Has anyone tried reapplying for AISH after being transferred to ADAP? Were you approved, rejected or are you still waiting for a reply?
Sooo on July 29 I spoke with a lady at AISH saying they want to update my file and need a couple things like bank statements, 2024 notice of assessment. She told me to just email it all. So that’s what I did. And my payment would be released the following Wednesday. Well, Wednesday rolls around, nothing. I try calling every hour but it just hangs up. Called every day. Finally Monday I’m able to get through to find out they never received the email!!! And now they want MORE information. But here’s the kicker, she goes “you drive a Dodge Ram” I was like ummm I did back in 2014 when I first applied for AISH, and was turned down due to my ex’s income. (I’ve been on AISH since May ‘16. I was shocked how they had such old information plus, she told me a bunch of my file was lost with the “transition” to ADAP 😧
Is there anything you'd want to share? What else could happen here that would be beneficial?
So, I'm not sure if this has been discussed here or not, but I had a really unpleasant realization about employment income on ADAP. All the UCP's self-congratulatory propaganda about how much extra income clients will be able to pocket by working on ADAP ignores an important regulatory change that recently took effect. Anyone living in subsidized housing in Alberta has had their rent set at 30% of their net income, up from 17%. So every single dollar people manage to earn from working on ADAP will have thirty cents eaten up by rent increases. I did some crude calculations using the ADAP benefit estimator, assuming a pay rate a couple of dollars above minimum wage, and deducting clawbacks, rent increases, and estimated costs associated with working (transportation, meals, clothing, taxes etc.) Long story short, I can look forward to pocketing about $300 a month more than I did on AISH for working a forty hour week. And that assumes that I can even work a full schedule, when the stress of these changes has already seen me being hospitalized twice since April.
Hey All,
Now that I am approved for AISH, I was wondering how backpay would work as my application was put in August of last year and will commence in September?
I was on EI until June, then Alberta works. Medical approval happened in June so I am guessing it would be from that date?
Thanks.
Hi all! Can you help me do simple math? Haha, but seriously... I don't understand what Financial Benefits Summary is saying. I am assuming rental/roommate income when you own a home is 'Passive Business Income' (I assume)
For me, a Single on ADAP: Fully exempt portion is $300.
Exemption (%) on remainder is 25%.
So, if I rent a room for $800... is 75% of the 500 remainder really clawed back?
Would I get to keep $425 a month?
All my other income sources ADAP, Cpp-d, CDB, and the AISH transition benefit which amounts to $1940.
425 +1940 = 2,365
If my math is correct, this is madness. I would need to rent the room for $2000 to get to the $800 mark that would make it worth it.
Please tell me I misunderstood the math. Yikes.
Details: I co-own my home. Damages from this rainy reason led to discovery of cracks and demolition of basement where the co-owner lived (moved in with family). I need to figure out if it's worth it to get roommates... for money to fix the the basement/pay the bills.
I got a email stating the following does this mean I’m approved for Aish?
RE: Appointment to start AISH benefits
We are writing to invite you to attend a commencement meeting to start AISH benefits. The Telephone meeting has been scheduled with an AISH Generalist
Hello, I'm a bit confused on the ADAP employment assistance process, was I supposed to received a phonecall or was I supposed to set something up. Sorry if it's already been asked and answered before I just want to make sure I'm not doing something wrong on my end. I've gotten the letter saying I'm going from AISH to ADAP and I got my new health care as well.
I was moved from AISH to ADAP and I have Progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Well documented with MRI scans by several neurologists including Dr Koch from Calgary Foothills Hospital MS Clinic. Folks at AISH decided I should not be on AISH anymore.
I have acquired two forms from AISH that need to be filled out again by a physician and by me.
Without it I'm not sure wtf this is.
Can I use this as reasoning to apply for MAID? EDIT: MAiD ( Medical (lack of) Assistance in Dying) is a dead end, it was created as a campaign promise/publicity stunt that goes no where.
What is the criteria to be on AISH ?
Any help provided is much appreciated. Call me an idiot, if you must for asking, and quite frankly I have stopped caring about it as I have bigger issues to deal with.
Hey All,
First off, thanks a ton to this community for answering my previous question about timelines, I got my approval this morning, it will be commenced in September.
For My First Question:
I did some reading and apparently you can only make 350 dollars instead of the previous 1000$ before they will claw it back? Or 700$ on ADAP? It seems insane they won't even let you try to work a basic part time job to cover the extreme costs of food and shelter. With my mental health problems it's difficult to leave the house, but I would still like to try in the future.
Second Question that Leads from the First.
There's a monetary benefit from the Metis Nation of Alberta that I am eligible for, is this considered income?
Thanks all, I'm really glad there's this community to reach out to.
Ok, so anyone on AISH knows about ADAP and the somewhat threatening letter they sent us saying we had to seek employment or may lose our financial benefits. I read that and decided (my first mistake apparently was thinking for myself) that I was going to find an employment service to help me with my resume and interview skills etc. So I started in July, I went to the Aspire program at Lifemark vacational for assistance. I went to the orientation and an employment assesment. Only to receieve an email from said company saying they could no longer help me because I have to contact my adap worker and they will decide which employment service I am allowed to access. So now I need a government gatekeeper to tell me where I can go? Well I would like to tell them where to go thank you very much.
This is bad news all around. Firstly where is personal autonomy in this situation? I chose the agency I did because it was not downtown and closer to my house. I was proactive, went into it with enthusiasm and am now being punished for it because the govt doesnt want to pay for me to access services that are available to anyone. That they are requiring me to access.... What?!?!
