Advocates say Alberta is ‘clawing back’ disability benefits, but officials say that’s not the case

People who receive AISH benefits say Alberta is planning to confiscate money they should be receiving from a new federal disability benefit.

Groups that support Albertans with disabilities continue to raise concerns that the province plans to “claw back” the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) from residents receiving the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH).

But the province says no one will receive less money than they currently do.

• Sign up for breaking news alerts from CTV News, right at your fingertips
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

Inclusion Alberta said Thursday that Alberta “is the only provincial government to have announced that it will claw back the CDB.”

The benefit, expected to start payments in June 2025, is intended to support low-income Canadians with disabilities.

Inclusion Alberta’s Edmonton Region vice-president Braden Mole, who receives AISH, said the loss of access to the full federal benefit would significantly impact his ability to afford basic needs.

“The housing allowance alone that MLAs receive is $299 per month more than my total monthly income on AISH,” he said. “Receiving the CDB would have provided me with more money for groceries and other essentials. It’s not very noble, what the government is doing right now.”

AISH recipient Kavin Sheikheldin told CTV News she feels the province’s decision is unfair and directly harmful to vulnerable Albertans.

“I don’t think it’s right or fair what they’re doing, especially to vulnerable Albertans who need and deserve this benefit,” Sheikheldin said. “With my special diet—I have celiac disease—my groceries are quite expensive. Even $200 extra would help.”

Sheikheldin said she receives about $2,000 monthly through AISH, which includes a supplement for her dietary needs, but it doesn’t go far.

“Rent is around $1,700, and then there’s food,” she said. “The money doesn’t stretch far enough.”

Sheikheldin believes the government is taking advantage of people who may struggle to advocate for themselves.

“Vulnerable people usually don’t have the capacity to speak up for themselves. I think that’s why they think no one will complain and they can do whatever they want.”

She urged the province to stop treating federal benefits as income that reduces provincial support.

“We need this benefit to help us with other expenses. Even though $200 is still insufficient, we at least need it for our basic needs like groceries.”

The Alberta government, however, maintains that AISH recipients will not receive less support once the CDB is introduced.

In a statement, Ashley Stevenson, press secretary for Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon, said the province’s support already exceeds most others.

“At $1,901 per month, AISH’s core benefit rate is $533 higher than Ontario’s equivalent program rate, $515 higher than Saskatchewan’s, $417 higher than B.C.’s, and $554 higher than Manitoba’s,” Stevenson said.

She added that AISH recipients are also offered over $400 in additional monthly personal and medical benefits, and the program will see a two per cent indexed increase this year. The province considers the CDB as non-exempt income, which means it will be deducted from provincial payments.

“AISH recipients will continue to receive the same overall monthly support that they do today,” Stevenson said.

But advocates and recipients like Sheikheldin say that’s not good enough.

“The government should implement a policy to prevent claw backs from any federal benefits,” she said.

“We deserve more than what we’re being given.”