AISH Alberta 2026 — Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped

Alberta's Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program provides monthly financial and health benefits to eligible adult Albertans with a permanent medical condition. In 2026, AISH pays a flat $1,685/month — one of the highest provincial disability rates in Canada. AISH recipients also receive personal benefits covering health, dental, optical, and other disability-related costs.

  AISH 2026: Living allowance: $1,685/month | Personal benefit: up to $1,105/month (for health costs, personal needs) | Couple supplement: $1,014/month if cohabiting partner | Employment earnings exemption: $1,072/month | No asset test for the living allowance

AISH Benefit Estimator

Do you have a cohabiting partner? Monthly gross employment earnings ($) Other monthly income (CPP, EI, pension, etc.) ($)

AISH Monthly Amounts (2026)

Benefit Component	Amount	Notes
Living allowance	$1,685/month	Flat rate for all eligible recipients
Cohabiting partner supplement	$1,014/month	When living with a partner
Personal benefit (max)	$1,105/month	For health, dental, optical, personal needs
Child benefit (per child)	$196/month	For dependent children

AISH Eligibility Requirements

Alberta resident (living in AB for at least 3 months)
Age 18 or older (under 65 — at 65 you transition to federal supports)
Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person
Have a permanent medical condition that substantially limits your ability to earn a living and is not likely to improve with treatment
Financial need (income and asset test for the full personal benefit)

Asset Limits

AISH has no asset limit for the basic $1,685/month living allowance — Alberta removed asset tests for the living allowance in recent reforms. However, the personal benefit component does have income testing. RDSP balances are fully exempt from all AISH calculations.

Employment Earnings Exemption

AISH recipients can earn up to $1,072/month from employment without any reduction in benefits. This is designed to support workforce participation. Earnings above $1,072/month reduce AISH dollar-for-dollar. This creates a strong incentive for part-time work — earning up to $1,072 means total income of up to $2,757/month for a single recipient.

AISH Personal Benefits

The personal benefit (up to $1,105/month) covers a wide range of needs:

Dental care
Optical care and glasses
Prescription medications
Medical supplies and equipment
Personal needs (hygiene, clothing)
Transportation for medical appointments
Telephone and utilities
Funeral expenses

AISH and the Alberta Advantage

Alberta has no provincial income tax on amounts under $148,269 for 2026, and the flat 10% provincial tax rate is the lowest of any province. AISH payments themselves are not taxable income. Combined with the Disability Tax Credit, AISH recipients in Alberta often have a very low overall tax burden.

How to Apply for AISH

Contact an AISH office — locations at alberta.ca/aish — or call 1-877-644-9992
Complete the AISH application form
Have your physician complete the Medical Assessment Report
Provide financial information (income, assets, housing)
Submit and await decision — processing time typically 6–16 weeks
Appeal to the AISH Panel within 30 days if denied

AISH vs. CPP Disability

Many Albertans receive both AISH and CPP Disability. CPP Disability payments reduce AISH dollar-for-dollar (other income deduction). However, the net total income is often higher than either alone. For example: CPP Disability $1,100/month reduces AISH from $1,685 to $585/month, for a total of $1,685 — but with the valuable personal benefits package on top.

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Informational only. AISH rates set by Alberta government. Verify at alberta.ca/aish. Last updated March 2026.