provincial · Alberta

AISH (legacy clients)

Alberta's Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) is a monthly living allowance. In 2026 it pays $1,940, plus health benefits. It is for adults 18–64 whose severe disability permanently prevents employment. Since July 2, 2026, one Disability Income Assistance application covers both AISH and the new ADAP (Alberta Disability Assistance Program).

Check if I qualify

Verified Aug 22, 2026
provincial program · Alberta

MonthlyMonthly money

At a glance

Worth:: $1,940/mo · assets ≤$100k
Who:: You are at least 18 and not yet eligible for Old Age Security, live in Alberta, and are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Apply:: Official program page

What it could be worth

Amount

$1,940/mo · assets ≤$100k

Maximum living allowance: $1,940/month for a single client (2026). It was $1,901 in 2025, and it is indexed each January.
Child benefit (recalculated August 2026): $300/month for the first child, $117 for the second, $88 for the third, $59 for the fourth, and $30 for each child after that.
Earnings exemption: the first $350/month of net employment income is fully exempt. Above that, each dollar you earn reduces your allowance by one dollar.
Asset limit: $100,000 in combined non-exempt assets for you and your partner. Non-exempt assets are savings and property that count toward the limit. Your home, your primary vehicle, RDSPs (Registered Disability Savings Plans), LIRA/LRIF/LIF (locked-in retirement accounts), and trusts do not count. An inheritance is also exempt for a temporary period of 365 days.
Personal benefits (July 2026): emergency food $26/day for each adult; a damage deposit of up to $414 for a single person or $1,177 for a family, once every 3 years; and a funeral benefit of up to $4,601.

Example: A single AISH client with no other income receives the full $1,940/month plus health coverage. If they take a part-time job that pays $500 net a month, the first $350 does not count. Only the remaining $150 reduces the allowance, dollar for dollar.

How it benefits you

You get up to $1,940/month (2026 rate) for food, rent, and utilities. It rises each January to keep up with the cost of living (called indexation). The law caps that rise at 2%.
Full health benefits for you, your spouse or partner, and your dependent children. These include prescription drugs, basic dental, optical, essential diabetic supplies, and emergency ambulance. You also pay no AADL (Alberta Aids to Daily Living) cost-share on approved equipment.
You can work and still keep part of your pay. The first $350/month of net employment income (your pay after deductions) is fully exempt, which means it does not reduce your allowance. ADAP offers a higher path if you are able to work.
Personal benefits come on top of the allowance. They include special diets ($26–$132/month), emergency food, community start-up up to $1,177, a service animal allowance, and medical equipment allowances.
If your cohabiting partner (the person you live with) is also on AISH or ADAP, you each receive $1,708/month. That is an 88% share, starting with the August 2026 benefit period.

What you need to qualify or apply

Eligibility

You are at least 18 and not yet eligible for Old Age Security, live in Alberta, and are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
You have a severe disability. This means a substantial impairment (a serious limit in how your mind or body works). It must be permanent and must permanently prevent employment. All relevant treatment must be finished, with no improvement expected.
You do not live in a correctional facility or a designated mental health facility (for example, Alberta Hospital Edmonton).
You meet the financial rules for assets and income.
You must tell the AISH program if a Canada Disability Benefit or Disability Tax Credit application is approved or denied. You do this through the Apply for federal disability supports form.

How to apply

Submit one Disability Income Assistance (DIA) application. It covers both AISH and ADAP. It collects your information and a report from your medical professional.
If you meet the basic and financial requirements, an adjudicator (the person who reviews your file) looks at your medical information. They decide whether you qualify for ADAP. They may also refer you to a medical panel for the AISH assessment.
Applications are reviewed in the order they arrive. Applicants who are palliative or terminally ill are given priority.
AISH clients who moved to ADAP on July 2, 2026 receive a $200/month transition benefit. It keeps their total the same as their old AISH amount until December 31, 2027. They can also apply for an AISH assessment if their condition changes.

Documents you may need

Medical or psychological reports that support the diagnosis and the permanent impairment.
Financial information (income and assets) for you and your spouse or partner.
Proof that you live in Alberta, your age, and your citizenship or permanent-resident status.