How to Apply for Alberta Income Support
Apply for Alberta Income Support online with an Alberta.ca account — the documents to gather, the steps to submit, the current core-benefit amounts, and the 24-hour emergency route.
How to Apply for AISH in Alberta
How to apply for AISH in Alberta: the single Disability Income Assistance application for AISH and ADAP, the medical report, the documents to include, and the 2026 benefit amounts.
Applies in: Alberta
The Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program provides financial and health benefits to eligible adult Albertans with a permanent medical condition that prevents them from earning a living. Alberta now runs one Disability Income Assistance (DIA) application for both AISH and the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), so a new applicant applies once through the DIA process. This guide covers the application mechanics only: how to start the application, the medical report, the documents to include, and what happens after you apply. It gives no eligibility advice — only the program can decide whether you qualify. All facts below come from the Government of Alberta AISH page, the Government of Alberta how to apply for AISH and ADAP page, and the Government of Alberta AISH Financial Benefits Summary, effective January 1, 2026.
Step 1: Understand what AISH is and what the application covers
AISH provides a monthly living allowance — money for living costs such as food, rent, and utilities — a monthly child benefit to help raise dependent children, health benefits for you, your spouse or partner, and your dependent children, and personal benefits for specific needs over and above the monthly living allowance, such as a special diet or help in an emergency.
The Government of Alberta publishes the AISH eligibility criteria as follows: a severe disability that is a substantial impairment of mental or physical functioning that permanently prevents employment; a severe disability that is permanent, for which all relevant treatment that could lessen the impairment has been completed and in which no improvement is expected; at least 18 years old and not eligible to receive an Old Age Security pension; living in Alberta as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; not in a correctional facility or some mental health facilities such as Alberta Hospital Edmonton; and meeting the financial eligibility criteria. Applicants and their spouse or partner must also apply for all other income they may be eligible for, such as CPP Disability benefits, Employment Insurance, or Workers' Compensation. This guide states the published criteria only and does not advise whether any individual meets them.
Step 2: Start the Disability Income Assistance application
Applicants are encouraged to apply online: start a new Disability Income Assistance application or continue a current one through the online application linked from the Government of Alberta's how-to-apply page. Current ADAP clients who transitioned from AISH and want to apply for AISH can use a shortened application using non-medical information already on file, but a complete Disability Income Assistance Medical Report is still required.
If you need help with the online application, call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992, or 780-644-9992 in the Edmonton area.
If you cannot apply online, complete the paper Disability Income Assistance Application form. You can download and print it from the how-to-apply page, or call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at the numbers above to have a paper copy mailed to you.
Step 3: Get the medical report completed
Your health professional will need to complete the Disability Assistance Medical Report. You can submit it as part of your online DIA application if the health professional has provided it to you, or ask your health professional to send the completed report to AISH and ADAP by fax at 1-877-969-3006 (toll free in Alberta) or by mail to AISH and ADAP, PO Box 17000 Station Main, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4B3.
Your health professional may charge you for this service, and you are responsible for paying the fee. If you are on Income Support, the cost to fill in the report may be covered — contact your Income Support worker. If you are not on Income Support but need financial help while waiting for AISH or ADAP, contact Alberta Supports about other benefits and services, such as Income Support and health benefits.
Step 4: Submit your documents and complete the application
Make sure to include all required documents with your DIA application, and include your Notice of Assessment (NOA) when submitting your documentation. Save or print copies of your application and supporting documents for your files.
Submit your DIA application and supporting documents online, or by fax to 1-877-969-3006 (toll free in Alberta) or by mail to AISH and ADAP, PO Box 17000 Station Main, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4B3.
Step 5: What happens after you apply
Disability Income Assistance applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Applicants who are receiving end-of-life palliative care or have been diagnosed with a terminal illness are prioritized. Application processing times vary depending on the number of applications received and how quickly the program receives all the financial and medical information it needs for each person's application.
An AISH or ADAP staff member may request additional information if you have not provided all of the general, financial, or medical information required. If you have questions about the status of your application, phone 587-759-6810 in the Edmonton area or 1-877-759-6810 toll free in Alberta.
