Alberta disability payment system falters, leaving thousands short hundreds of dollars

Thousands of Albertans receiving disability benefits received incorrect payments — or none at all — on Tuesday when a technical system error struck the province's two main programs.

According to provincial data, approximately two per cent of recipients on AISH (Alberta Income for the Severely Handicapped) and ADAP (Alberta Disability Assistance Program) experienced payment issues. That translates to roughly 1,605 people among the 80,257 individuals on AISH.

Don Slater, an AISH recipient and disability advocate, said he received $270 less than expected. When he contacted AISH, he learned the government had used his 2025 tax return — from when he was still working — to calculate his payment. Slater stopped working in December after becoming too ill. "They made cuts not knowing that I wasn't working anymore," he said. He was told the missing money would arrive, but no timeline was given.

Sam Myers, transitioning to ADAP from AISH, saw her payment cut by $500. She has not worked since 2001 due to a genetic heart condition. Under ADAP, the maximum monthly payment is $1,740, though those transitioning are supposed to receive an extra $200 monthly benefit through December 31. Myers did not receive that benefit and was offered only a $26 food voucher by staff at the AISH support centre.

"My new normal is trying to find where I'm going to live because I can't pay the current rent and my bills," Myers said.

The province said it will correct all payment issues in full by July 31. The province has not said how many people are being transitioned to ADAP overall. Alberta NDP critic Marie Renaud called for ADAP to be scrapped, saying the focus should be on strengthening AISH instead.