Alberta

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped

Complex application

Tax filing not required

The Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program (AISH) provides financial and health benefits to individuals living with long-term disabilities.

Depending on your situation, you may get:

  • A monthly living allowance – money to pay for your living costs such as food, rent and utilities
  • A monthly child benefit – money to assist you with raising your dependent children
  • Health benefits – assistance to cover health needs for you, your spouse or partner and your dependent children
  • Personal benefits – money over and above your monthly living allowance for specific needs such as a special diet or assistance in an emergency.

Visit the What you can get page to learn more about what this program can give you.

Age and residency criteria:

  • You are at least 18 years old and not eligible to receive an Old Age Security pension.
  • You live in Alberta and are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
  • You are not in a correctional facility or a mental health facility (such as Alberta Hospital Edmonton).

Medical criteria:

  • You must have a medical condition that is likely to remain permanent.
  • Your medical condition must be the main factor limiting your ability to earn a living, not other factors such as your education level.
  • AISH looks at medical treatment, therapy, rehabilitation, and training that are available to help improve your ability to earn a living.
  • Find out more about how AISH considers your medical situation in  Your Guide to AISH and the AISH Adjudication Guide

Financial criteria:

  • AISH looks at the income and assets you and your spouse or partner have.
  • You can work and be eligible for AISH – clients are encouraged to work to the extent they are able.
  • When you apply for, or get AISH, you and your spouse or partner must:
  • apply for all other income you may be eligible for, such as Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D), employment insurance (EI) or Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) benefits.
  • You must not have income or assets that are higher than the AISH program allows.

Visit AISH Eligibility to learn more about the income and asset criteria.

Proof of housing situation

For example:

  • letter from landlord about your housing situation
  • eviction notice
  • disconnection notice
  • police report about an incident involving your housing
  • moving company quote or invoice
  • list of repairs needed in home
  • list of expenses for renovations needed for independence in the home
  • proof of home ownership (mortgage, property ownership)

Proof of legal status

A document showing citizenship or immigration status in Canada. For example:

  • citizenship certificate
  • confirmation document
  • record of landing, confirmation of permanent residence;
    • permanent resident card
    • visitor record
    • temporary resident permit
    • study permit
  • positive notice of decision
  • verification of status document
  • registration date with Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada
  • passport
  • foreign passport

Photo ID

For example:

  • driver’s license
  • passport
  • other government-issued photo ID, such as a non-driver photo ID (Saskatchewan), British Columbia Services Card, Ontario photo card, General identification card (Nunavut), Voluntary ID (PEI), etc.

Proof of  residency in Province

For example:

  • lease agreement
  • rent receipt
  • household bill
    • gas
    • electricity
    • cable television
    • telephone
  • driver's license
  • vehicle registration or car insurance
  • membership in social or professional organization
  • Other:
    • bank information
    • employment information

The main application steps are summarized below. For more details read Your Guide to Completing the AISH Application.

  1. Step 1: Read reference guides for applying (such as the one above)
  2. Step 2: Fill out the AISH Application Part A
  3. Step 3: Have your doctor fill out Part B
  4. Step 4: Apply (submit your application)
  5. Step 5: Wait to hear back on your application

Last updated: March 9, 2023