If your application is approved, you will receive a phone call and a letter confirming you are eligible for AISH or ADAP, you will be contacted by phone or mail to schedule a meeting with an AISH or ADAP worker, and your benefits will be backdated to the month AISH or ADAP received all of the information that was required to approve your application.
If your application is not approved, you will receive a letter explaining why you are not eligible — this may be due to general, financial, or medical reasons — how to update AISH or ADAP with more information showing a change in your situation, how to appeal the decision, how to contact the Disability Income Assistance Application Processing Centre or the nearest Alberta Supports office, and where to find out about other financial and health benefit programs you may qualify for.
If you leave AISH or ADAP, you may have your file reopened quickly if it has been less than 2 years since you got your last AISH benefits and you did not leave AISH or ADAP due to a change in your medical condition. If those criteria do not apply, you will need to reapply.
What you may get: the 2026 amounts
Under the AISH Financial Benefits Summary effective January 1, 2026, the monthly core benefits are: a living allowance of up to $1,940 for clients living in the community; a modified living allowance for clients living in a facility, consisting of a personal allowance of $373 a month plus the accommodation rate; and a child benefit of $232 a month for the first child and $117 a month for each additional child. The amounts are maximums — your actual payment depends on your income, your living situation, and your household.
On income, AISH exempts some employment income: for a single person, up to $1,072 a month is fully exempt and up to $2,009 is 50% exempt, to a maximum exemption of $1,541 a month; for a family, up to $2,612 is fully exempt and up to $3,349 is 50% exempt, to a maximum exemption of $2,981 a month. The total market value of all non-exempt assets cannot be more than $100,000 to be eligible for AISH. Personal benefits — for example, a damage deposit of up to $414 for clients without dependent children and up to $1,177 for clients with children — are available only when the client and their cohabiting partner have no more than $5,000 in non-exempt assets or are in a situation of financial hardship, the item is necessary, and the client is not eligible for the same benefit from another program.
AISH health benefits cover basic dental care, eye exams and glasses, prescriptions, essential diabetic supplies, and emergency ambulance services for clients, their spouses or partners, and their dependent children, unless they receive coverage through the federal government or full coverage from their employer.
If you receive AISH, you must also inform the AISH program of the approval or denial of your Canada Disability Benefit or Disability Tax Credit application, through the federal disability supports form on the Government of Alberta's AISH page.
What this guide could not verify
The following figures and details appear in non-official guides about AISH but were not verified on the Government of Alberta pages, so they are not stated above: the ADAP monthly base benefit rate and the $200 monthly transition benefit for AISH clients who moved to ADAP, and the date on which most current AISH recipients moved to ADAP; the AISH monthly payment dates (reported elsewhere as about 4 business days before the first of the month); an estimated processing time for a new application (reported elsewhere as 3 to 6 months — the Government of Alberta page states only that processing times vary); and the child benefit rates under the newer AISH regulation (reported elsewhere as $300 for the first child, $117 for the second, $88 for the third, and $59 for the fourth) — this guide uses the January 1, 2026 Financial Benefits Summary figures of $232 for the first child and $117 for each additional child. Confirm all of these with the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992 before relying on them.
Related guides:
- How to Apply for CPP Disability Benefits — the federal CPP Disability benefit, which AISH applicants must also apply for if they may be eligible for it.
- How to Apply for the Alberta Child and Family Benefit — Alberta's quarterly child benefit, paid separately from AISH.
- How to Apply for Alberta Student Aid — Alberta student funding, a separate provincial application.
- How to Apply for BC Disability Assistance — British Columbia's disability assistance program, for comparison if you move provinces.
Applying for AISH in Alberta, in five steps
- Start the Disability Income Assistance applicationApply online through the Disability Income Assistance application, or complete the paper form if you cannot apply online
- Have your health professional complete the medical reportYour doctor or other health professional completes the Disability Assistance Medical Report and sends it by fax or mail, or gives it to you to upload
- Submit your application with your documentsInclude all required documents, including your Notice of Assessment, and keep copies of everything you send
- AISH or ADAP staff review your applicationApplications are reviewed in the order received; staff may ask for more general, financial, or medical information, and end-of-life palliative care and terminal illness cases are prioritized
- Get the decision by phone and letterIf approved, benefits are backdated to the month AISH or ADAP received all the information required to approve your application; the maximum living allowance in 2026 is $1,940 a month
Questions people ask
Is AISH the same as ADAP?
