AISH is an acronym for Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped.
AISH provides financial, health and other benefits to eligible Albertans with severe disabilities.
Under the current medical eligibility rules, a person must have a severe disability that permanently prevents employment to qualify for AISH.
AISH has not disappeared. It continues to operate alongside ADAP.
ADAP is the aconym for the Alberta Disability Assistance Program.
ADAP became operational in July 2026. It provides financial, health, personal and employment supports to eligible Albertans with severe disabilities.
To be medically eligible for ADAP, a person's disability must significantly impede their ability to work continuously or episodically, but not be considered to permanently prevent employment.
In plain terms:
AISH: the province determines that the person's disability permanently prevents employment.
ADAP: the province determines that the person's disability significantly restricts employment but does not permanently prevent it.
That distinction has become one of the central concerns raised by disability advocates.
No.
AISH and ADAP now operate as two separate disability income assistance programs.
There is also now one combined Disability Income Assistance application for both programs. An applicant provides general, financial and medical information, and the province determines which program they qualify for.
The decision is largely based on medical eligibility and the person's assessed ability to work.
Generally:
A person whose severe disability is determined to permanently prevent employment may qualify for AISH.
A person whose severe disability is determined to significantly restrict, but not prevent, employment may qualify for ADAP.
This distinction can be especially important for people with disabilities that are episodic, fluctuating or progressive.
A person's ability to work may also depend on things beyond their diagnosis, including accessible transportation, workplace accommodations, personal supports, employer attitudes, flexible scheduling and the availability of suitable work.
PADA believes disability should not be reduced to a simple question of whether a person is "able" or "unable" to work.
Certain existing AISH recipients automatically remained on AISH unless they chose to move to ADAP.
This included people who:
- have a severe and profound developmental disability;are eligible for or receiving Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) services;- have a palliative or terminal medical condition;- live in a continuing care home; - or are 60 years of age or older.
Other existing AISH recipients were transitioned to ADAP in July 2026.
AISH:
The maximum standard AISH benefit for an individual is currently $1,940 per month, although the actual amount a person receives can depend on income and family circumstances.
AISH can also provide health and personal benefits depending on eligibility and individual circumstances. These can include prescription drugs, dental and optical benefits, ambulance coverage, certain disability-related equipment and other supports.
ADAP:
The core ADAP financial benefit is currently $1,740 per month.
This is $200 less than the current maximum AISH amount.
However, there is an important temporary transition rule for people who were receiving AISH and were moved to ADAP in July 2026.
No.
People who were receiving AISH and transitioned to ADAP in July 2026 receive an additional $200 monthly transition benefit.
The transition payment keeps their financial benefit at the same level as their previous AISH benefit during the transition period.
The current transition benefit continues until December 31, 2027.
This temporary protection does not apply to new ADAP applicants who were not transitioned from AISH.
Under the rules currently in place, the $200 monthly transition benefit ends after December 31, 2027.
Unless the government changes the policy or benefit rates before then, a person who remains on ADAP would receive the regular ADAP benefit rather than the temporary AISH-equivalent transition amount.
For PADA, this creates a serious long-term income-security concern.
A temporary supplement postpones the financial impact. It does not eliminate it.
Yes.
Receiving AISH has never automatically meant that a person cannot earn employment income.
Under the current rules, an AISH recipient who is single or a parent can earn $350 per month before employment earnings begin affecting their financial benefit.
Before the July 2026 changes, the AISH employment-income exemption was substantially higher at $1,072 per month.
This is important because being capable of some employment does not necessarily mean that someone can work consistently, work full-time or earn enough to support themselves.
For a single ADAP recipient, the employment-income exemption is currently $700 per month before employment income begins affecting financial benefits.
For an ADAP parent with one or more dependent children, the exemption is $1,100 per month.
The exemption for the earnings of an AISH or ADAP recipient's cohabiting partner is $1,500 per month.
The province states that a person receiving ADAP can earn up to $45,240 annually while continuing to receive some financial benefit, depending on their circumstances.
Not automatically.
The Government of Alberta states that ADAP recipients continue to receive their health benefits regardless of their employment income.
Financial benefits, however, can change as employment income increases.
The Government of Alberta states that if an ADAP recipient is unable to find employment after receiving employment supports, they will continue receiving their financial and health benefits.
ADAP employment services can include career planning, assistive technology, supported job placements and other employment supports.
PADA believes it is important to distinguish between providing voluntary, meaningful and accessible opportunities to work and assuming that a disabled person should be able to support themselves through employment simply because they have some capacity to work.
No.
The Government of Alberta specifically states:
The transition from AISH to ADAP cannot be appealed.
This is one of the most significant changes for people who disagree with the decision to move their file.
A person who transitioned from AISH to ADAP can submit a Disability Income Assistance application and ask to be assessed for AISH.
The Government of Alberta will cover the cost of one Disability Medical Report for former AISH recipients who transitioned to ADAP in July 2026 and later apply to be assessed for AISH.
There is currently no time limit on accessing that funded medical report.