If you’ve been following my coverage of the 2022–2023 budget for Alberta, you’re probably already familiar with the fact that the UCP government released their latest budget late last month.
This is their fourth budget since being elected, and it will be likely be their last budget before the election.
As you may already know, I’ve covered jobs, revenue, postsecondary, health, and K–12 education. Today, I want to talk about Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, otherwise known as AISH.
When the UCP dropped their first budget in October 2019, they predicted that by the time the 2022–2023 budget year rolled around, they’d be paying $1.399 billion to fund operating expenses for the AISH programme.
The following spring, they bumped that number to $1.441 billion. Since then, however, that number has kept dropping.
Last spring, the UCP government cut that forecast down to $1.426 billion. And last month, they cut down even more, to $1.371 billion.
Not only is that less than what they predicted last year and the year before, it’s even less than the lowball target they forecasted back in the autumn of 2019.
To be fair, though, the government has increased the overall budget for the community and social services ministry, which is responsible for administering the AISH programme.
Here’s how 2022–2023 funding for the various CSS programmes has changed since the original target set in October 2019 and the new estimate announced just month.
| Original | New | Change | % change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry support services | $12 | $15 | $3 | 25.0% |
| Employment & income support | $790 | $813 | $23 | 2.9% |
| AISH | $1,399 | $1,371 | -$28 | -2.0% |
| Disability services | $1,378 | $1,392 | $14 | 1.0% |
| Homeless & outreach support services | $197 | $193 | -$4 | -2.0$ |
| Community supports & family safety | $134 | $138 | $4 | 2.9% |
| $3,910 | $3,923 | $13 | 0.3% |
Looks like AISH and homeless/outreach programmes are the only ones taking a hit this year, compared to their original targets, losing $28 million and $4 million, respectively.
Now, let’s take a look at programme funding over the last 4 years, compared to the NDP’s last budget, in 2018–2019.
| 2018–2019 | 2022–2023 | Change | % change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry support services | $13 | $15 | $2 | 15.4% |
| Employment & income support | $921 | $813 | -$108 | -11.7% |
| AISH | $1,142 | $1,371 | $229 | 20.0% |
| Disability services | $1,241 | $1,392 | $151 | 12.2% |
| Homeless & outreach support services | $196 | $193 | -$3 | -2.5$ |
| Community supports & family safety | $120 | $138 | $18 | 15.0% |
| $3,634 | $3,923 | $289 | 7.9% |
Here, we see a significant increase in spending for AISH, compared to where the NDP left it, with an additional $229 million, a 20% jump.
Now before we get too excited about the UCP being generous, there is another figure we should keep in mind.
In December 2018, CSS had a total AISH client caseload of 61,555. Another 3 years later, in December 2021, that number was at 70,186. That’s an increase of 14.02%, or an average annual increase of 4.67%.
So, the 20% increase isn’t really a 20% increase when you consider that the number of people receiving that new $1.271 billion also went up.
Let’s look at this another way.
At 61,555 AISH recipients in 2018–2019, that $1.142 billion in funding would work out to about $18,553 per case.
Assuming last year’s caseload of 70,186 remains the same this year, then the 2022–2023 ASH budget of $1.371 billion would have a per case amount of $19,534.
That’s an increase of about $981, or 5.29% Over a 4-year period. And if this year’s caseload increases, then that amount will drop.
On a related note, Alberta’s consumer price index increased from 140.6 in 2018 to 149.3 in 2021, a 6.19% increase. And that’s not including any increases seen in 2022.
So, the per case bump of 5.29% isn’t even enough to cover inflation increases, which means AISH recipients will find it even harder to make ends meet than they did 4 years ago, even though, theoretically, they’re receiving more funding.
12 replies on “New UCP budget scales back AISH increases”
Hi Kim,
Thank you for your support and reporting on AISH. I would just point out (though you know but some readers probably won’t) that your last paragraph doesn’t specifically state that the bump goes to services and not to AISH income support cheques. I think it’s important for the public to understand since Redfords 400 a month increase in 2012, benefit rate (support cheques) since then had a one time increase of 97 dollars from the NDP which did very little at the time.
I had a few discussions with Dr. Swann in 2017 – 2018 about increases in benefit rates before the NDP increase. He had determined at that time the rate should have been moved up to the 2000 to 2400 a month rate. The benefit rate was depending if you were able to work and receive the 400 dollars of income allowed. He was disappointed with the NDP rate increase proposal at the time knowing it would make very little impact.