No, but they now share one application. AISH is the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program, for adult Albertans whose severe, permanent disability prevents them from earning a living. ADAP is the Alberta Disability Assistance Program, a newer provincial disability support program. Alberta now uses a single Disability Income Assistance (DIA) application for both programs — you apply once, and the program determines which program fits your situation.
What does AISH mean by a severe disability?
The Government of Alberta publishes the test as follows: you have a severe disability that is a substantial impairment of mental or physical functioning that permanently prevents employment, and the disability is permanent, with all relevant treatment that could lessen the impairment completed and no improvement expected. You must also be at least 18 years old and not eligible to receive an Old Age Security pension, live in Alberta as a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, not be in a correctional facility or certain mental health facilities such as Alberta Hospital Edmonton, and meet the financial criteria. This guide states the published test only; it gives no advice on whether any individual qualifies.
How do I apply for AISH if I cannot apply online?
Complete the paper Disability Income Assistance Application form, which you can download and print from the Government of Alberta's how-to-apply page, or have a paper copy mailed to you by calling the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 780-644-9992 in the Edmonton area or toll-free at 1-877-644-9992. Submit the completed application and supporting documents online, by fax to 1-877-969-3006 (toll free in Alberta), or by mail to AISH and ADAP, PO Box 17000 Station Main, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4B3.
What does the medical report involve, and who pays for it?
Your health professional must complete the Disability Assistance Medical Report. You can submit it as part of your online application if your health professional has given it to you, or ask your health professional to send the completed report to AISH and ADAP by fax or mail. Your health professional may charge you for this service, and you are responsible for paying the fee. If you are on Income Support, the cost to fill in the report may be covered — contact your Income Support worker. If you are not on Income Support but need financial help, contact Alberta Supports about other benefits while you wait.
How much money does AISH pay in 2026?
Under the AISH Financial Benefits Summary effective January 1, 2026, the maximum monthly living allowance is $1,940. The modified living allowance for clients in a facility is a personal allowance of $373 a month plus the accommodation rate. The child benefit is $232 a month for the first child and $117 a month for each additional child. The total market value of your non-exempt assets cannot be more than $100,000 to be eligible. Your actual payment depends on your income and living situation, and AISH also provides health benefits — basic dental care, eye exams and glasses, prescriptions, essential diabetic supplies, and emergency ambulance services — for you, your spouse or partner, and your dependent children.
What happens after I apply for AISH, and what if I am turned down?
Disability Income Assistance applications are reviewed in the order they are received, and processing times vary with the number of applications and how quickly all the financial and medical information arrives. An AISH or ADAP staff member may ask for more information if you have not provided everything required. If your application is approved, you get a phone call and a letter, a meeting is scheduled with an AISH or ADAP worker, and your benefits are backdated to the month AISH or ADAP received all the information required to approve your application. If it is not approved, you get a letter explaining why, how to update AISH or ADAP with more information, and how to appeal the decision. To check on your application, phone 587-759-6810 in the Edmonton area or 1-877-759-6810 toll free.
Sources
- Government of Alberta, Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) — the published AISH eligibility criteria, what recipients may get, the application timeline and prioritization, the benefit estimator, and the requirement to report Canada Disability Benefit and Disability Tax Credit outcomes.
- Government of Alberta, How to apply for AISH and ADAP — the single Disability Income Assistance application for AISH and ADAP, the online and paper routes, the Disability Assistance Medical Report and how it is submitted, the fax and mailing addresses, the Notice of Assessment requirement, what happens after applying, the backdating rule, the appeal route, and the file-reopening criteria.
- Government of Alberta, AISH Financial Benefits Summary — the January 1, 2026 monthly amounts (living allowance $1,940, modified living allowance personal allowance $373, child benefit $232 first child and $117 each additional child), the $100,000 non-exempt asset limit, the employment income exemptions, the personal benefits eligibility criteria, and the health benefits coverage.