Minister asks feds to raise rent top up threshold, says thousands of Albertans on AISH ineligible

Alberta is asking the federal government to adjust the income requirement for its one-time rent supplement benefit, saying the current cap leaves tens of thousands of Albertans with disabilities ineligible.

The Government of Canada opened applications Monday for the one-time payment of $500 as part of the Canada Housing Benefit (CHB) program – to help low-income renters as rental rates 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 its website.

Applicants must also spend at least 30 percent of their adjusted net income on shelter to qualify for the $500 benefit.

Global News heard from several individuals who receive Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) supports, saying that because they were getting slightly more than $20,000 a year, they were denied this federal benefit. However, they all said they paid well over 30 percent of their income on rent — one person said they spent 73 percent of their monthly income on shelter.

Alberta’s Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services sent a letter to the federal Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion on Wednesday, asking them to address the criteria fit.

“Insured Income for the Severely Disabled (AISH) currently provides $1,685 per month, which will soon be increased starting January 1, 2023,” wrote Jeremy Nixon.

“Alberta has one of the highest disability payments across Canada, but it appears the federal government believes it is too high.

“For tens of thousands of Albertans on AISH, they receive $20,220, which does not qualify them for the benefit,” he said. “We are taking this opportunity to ask the Government of Canada to raise the $20,000 threshold to allow Albertans living with disabilities access to this benefit.

“This inflationary crisis is hurting millions of Albertans, and they need help. It is important that those living with disabilities are not left out.”

Global News previously reached out to the federal government for comment and the Office of the Federal Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion and CMHC issued a joint response.

“This measure is a supplement to the already existing CHB, which includes the Canada-Alberta housing benefit. This federally led, and jointly funded program is administered directly to Albertans in need of 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 wrap-around support is provided for those who continue to face serious barriers in this country.”

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Canada Housing Benefit one-time supplement for low-income renters starts Monday

“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.”

Kaeleigh Kaufman, 60, was one of the Albertans on AISH who applied for the $500 on Monday and had her application denied.

“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,” she said.

“All severely and permanently disabled Albertans who rely solely on AISH should have the exact same net annual income as me… This means that all permanently and severely disabled individuals, citizens of Alberta, have been denied the $500 one-time rent supplement.

“I’m not saying it’s a case of open discrimination; I say this is gross oversight,” Kaufman said. “I don’t think they did their homework.”

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, would go to repair deficits and pay down debt to pay for basic necessities.”

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