needed) |
| Embalming | Up to $750 |
| Funeral ceremony | Up to $1,000 |
| Transportation (over 20km outside the provider's municipality) | Up to $1.13/km |
| Required cemetery expenses | Reasonable cost |
| Transportation of remains to another province or territory | Reasonable cost |
Lastly, here are the AISH payment amounts you can receive for special goods and services:
| Benefit | Max amount |
|---|---|
| Medical equipment | * Actual reasonable cost up to $2,258 |
| Equipment maintenance - manual wheelchair (per 12 month maintenance period) | * Up to $498 |
| Equipment maintenance - power wheelchair/scooter (per 12 month maintenance period) | * Up to $664 |
| Medical supplies | * Actual reasonable cost up to $453/month |
| Medical alert services | * Actual reasonable cost of initial setup and ongoing fees |
| Specialized clothing (per 12 month period) | * Actual reasonable cost up to $340 |
| Special diet | * Low sodium: $24/month * Low cholesterol or low fat: $24/month * High fibre: $24/month * High calcium: $24/month * High protein: $24/month * Lactose free: $24/month * Low or high potassium: $24/month * Pregnancy: $30/month * Breastfeeding: $35/month for up to 12 months * High calorie: $42/month * AIDS or HIV: $42/month * Hepatitis C: $42/month * Heart healthy: $46/month * Diabetes: $46/month * Milk free: $59/month * Celiac or gluten free: $91/month * Renal failure or insufficiency: $126/month |
AISH also provides basic coverage for health benefits in these categories:
- Dental care
- Eye exams
- Glasses
- Prescriptions
- Essential diabetic supplies
- Emergency ambulance services
- Ambulance trips (to the closest emergency room)
How to apply for AISH in 5 steps
When applying for AISH, Alberta recommends following this step-by-step approach:
- Step 1: Familiarize yourself with the AISH program. Alberta has plenty of guides available online that can help you learn what to expect from AISH or download this full application guide: Your guide to completing the AISH application.
- Step 2: Fill out the AISH Application Part A. Download and follow the instructions to complete Part A of the AISH Application Form here: How to apply for AISH.
- Step 3: Your doctor fills out Part B. Once your doctor has completed the form, they can either submit it themselves or give it back for you to submit. If submitting yourself, just include it with the rest of your application.
- Step 4: Submit your AISH application. You can fax, mail, upload, or bring your application to the nearest AISH office or Alberta Supports Centre.
- Step 5: Wait to be contacted. The AISH office will confirm receipt and will require any outstanding information or documentation required.
If your AISH application is denied: You'll be notified if you don't meet certain criteria. A letter will provide additional information, including the reason you’re ineligible, how to appeal the decision, resources, and more.
If your AISH application is approved: You’ll receive a letter and a phone call to schedule an appointment with an AISH worker to move forward with your benefits. They will require documentation to finish processing your application.
You’ll be eligible to receive benefits backdated from when you provided AISH with all the necessary documentation for your application.
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When are AISH payment dates for 2025?
The AISH payments for 2025 began on December 20th, 2024 (this is the payment for January) and will continue until November 25th. They are generally paid out 4 days prior to the beginning of a new month.
What is AISH?
AISH is an Alberta Government income support program for people with a disability. Along with a few other types of assistance, AISH provides financial assistance for Albertans whose medical condition prevents them from earning a living.
Do I qualify for AISH?
There are many factors determining whether you might qualify for AISH, including residency status, age, income, the impact of your disability on your ability to earn an income, and whether your family's combined assets exceed $100,000.
What is the maximum AISH payment?
These amounts depend on your income level and your actual expenses. The maximum amount payable as a living allowance is currently $1,901 per month, but this is only one of many benefits AISH provides.
What age does AISH end?
You're ineligible for AISH once you start receiving OAS payments, so the typical age AISH ends is 65. You can opt to receive your OAS payments as early as 60, so your AISH payments would end at a similar point.
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