AISH changes will help, not harm: Nixon

By Lethbridge Herald on September 6, 2025.

Alexandra Noad
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Government of Alberta is working on creating a new disability benefit for those with permanent disabilities who are able to work, without being penalized for earning money.

Jason Nixon, minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services, along with Marika Giesen, acting assistant deputy minister of Employment and Financial Services, held a virtual town hall Friday to listen to concerns and answer questions about the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP).

The meeting opened with words of support from Greg McMeekin, Alberta’s Advocate for Persons with Disabilities, and Jacob McGregor, chair of the Premier’s Council of the Status of Persons with Disabilities.

Giessen said ADAP will begin July 2026 with a new lower base pay to reflect their ability to supplement their income through employment.

“It is proposed that clients receive a maximum monthly living allowance of $1740, a rate that is higher than most provinces and $200 lower than the maximum Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) rate, reflecting ADAP’s clients greater opportunity to supplement income through employment.”

In July 2026, everyone who is currently on AISH will be transferred to ADAP, with those who are are incapable of working being transferred back to AISH. To help with this transition, all clients on ADAP will receive a monthly transition benefit to keep their financial benefit the same as it currently is at $1901 per month until December 2027.

Those who wish to remain on AISH will have a choice to be re-evaluated until December 2027. However, beginning next July, any income beyond $350 will be deducted dollar for dollar for those on AISH as it is designed for those who are unable to work.

Giessen said those with certain medical conditions may qualify for a rapid reassessment and approval back into AISH.

“We know that amongst our current AISH clients, we have a cohort of individuals with severe and profound disabilities for whom there is no ability to work. We want to make sure we are identifying those individuals and we will be consulting with medical experts to help determine how to approach the reassessment process.”

Nixon said ADAP was created because Albertans with disabilities have been asking for a new program, one that does not penalize them for working.

“The reality is that Alberta does not want to see people have to choose between getting supports and having an opportunity to pursue meaningful careers, we don’t want to see people punished for participating in the workforce and not being able to undertake opportunities they may want to take because they are in a one-size-fits-all program.”

Currently on AISH, clients are able to make $1,072 per month after taxes before it is clawed back at 50 cents to the dollar. The maximum amount clients can make with AISH is $3,328. On ADAP, clients will receive an unknown decrease beginning at just $350, but they will be able to earn a maximum amount of $3,750 with the ADAP financial benefit.

One key difference between the current AISH program and ADAP is those on ADAP will not lose their health benefits if they make over the maximum amount, whereas currently those making over the maximum $3,328 lose their benefits after three consecutive months of earnings.

Nixon stressed that those who are currently receiving AISH will not lose their disability benefits.

He added that regardless of which program clients are in, they will continue to receive disability support.

“I have to stress the decision by the Alberta government to invest $185 million of this budget alone into this space is really unprecedented and I think really shows the commitment of the Alberta government to want to invest significantly in helping individuals who want to pursue employment within the disability community.”

An online survey on the new program will be available until Tuesday at www.alberta.ca/alberta-disability-assistance-program-engagement