In this episode, Gordon and Annie unpack eligibility for Alberta’s proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) and how it may differ from AISH. They walk through age, residency, income and asset tests, the medical criteria, and the new adjudication flow. Plus why episodic and complex disabilities may be hardest hit if the rules aren’t nuanced.
In This Episode
- ADAP at a glance: Proposed to run alongside AISH starting July 1, 2026; placement appears to hinge on “ability to work.”
- Baseline eligibility (what we know from the discussion paper):
- Age: 18–64 (not eligible for federal seniors’ benefits)
- Residency/citizenship: Alberta resident; Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Financial tests: Income limits and asset tests (exempt vs. non-exempt)
- Medical: Severe, long-term disability not expected to resolve with treatment
- Assets — key exemptions (mirroring AISH today):
Principal residence, one vehicle (incl. mobility-adapted), RDSP balances, and certain trusts where the recipient is a beneficiary. - Application & placement: Single application with the government deciding ADAP vs AISH; requires a medical report (physician).
- Adjudication & reviews: Use of adjudicators and a medical review panel is contemplated; concerns raised about no external appeal route and what “re-apply with new info” will look like.
- Episodic conditions & equity: How bipolar, schizophrenia, severe anxiety, and other fluctuating conditions fit when eligibility is judged at a single point in time.
- Practical worry: Families who fought to secure AISH may have to re-prove medical status, straining access to doctors and documentation.
Key Takeaways
- Two-track system: AISH (cannot work) vs. ADAP (some ability to work) sounds simple, but real-life disability is complex and episodic.
- Proof burden rises: Expect fresh medical evidence and more adjudication steps; capacity to work may be interpreted broadly.
- Fairness gap risk: If decisions are final (no appeal), applicants with fluctuating conditions could be locked into the wrong stream.
- Assets still matter: Exemptions like home, one vehicle, RDSP, and some trusts are expected to remain similar—details pending.
- Advocacy needed: Until rules are published, families should document conditions carefully, line up medical support, and prepare for re-assessment.
Resources Mentioned
- Alberta government ADAP discussion paper (add the official link when publishing)
Next up: Do the promised income rules and employment supports under ADAP actually add up? Gordon and Annie dig into clawbacks, exemptions, and what “ability to work” means in practice.