It been 5 years since then and we gave seen an increase in the usage of our food banks and homelessness. In 2019 (Kenney) Edmonton had over 1000 citizens homeless, today over 3000. It would be in the public interest and the the people on AISH to know how those two stats breakdown and how many AISH people were evicted, are couch surfer or had to make other living arrangements.
Conservative parties pride themselves of having “Christian Core Values”. Helping the the wealthy and not aiding the the poor doesn’t get any more Christian than not taxing the churches. It pure bullshit.
Having said all that I many of us won’t make it even to the next election (even if the NDP win with a hopeful majority). And increasing the rate 30 to 150.00 won’t catch us up so we can be indexed from then on. An increase to 2400 a month (many of us can’t live with others due to mental issues while other may be single parents or the only one to support their family). With this increase ( depending on which town or city you live in) and a cost of living index would achieve what the program should achieve, protect our most vulnerable.
just wondering if the aish is going to go up with all the food rent and bills how are we post to make it buy when it going get header and don’t have much left after the bills are payed and left just to have 2 grocery shopping and leve us with 2 buck to make it to appalments not much for cab or buss to get round just saying please let me know hop i am not saying nothing rong
Politicians of all moral strips can be found in every party. Although the UCP seems to attract the neoliberals, and as we know neoliberal economics seems to make sense, but has only been good at transferring wealth to the top while creating poverty everywhere else. When Travis Toews saw the incredible increase in fuel prices, he didn’t think, “Wow! We can re-index AISH or, help the homeless”, his first thoughts were for incentives for business. Knocking 13 cents off a liter of fuel will bring in a lot of votes, but it could have done a lot to help the homeless, seniors, and those on AISH. Toews bragged that Alberta has the lowest tax rates in the country, and if Alberta taxed as much as Ontario, we would have a 16 billion dollar surplus. Well, Ontario seems to be humming right along, so why not tax like Ontario and have a 16 billion dollar surplus? Imagine all of the help you could give to the vulnerable citizens in our community, with money left over for infrastructure.
Personally I think the increased profit on a barrel of oil is indirect War Profiteering. For the current oil prices to be so high, many vulnerable people are suffering. IMO the only way to clean the blood from the oil is to help vulnerable people.
Where your first thoughts go, reveal your character. When you win a million dollars, do you instantly think “I am going to help my starving family, or I am going to buy a Jet ski”?
Travis Toews first thoughts seemingly were, I am going to buy some votes, 13 cents at a time.
I would like to further mention.. a person who applies for AISH. Must also apply for CPPD. If the person qualified for CPPD. Aish program will deduct that amount dollar for dollar. So either way. Jason Kenny has ensured those with disabilities.. suffer even more hardships. With little hope.. and they wonder why threats are made to them. Or suicides increase.
As someone who is an AISH recipient, I can tell you that with the going rate of a 1 bedroom being $1000 a month, the increase on power cost, increases on food, hell everything is increasing. If I did not have a spouse who works we would be on the street. But even a boost in spousal earnings would help, I mean 2600/mo is only a little above minimum wage, plus any increase to CPPD is taken from AISH. Think about what you spend on things and tell me if you could survive and have any quality of life on $1600 / month. Trust me if I could work I would, I did work….
However I would like to state that AISH is higher than any other provinces disability programs.
I am in the same boat, rent increased, grocery bill is 30% higher, struggling on a monthly basis, I get Cppd, and Aish tops me up, every year Cppd increases with the index, aish has not Increased, soon I will be priced out of Aish and therefore I will have no health benefits putting me in a very bad position as I cannot afford the $300 of medication I take each month.
I am on AISH due to diagnosis of Schizophrenia but I am not like others who just want to stay stagnant and live in self indulge and dip in self pity. No. I seek out support and balance my work schedule to fit the bill for $1072.00 a month extra income at a Temporary Agency at Trades Labor Corporation near Victoria Park Stampede station in Calgary. I make ends meet. I also now have a license to drive. Big bonus. I never take dangerous meds to get me sleepy. I am involved in AA related events plus I travel around by public transportation to meetings and when required to get to other events in Red Deer, Edmonton, Fort McLeod, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, or other events, I car pool. I have other drivers to help who have full 5 non GDL level license. There is no need to be a victim as I see others. You make do with the Created gave you. I also use Kijiji classifieds for decent homes.
