Learn more about Alberta’s disability programs, benefits, and credits including:
- Alberta Aids in Daily Living (AADL)
- Assured Income for Severely Handicapped (AISH)
- Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities
People with disabilities – https://www.alberta.ca/disability-supports
Financial support and assistance, health benefits, service dogs, daily living and housing supports.
Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL)
Website: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-aids-to-daily-living
About This Program
The Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) program helps Albertans with long-term disabilities, chronic illness, or terminal illness. The program provides funding for basic medical equipment and supplies so clients can live independently at home and within their communities.
Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) is available to any Albertan resident with a long-term disability, chronic illness, or terminal illness. To be eligible for funding, you must first be clinically assessed by an AADL-approved health care provider, such as a registered nurse, occupational therapist, or physiotherapist, who are also called AADL authorizers. Authorizers determine your health care needs, identify the equipment and supplies required to support you and act as your primary guide through the program. Once you are authorized for benefit funding, an AADL-approved vendor – the store that provides medical equipment and supplies – will help provide the benefit and collect your cost-share portion for the benefit, if applicable.
Note: AADL does not provide coverage for foot orthotics, eyeglasses, prescription drugs, and dental care or dentures.
Eligibility for AADL
You may be eligible for benefits through AADL if you:
- are an Alberta resident with a valid Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan card
- require assistance because of a long-term disability, chronic illness or terminal illness (long-term and chronic are defined as being 6 months or longer)
Who is not eligible for AADL:
You may not be eligible for AADL benefits if you are eligible to receive comparable benefits from another source, including:
- Veterans Affairs (if you are a veteran who needs help because of a medical condition from active duty)
- Workers’ Compensation Board
- Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Directorate, First Nations and Inuit Branch, Health Canada. People who have treaty status on or off a reserve receive assistance from NIHBwith their medical equipment and supplies
- If a benefit is not available through NIHB, and if clients are eligible for AADL, then AADL benefits can be accessed.
- a private insurance plan
How to Apply/Application
https://www.alberta.ca/aadl-eligibility-and-application-for-benefits
Contact Information
Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
Website: https://www.alberta.ca/aish
About This Program
Financial and health benefits for eligible Albertans with a permanent medical condition that prevents them from earning a living.
Eligibility
- You have a medical condition that substantially limits your ability to earn a living.
- Your medical condition is likely to remain permanent.
- There is no medical treatment, therapy, rehabilitation or training available that will help improve your ability to earn a living.
- 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 some mental health facilities such as Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
- You meet financial eligibility criteria.
Find out more about AISH eligibility: https://www.alberta.ca/aish-eligibility
What You May Get
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
Find out more about what you get with AISH: https://www.alberta.ca/aish-what-you-get
How to Apply/Application
https://www.alberta.ca/aish-how-to-apply
Contact Information
Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities
About This Program
The Alberta Grant for Students with Disabilities of up to $3,000 per loan year may be available if you have a documented disability (persistent or prolonged disability) to help you with exceptional education-related costs such as: assistive services, equipment, or specialized transportation related to your disability.
- If assistive equipment is requested, provide a copy of an estimate/quote from the vendor for the equipment. For assistive services requests, a cost breakdown is required.
- If you receive funds for assistive services/equipment, you must submit your receipts before your study period ends to show the funds were used as intended. Write your Application ID, Alberta Student Number, and your name on each receipt. Any unused funds must be returned to Alberta Student Aid.
How to Apply/Application
https://studentaid.alberta.ca/resources/applications-and-forms/
