The Alberta government has announced the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), a new system that allows people with disabilities to work while maintaining financial and health benefits.
Set to launch in July 2026, ADAP will operate alongside the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program, which provides financial support for Albertans with severe and permanent disabilities who cannot work.
At a press conference in Calgary, Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon said the program addresses concerns that AISH disincentivizes employment by limiting how much recipients can earn before losing benefits.
"People with disabilities should not be punished for getting a job. Every dollar they earn on a paycheque should be helping make them better off, not threatening their access to the medication they need," Nixon said.
How ADAP Will Work
- Higher-income exemptions: ADAP will allow recipients to earn more while maintaining benefits.
- Continued health benefits: Those in ADAP will retain full health benefits regardless of income.
- Employment supports: The province will expand career planning, job placement, and training programs to help recipients enter the workforce.
- New medical review panel: A panel of medical professionals will determine eligibility and reassess cases as needed.
Applicants will be assessed for both ADAP and AISH and placed in the program that best fits their needs.
Nixon cited labour market data from the Alberta Treasury Board, stating that Albertans with disabilities contributed $49.7 billion to the province’s GDP in 2021 and could contribute an additional $18.7 billion if employment barriers were reduced.
"More than half of those with disabilities who are unemployed were considered to have work potential," he said.
Concerns Over AISH Reassessment and Eligibility
The Alberta NDP has raised concerns that the new system will result in AISH recipients being reassessed and removed from the program.
In a statement, Marie Renaud, NDP Shadow Minister for Community and Social Services, said ADAP effectively gives the government the power to determine who should be working.
"It is alarming that the UCP government has given themselves the power to go through the list of the 77,000 AISH recipients and decide which of those people should be working and supporting themselves and who doesn’t need to," Renaud said.
She also criticized the government for not introducing accessibility legislation or targeted employment investments, arguing that these are more effective solutions to address unemployment among disabled Albertans.
Support from Disability Organizations
Several disability advocacy groups and employment organizations supported ADAP, calling it a step toward greater independence and workforce participation.
Greg McMeekin, Alberta’s Advocate for Persons with Disabilities, said the program will help more people find sustainable work.
"With the announcement of ADAP today, persons with disabilities will earn more and it will expand access to health benefits and provide more valuable employment supports to help people reach their full potential," McMeekin said.
Jacob McGregor, chair of the Premier’s Council for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, called it a long-overdue improvement.
"This will be a groundbreaking example for the rest of Canada as to how to shape disability supports in the future," McGregor said.
Kevin McNichol, CEO of Prospect Human Services, an employment organization for people with disabilities, said ADAP will make it easier for individuals to enter the workforce without losing benefits.
"This is a game-changer. If this program had been in place 10 years ago, many of the people we’ve worked with would have been much further ahead," McNichol said.
Easter Seals Alberta also voiced support but emphasized the need for clear guidelines and transparency.
"We commend the Alberta government for taking this step, but implementation will be key. The program must be transparent, accessible, and truly reflective of the needs of those it serves," said Katherine Such, CEO of Easter Seals Alberta.
Transition Questions Remain
The government says no one will lose disability benefits, but some current AISH recipients may be reassessed and moved to ADAP.
"I want to be clear—this will be about which of these two programs is the best fit for them based on their circumstances, but they will be receiving one of those disability programs long term," Nixon said.
An appeals process will be available for individuals who believe they were placed in the wrong program.
"If somebody feels they should have been on AISH and have been placed on ADAP instead, that decision can be appealed to a qualified medical panel," Nixon said.
Funding and Implementation
When asked whether AISH benefits would increase, Nixon said Alberta’s disability supports are already among the most generous in the country.
"We err on the side of generosity," he said.
Nixon confirmed that ADAP and AISH will remain fully funded but did not specify whether ADAP will receive new funding or be reallocated from existing AISH budgets.
The province says it will continue consulting with disability advocates, employment organizations, and medical professionals before ADAP’s full implementation in July 2026.
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