A 60-year-old woman who relies on provincial and federal disability benefits says she and other Albertans like her are not eligible for the federal government’s one-time rent supplement payment.
Kaeleigh Kaufman has had to rely on Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and CPP-D since June 2011, when she says she became chronically ill.
She receives $20,325 per year – monthly CPP-D payments federally supplemented up to a limit by AISH provincially.
But that means her net income for 2021 exceeds the rent supplement criteria by $325 annually.
“Which comes to $27 a month … That’s two jugs of milk, a loaf of bread and some sandwich meat,” Kaufman said.
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Some Canadians can apply for a one-time rent supplement starting Monday. Here’s what to know
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Some Canadians can apply for a one-time rent supplement starting Monday. Here’s what to know
The Government of Canada opened applications Monday for the one-time supplement as part of the Canada Housing Benefit (CHB) program — an initiative that will put $500 in the pockets of low-income renters as rental costs rise across the country.
To qualify, renter families must have a net income of less than $35,000 a year, or renter individuals must make less than $20,000, according to a government statement on the website.
Applicants must also spend at least 30 percent of their adjusted net income on shelter to qualify for the $500 benefit.
Kaufman said since a rent increase in April, she has spent 51 percent of her net income on rent. Her rent is scheduled to go up again in January, meaning she will spend 60 percent of her income on rent, she said.
“In Alberta, nobody pays 30 per cent on their rent. We’re looking at 50, 60, 70 percent of income going to rent.”
After reading about the planned eligibility requirements for the supplement, Kaufman sent an email to the premier and several ministers weeks ago about the Alberta revenue issue. She also sent copies of her correspondence to Premier Danielle Smith and Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley.
On the one hand, it’s good that severely disabled Albertans can receive slightly more support each year (through the AISH supplement) than other Canadians, says Kaufman, but on the other hand, it means they can’t get the one-time federal payment. .
“I’m not saying it’s a case of open discrimination; I say this is gross oversight,” she said. “I don’t think they did their homework.”
“They chose to do it at Christmas time. Do you know what a sucker punch feels like?
“If (people on AISH) knew about this one-time supplement — $500! – and then they discovered they were $300 over? Now they know what a sucker punch feels like.”
The Office of the Federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion and CMHC provided a joint statement to Global News.
“We know that for many Canadians it is becoming more difficult to afford rent or to find affordable housing. That’s why the Government of Canada is providing a new, direct federal one-time supplement to the CHB to nearly two million renters who are struggling with the cost of housing.
“As mentioned, this measure is a supplement to the already existing CHB, which includes the Canada-Alberta Housing Benefit. This federally led, jointly funded program is administered directly to Albertans who need rental assistance, based on low income determined by criteria available on the Government of Alberta website.
The statement emphasized that the measures are not stand-alone programs and the federal government will continue to add support through the National Housing Strategy.
“These programs help support the most vulnerable communities, including persons with disabilities across Alberta and across Canada. Many of these housing initiatives by the NHS involve important and mandatory accessibility criteria, to ensure that inclusive housing support is provided for those who continue to face serious barriers in this country.
“The Government of Canada has also re-introduced the framework legislation to create the historic Canada Disability Benefit, an income supplement for Canadians with disabilities of working age.
“The Government of Canada will continue to work with those who raise important concerns to ensure that our programs can be best tailored to support the needs of Albertans and Canadians who need it most.”
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Kaufman expects many other vulnerable Albertans are in the same position.
“All severely and permanently disabled Albertans who rely solely on AISH must have the exact same net annual income as me, which is $20,325.
“This means that all permanently and severely disabled individuals, citizens of Alberta, have been denied the $500 one-time rental supplement.”
She said people on fixed incomes often have to choose between shelter and food or paying rent and buying medicine.
“That $500, if it came to me today, it would go to deficit repair and pay down debt to pay for basic necessities,” Kaufman said.
“I’m not the only vulnerable Canadian who was looking forward to a $500 bonus during the Christmas season.
“Nor am I the only vulnerable Canadian citizen who will suffer deep disappointment when they learn that a slight excess in their minor disability/senior benefit disqualifies them from much-needed relief.”
Another woman on AISH who reached out to Global News said her application for the $500 benefit was also denied.
Kathy, who did not want her last name used, said her annual income on disability is $20,220, which puts her over the federal program’s cutoff by $220. She called the CRA and was told that if she was at all over the limit — even by $1 — the application would be denied immediately.
She thinks exceptions should be made, especially when people pay the majority of their income on rent. In her case, $1,167 of the $1,600 she gets monthly goes toward rent.
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Kaufman, who has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta, said the larger issue here is how Canada as a country and society values human life, human contribution and how it chooses to support its most vulnerable citizens.
“There is no way that a disability allowance of $1,700 payable to permanently ill/disabled citizens can ever be enough to meet the basic needs of life.”
She described those basic needs as “a healthy diet; appropriate medicinal/psychological supports; secure, private, functional shelter; telephone, cable, internet, clothing, haircuts, personal/household supplies and transportation.”
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