I’ll put it simple aish with CCPD = $9.00per hour Alberta starting wage is $15.35 I believe. And people on starting wage say can’t live on that . How are people on Aish supposed to?
Listen I too am on Aish and I am a terminal cancer patient.. I can’t work either as my cancer spread to my bones very painful.
My rent for a small one bedroom just went from $750.00 to $840.00 in Oliver square.
I have no other resources for income
All food prices are crazy high and climbing.
Power too
And this stupid increase of 50% for six months sounds good but is again dumb how they set out the payments. The power increase and food isn’t gonna wait every 3 months ok
We like to know that we can eat, pay our bills etc monthly not every 3 months.. I’m still pissed over that.. For the love of God they really need to increase Aish payments by atleast $250.00 to $300.00 a month.
I’m an AISH recipient and I recieve $2685 a month for myself and my commonlaw wife. Our rent is $1200 and we have a great landlord that is doing what he can not to give us a increase. Over the past year I have found myself decline in my already poor mental health and it’s taking a toll on my partner. It took me over 4 years to get approved and I thought to myself that we made it through and things would get better and they did a bit. Life was hard still but comfortable. Over the past year it seems like comfort is gone. The last two weeks of the month I’m having to make choices on if we can have milk in the fridge or toilet paper . Life shouldn’t have to be like this. I fear that I must go back to work no matter what my doctor’s say. They are assert that if I do not only will I die but I risk taking others with me if something happens to me. Anyone want to switch places with me because I can’t ride out of his storm much longer.
Did some reading , the average full time wage for an Aish worker is around 55,000 a year , part time work at about 21 or so an hour , some positions up tosomeyhing like around 64,000 a year .
I have heard , via a fellow I knew , who actually worked in the same building with Aish in Edmonton.
That they were to allow anyone to apply , but the expectation then was to make it hard as possible to get approval.
I’d say this is accurate, as when trying to recive funding via the aid of a pchycologist and a social worker .
After two years I was still without funding.
Had to get help from others to get the papers right .
Took them just a few flippin months !
Lets talk about the real issue .
The system is broken .
Health care, social services , affordable housing , education.
All getting cuts .
They say , theres no money .
Yet the cuts and most the taxation.
Goes towards giving large corporate tax breaks , these are billion plus companies.
Living off of kickbacks and fundings , and funneling most of the proceeds they make elsewhere.
And the time it just took me to text all this , each of them just made more money than I’ll ever have in multiple lifetimes .
We have no money ? A lie , ” WE ” have no money .
Because They , have it all .
Other countries do so much better than ours , are so much further ahead on so many social issues.
It’s a dam shame .
Just look at how many kickbacks go to the big companies, and how when they do . Take a look at where the money drops.
But the UPC , have been trying to destroy healthcare for years … it’s not called the ” De Klein ” of healthcare for nothing.
I went to a barbecue ge hosted when I was in high school.
All he talked about was money , all the guys I knew who got tied into his blowhard path , gave zero F,s for anything but how they could get rich as a politician.
I was also there when there was a rally in Edmonton when he spoke to us, when he attempted to outright cancel Aish .
If we , if you.
Really want to help healthcare , help yourself
Vote !
And do not vote either Conservative of any ilk ” it’s right in the first three letters ” Con ” and forget about Liberals.
It’s a ping pong , just two sides of the same coin , there are other options .
Jhagneet is seemingly looking forward to right dirrection .
I’d say vote NDP , unless your in a riding that can get Green . Anyhow .
We will never get anything but grief , if we keep allowing the kind of ilk that’s ripping apart our democracy to continue.
I too was in High School during the Klein reign… I remember the animosity he had to the AISH recipients and homeless. I remember than many tries over the years to slip private healthcare in to our system.
The Government saying we have no money while giving away billions to other countries…. Why are we not taking care of the problems WE have rather than trying to be the “best friend” of other Countries. We are considered a joke on the global stage, and it is going to take a lot of changes to reverse that idea now.
As an AISH recipient looking at current cost of housing, the average two bedroom in Edmonton is reported to be 1400/month. This means that a person on AISH with no other income is giving 80% of their money to rent and does not include utilities, food, cellular, internet, etc… We wonder why people are homeless… a single person on ISB (Income Support Benefit) receives like 900/month to live on… cannot survive on that even you were renting a bedroom (about 600/mo). The government really does seem to want our population broke, homeless, and pliable as we beg for money to just live.