Either way adap sucks and can kiss my butt.
I feel absolutely helpless with the disabled albertans are being treated. I feel like theres jack shit I can do and myself am on the verge of suicide. Cornered into income support with no help at all.
I have no spoons, zero capacity but I had just enough to write an email to my MLA. If your MLA is specifically NDP then please.. just reach out to them.. your email/protest and voice holds weight... your MLA can use your voice as proof that we do not want this, and help push for reform. Indepndant voices are NOT redundant. Please. Idk what else to do.
I sent this directly to Janis Irwin, my MLA. Ive included a couple others. I fucking hate politics I hate this, I dont know very much, but im doing whatever I can in my power.
****
RE: CONSTITUENT OUTRAGE: Demand Action on ADAP Cuts and the $100M Referendum
Dear MLA Irwin,
I am writing to you as your constituent in the T5B 4C1 area. I am absolutely disgusted and profoundly dissatisfied with the current provincial priorities, and I am demanding that you take this fury directly to the floor of the Legislature.
It is completely unacceptable that the UCP cabinet is spending up to $100 million on a political referendum while simultaneously stripping vital financial support from disabled Albertans.
The transition from AISH to the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) is an act of systemic cruelty. Cutting base benefits by $200 a month for people already living below the poverty line is forcing vulnerable citizens into absolute despair. Community advocates have already linked five tragic deaths by suicide directly to the financial panic and impossible work compliance rules caused by this policy.
The government trying to frame this as an independent mental health issue or a fiscal adjustment is a complete insult. This is a structural crisis manufactured entirely by UCP policies. Offering an employment program or a crisis helpline does not pay rent or buy medication.
It is sickening to watch millions of taxpayer dollars poured into political theater while disabled people are literally dying because of budget cuts. The UCP is treating human beings like line items on a spreadsheet to be reduced or eliminated.
As my representative, I want you to demand the following actions from the Premier and the Minister:
Halt the transition to ADAP entirely and permanently.
Restore full, unconditional AISH funding to every individual forced onto this track.
Defund the referendum and redirect those resources directly back into provincial social safety nets.
I am carbon-copying the Premier and the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services on this email so they see exactly what their policies are doing to people in our community. I expect you to use your platform to voice this outrage and hold them accountable for these catastrophic policy decisions.
Sincerely,
(My legal name) - an outraged citizen
****
I know it seems redundant maybe, but please... just dont do nothing.
They have sent out letters in July and August to groups of people informing them that they were “selected” to take part in employment services during the upcoming month. They will clearly be sending out letters to groups each month for the next few years as they work through the entire list of people.
It would be great to know what determines when someone is “selected” and contacted. Do they have some criteria that they are working off to decide who goes first, or is it completely random? Are they drawing names out each month, or have the contact dates for everyone all been determined already?
If it’s the latter, then it would be preferable to know when one’s contact date is, especially those with anxiety. That would be preferable to waiting until the end of each month and dreading checking the mail. If I wasn’t too anxious to talk to people on the phone, I would call them and ask them about this. If those who didn’t mind phone calls did call and ask, I wonder what sort of answers they would get.
It would be easy to be able to email them, but they don’t seem to be responding to that.
They're still accepting new applications under the old criteria, they Definitely would've been on adap.
I'm a little bitter, none of this makes sense. They moved everyone because they, didn't get reassessment done, when A) they didn't have new criteria out. And B) are still accepting /approving new participants under the Old criteria.. so in What way did it make sense to move everyone. If people who applied for aish Would have been moved if they were on it before the July 1 move date. None of it makes sense. I'm wondering if people who planned any of this are on drugs ..I wouldn't put it past .
It doesn't make sense, any way except ..a Lot of people royally screwed up.. theres supposed to be a second criteria, wsrs going to Month 3 after the date. They're accepting people under old criteria still, no mention of being moved.. Whatsoever. Period .
This whole thing is sketchy, hodgepodge. And I Bet, it'll be gutted as a failure, was there just to save some money in short run ..screwing a Lot of people around.. and over.
Like many others I’m still missing my August AISH payment 🥲 I’ve phoned and emailed and still nothing. Now with my emails I’m no longer getting the automatic reply email saying “Please consider this message a confirmation we have received the documents you have submitted.” Now I’m worried my emails aren’t going through! I’m sending to calgaryaish@gov.ab.ca plus css.calgaryaish@gov.ab.ca so I’m not sure if now I’ve got the wrong email address even though it’s worked fine before to give me the automated reply email. Anyone else having this problem?
I've formally asked the Alberta government to provide to me, in writing, a breakdown of the criteria used and the medical information which is considered in moving clients from AISH to ADAP. I've also requested the name of the authority who signs off on the decision.
It is my belief that the Alberta government has moved people from AISH to ADAP under an arbitrary criteria which does not consider any medical information, despite them having full access to medical files.
I believe that they are simply looking for any opportunity they can eventually cut people off completely on a mass scale from supports and are using ADAP as a sweeping measure to do so.
Sidenote, if you haven't had to fill a prescription and you have dependents, you may wanna call Blue Cross and make sure they're still actually covered. The UCP fucked up that transition too.
I am wondering for those who had applied for Aish what their time frame was from being medically approved to being contacted by the financial review team.
I have been waiting 6 weeks since medical approval, and haven't been able to get an answer. It feels like my life is on hold.
No money yet 😢 for August’s payment.
Anyone else still waiting?