AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) is Alberta’s monthly income for adults whose severe disability permanently prevents them from working. It arrives by direct deposit 4 business days before the 1st, so the money you get late in one month is for the month ahead.
AISH, the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) and Income Support share the same payment dates. If you moved to ADAP in July 2026, your deposit day did not change.
Which month does each deposit pay for?
Each deposit pays for the month that starts right after it. The September 24 deposit is your October benefit, and the October 27 deposit is your November benefit.
December needs the most planning. The December 22 deposit is your January money, so it has to last until the end of January.
How much you’ll get
| Who | Monthly amount |
|---|---|
| Single person on AISH | $1,940 |
| Single person on ADAP | $1,740 |
| ADAP transition benefit (moved from AISH in July 2026) | $200 extra, until December 31, 2027 |
| Couple, both on AISH | $1,708 each |
| Couple, both on ADAP | $1,532 each |
| Child benefit | $300 first child, $117 second, $88 third, $59 fourth, $30 each additional |
| Living in a facility (modified allowance) | $373 personal allowance, plus accommodation up to $2,527 (private room) or $2,186 (shared) |
The AISH rate rose to $1,940 on January 1, 2026. The couple rates and new child rates started with the August 2026 benefit. The $200 transition benefit is not cut for couples.
Example 1: You were moved from AISH to ADAP in July. You get $1,740 plus the $200 transition benefit, so $1,940 a month, the same as before, until December 2027.
Example 2: You are single on AISH and earn $500 a month after deductions. The first $350 is exempt. The other $150 comes off your AISH, so you get $1,790 from AISH plus your $500 pay.
What changed in July 2026
ADAP started on July 2, 2026. There is now one application for both programs, and Alberta places you in the one that fits. AISH clients stayed on AISH automatically if they:
- were 60 or older
- had a palliative or terminal condition
- lived in a continuing care home
- had a severe and profound developmental disability, or qualified for Persons with Developmental Disabilities services
Most other AISH clients moved to ADAP. They can stay on ADAP or apply to go back to AISH at any time, and the government pays for one medical assessment if they do.
The earnings rules also changed. This is what you can earn each month before your benefit goes down:
| Client type | Earn before your benefit drops |
|---|---|
| AISH, single or parent | $350 |
| ADAP, single | $700 |
| ADAP, parent with children | $1,100 |
| Cohabiting partner (AISH or ADAP) | $1,500 |
On AISH, every dollar above $350 comes off your benefit. The older rule that let you keep over $1,000 is gone. On ADAP, earnings above the exempt amount are deducted gradually, and you can earn up to $45,240 a year and still get some benefit. Check new hours with the AISH and ADAP benefit estimator first, and report income on time.
A spouse’s pension income is also treated more gently: the first $1,200 a month is exempt, plus 25% of the rest.
The Canada Disability Benefit: why you must still apply
The Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) is a federal payment of up to $204.20 a month for people aged 18 to 64 who are approved for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).
On the standard AISH or ADAP allowance, the CDB counts as income. Your benefit goes down by the same amount, so your monthly total stays about the same. If you live in a facility on modified AISH, the CDB is exempt and you keep all of it.
You still have to apply. AISH clients who don’t apply for the CDB, or don’t report the result, have their benefit cut by $200 a month. ADAP clients must also report when their CDB or DTC is approved or denied.
- File your tax return.
- Apply for the DTC. A medical practitioner fills in part 2.
- Apply for the CDB online or at 1-833-486-3007.
- Report the result through the web form at alberta.ca/aish, by phone or at your office.
If a doctor charges for the DTC form, AISH can pay the fee up front, but you repay it. The federal government is also sending a one-time $150 CDB payment to help with that cost, with no application needed.
Who qualifies
- You are 18 or older and not yet eligible for Old Age Security (OAS).
- You live in Alberta and are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- For AISH, your severe disability permanently prevents you from working. For ADAP, it significantly restricts work but doesn’t prevent it.
- For AISH, your non-exempt assets are $100,000 or less.
- You apply for other income you may qualify for, such as CPP disability and the CDB.
How to apply
- Fill in the combined application at dia.alberta.ca.
- For help, call Alberta Supports at 1-877-644-9992 or 211, or visit an AISH office.
- If you are on ADAP and your health changes, ask for an AISH assessment.
Payment late, missing or different?
Your deposit comes before the 1st, not on it. If it hasn’t arrived by the end of the scheduled day, check with your bank, then call your caseworker or Alberta Supports at 1-877-644-9992 (Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 8 pm). Cheques are mailed 6 business days before the 1st, so allow for mail, or ask to switch to direct deposit.
If the amount changed, common reasons are earnings above your exempt amount, your CDB now being counted, the $200 cut for an unreported CDB result, the new couple or child rates, or an overpayment being taken back.
The government never asks for fees, gift cards or passwords by text or email to release a payment. If someone does, hang up and call the number above.
Other help you might be missing
- ADAP payment dates: the full guide if you were moved to ADAP.
- Alberta Child and Family Benefit: parents on AISH can still get it, and it doesn’t reduce AISH.
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: the renamed GST/HST credit, paid when you file your taxes.
- CPP disability: if you paid into CPP, you must apply. It counts as income for AISH.
Common questions
Why did my AISH payment come early?
It isn’t early. AISH is always deposited 4 business days before the 1st, and that deposit is for the coming month.
Is ADAP paid on the same day as AISH?
Yes. AISH, ADAP and Income Support use one schedule.
How much can I earn on AISH in 2026?
Since July 2, 2026, a single person or parent on AISH can earn $350 a month with no change. Every dollar above that comes off AISH.
Does the Canada Disability Benefit reduce AISH?
Yes, for most people, by the same amount, so your total stays the same. People on modified AISH in a facility keep the full CDB.
What happens to AISH at 65?
AISH and ADAP end once you can get OAS. Apply for OAS, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and the Alberta Seniors Benefit before your birthday.
