Where has the $200 gone?
By Lethbridge Herald on October 4, 2025.
Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Many recipients of the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped benefit are reporting they’re missing $200 off their October cheque, even though they have complied with the request from AISH to apply for the Canada Disability Tax Credit.
Bev Muendel-Atherstone, chair of the Lethbridge chapter of Friends of Medicare, says she heard about two people who went to the Lethbridge AISH office to inform them they were in the process of applying for the CDB, but their doctor hadn’t filled out the form yet.
Allegedly, the AISH office reassured them nothing would be deducted. But when they received their money, it was $200 less than normal.
Similarly, Rene Plaizier, executive director of Inclusion Lethbridge heard someone from Edmonton was also missing $200, even after notifying their office they had begun applying for the benefit.
In order to qualify for the CDB, the client first has to qualify for the Canada Disability Tax Credit. Both benefits require a physician to fill out paperwork, and many charge for the service. Because many AISH recipients are unable to work, they are unable to claim these expenses on their taxes, as money from AISH isn’t taxable.
Jason Nixon, minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, says those who do update their workers won’t lose the $200 designated to CDB as long as they are in contact with AISH.
“It will not matter whether your paperwork with CDB is done or not, as long as you’ve been in contact with the department”
He encourages those who have lost the $200 while not receiving CDB to contact their AISH office and they will rectify it.
Muendel-Atherstone points out that the letter AISH recipients received in July didn’t give any information on what to do if the $200 was wrongfully deducted.
“There is no recourse indicated for what to do if the money is deducted inadvertently or if there’s an error. There’s no phone number, there’s no email, there’s no recourse for people.”
Muendel-Atherstone is also concerned about the changes to the AISH offices since COVID-19, saying it’s not only making it hard to get an appointment, but people often have to deal with multiple AISH representatives.
“So now there’s no longer one caseworker for each person; instead, when you go (to the office), if you get to see someone it’s someone different every time.”
She also points out it’s often difficult to get through on the phone and actually speak to a human being.
Earlier this year the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) was introduced and it is expected everyone on AISH will be transferred to ADAP, and making $200 less as AISH will only be used for those who are unable to work at all.
Muendel-Atherstone believes both the CDB deductions and forcing all AISH clients to ADAP is framing all recipients as guilty without due process.
“Individuals being removed from AISH and put on ADAP, as the government says will happen to them…is the equivalent of being found guilty of fraud or malingering without having a trial or sentencing.”
She says all AISH recipients have been assessed by doctors, psychiatrists and other medical professionals to qualify for AISH in the first place, and questions why the government would lump all of them together rather than looking at each individual on a case-by-case basis.
19-18
our ucp are nasty, petty, gross and disgusting. this egregious attack on the vulnerable, especially in the light of how they routinely line the pocket of the utmost wealthiest is yet another low for them; meanwhile, how they have merrily allowed wealthy oil folk to leave their toxic abandoned wells and ground and water pollution to us little people creates an impressive juxtaposition.
i agree. I know a person that lost the letter confirming they are getting X number of dollars, but has lost that confirmation letter before the “due date” to send it in. However, this person did finally send that letter out, only to still get the $200 deducted, but got the $200 Federal check a week earlier. This is so, so very wrong, I agree. To put it in perspective, some calculations were made. Approximately 80 000 people (rounded up) in Alberta receive AISH. That means the Federal government has doled out $16 million just for Alberta, and that’s how much Smith has taken away from the Alberta budget. But as the question was asked. “Where did it go”?
The UCP are heartless and cruel when dealing with anyone they feel cannot fight back or, if they do, their voices won’t be heard. They are the anti Robin Hood…steal from the poor to give to the rich.
yes, where has the $16 million been allocated to now?
Alberta taxpayers will pony up $14 million for the planning and development of an application for a pipeline thru to Northern B.C. Maybe there? Remember the UCP Jason Kenney boondoggle of the frittering of $1. something billion on a pipeline going south which fizzled. And folks actually, incredibly, keep voting for this tommyrot?!