Andrea De Martin/Dreamstime

By Jesse Gill

PROVINCIAL

New Alberta Disability Assistance Program expected to create positive impact

Feb 6, 2025 | 6:13 PM

The Alberta government has announced a program that will allow those with a disability to work more and keep a larger portion of the benefits they would receive through a program like the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped.

Limiting claw-backs, the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program set to launch in July 2026 still has some details to be worked out, and needs to go through the legislature.

But is something that is being looked at as a potential positive for organization like REDI Enterprises Society in Medicine Hat, who assist workers with a disability.

Executive director Craig Wood, said the new program could also benefit those who may not currently qualify for programs like AISH.

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“Individuals who have been diagnosed with autism. Oftentimes their IQ is way too high for the government funding program currently in place,” Wood said.

“They theoretically would be eligible for this employment supports and that’s a great thing,” he added.

“People to have a job is more than just income. It’s a sense of identity. It’s a sense of belonging in the community. It’s a sense of purpose.”

Woods said he was able to have a briefing with the minister of seniors, community and social services Jason Nixon prior to the announcement of the program.

He adds that at time individuals on the AISH program want to work more, but don’t want to have it negatively impact their benefits, including health benefits.

Which a lot of times people with disabilities have high prescription and other medical costs, and having those health care benefits from the province are key.

Wood see’s the new program being an incentive, not only for people to work more, but hopefully for employers to hire people on as well because they don’t have the expense of the health care.

“There’s always that fear that you might lose AISH if you work too much or lose those health benefits,” Wood said.

“My understanding with the new program is that clawback will be a little bit more generous. So you can work more, keep more of what you earn,” he added.

“And keeping that health benefit, even if you’re not getting any income support from the government, you’ll still have that health benefit going forward. So that’s a big piece for them.”

Wood said one of the things minister Nixon really stressed in the briefing, is that this isn’t taking people off of AISH, that are currently on it.

They’ll continue getting those benefits, but will have the option to go onto the new program, but that no one’s going to be losing their benefits.