The 2025 Alberta budget cuts funding for the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program by $49 million in 2025, and projects further cuts in the coming years.
Funding for the AISH program in 2025-26 sits at $1.641 billion, a net decrease of $49 million from the 2024-25 third quarter forecast of $1.690 billion. Targets for following years project a further $22 million dollar decrease in 2026-27, and a $6 million decrease in 2027-28.
There are currently over 77,000 Albertans receiving AISH.
Reasons for the changes were due to caseload growth, benefit rate increases of two per cent, and the anticipated contributions of the federal Canada Disability Benefit, which launches in July 2025.
The maximum benefit amount for the July 2025 to June 2026 payment period for the Canada Disability Benefit is up to $200 per month. The benefit will be non-exempt incoming for AISH recipients, meaning Alberta AISH recipients should not see a decrease to their overall monthly support.
Other disability services programs are budgeted at $1.710 billion, an $86 million increase from 2024-25. Grants under the Persons with Developmental Disabilities is increasing by $73 million, Family Support for Children with Disabilities expense is increasing by $9 million, and program support up $4 million. These increases are due to increased caseload pressure.
Budget 2025 is allocating nearly $185 million in Career and Employment services, an increase of $88.9 million from 2024-25. The expanded funds for employment supports for Albertans with disabilities is to prepare for the launch of the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) in July 2026, which the province announced on Feb. 4, 2025.
