Welcome to the AISH/ADAP Shitshow
Another month, another fiasco
AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped)/ ADAP (Alberta Disability Assistance Program) recipients are once again reporting on social media about missed payments, short payments and concerns about the process they must follow with the third party company hired by the UCP government to assist ADAP recipients to work. The Alberta government has signed a contract with a group from Ontario called EmployNext. They say
Our role is to connect people to services, support their goals, and help remove barriers that may affect their ability to participate in their communities and pursue employment when they are ready.
Those transferred to ADAP will be expected to work, only the following people will automatically stay on AISH -
individuals with a severe and profound developmental disability, or who are deemed eligible for or are receiving Persons with Developmental Disabilities services
individuals with palliative or terminal medical conditions
individuals living in continuing care homes
individuals 60 years of age or older
Critics of this change say that this will have a negative effect on many.
High (Impossible?) Expectations
Imagine you are in a serious accident and are now a quadriplegic with cognitive issues living at home with your family who is caring for you 24/7. Your accident benefits have run out so you applied for and received AISH. Because your family did not put you in a care home, you do not fit into the very limited AISH categories. You got moved to ADAP and are expected to look for work.
If you do not do this, you may be deemed as refusing such services and may be cut off. You can apply to go back onto AISH but you must get a doctor to fill out the form again. You must pay out of pocket and then get reimbursed for it, the province has agreed to pay for ONE form completion. Alberta has a shortage of doctors and the program is insisting on making these doctors repeat the paperwork that was filled out when the person first applied for AISH.
Actually Finding work is a whole other subject
Alberta has one of the highest unemployment rates amongst the provinces - the only province with a higher unemployment rate is Newfoundland/ Labrador.
Source - StatsCan
The province says that the ADAP is far more generous in how much you are allowed to make before benefits are clawed back, recipients can earn up to $45,240 net annual employment income.
They are right - sort of.
Assuming a 30% deduction rate ,that means ADAP recipients are allowed to make roughly $60k/year, that would equate to over $28/hr, 40 hrs/wk, 52 weeks/year. Given that anyone approved for AISH has issues being able to work at all, this is unrealistic. It is far more likely they will make minimum wage with all the expenses that come with that - transportation, work clothing, etc. Any refusal of reasonable employment may result in a cessation of benefits but there is no definition of what reasonable means. There are no financial incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities.
People on AISH /ADAP also now have to worry about volunteering as they may be considered able to do paid employment. Many organizations depend on volunteers.
Some People Are Still Waiting For Their Last Months Payment
Last month the province called it a glitch and promised everyone would be paid by the 31st - it didn’t happen. Some people have now gone without their second payment and are very worried about getting evicted, utilities cut off, etc.
The Owl would like to interview people affected by this program. Please contact Kelly at Owl News - kelly@comtv.ca
Developing story, more to come!
