Severely disabled 18-year-old denied AISH benefits, then reversed after media inquiry

An 18-year-old severely disabled Edmontonian who lives in a wheelchair, cannot speak, and requires round-the-clock care was initially denied Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) benefits—only to have the decision reversed after media made the province aware of the story.

Ben Hall-Busque's mother, Kristi Hall-Busque, said she was dumbfounded when AISH told her that Ben was employable. "He is dependent in every single area for the quality of his life," she said Tuesday. The reversal came Tuesday morning, the same day Kristi Hall-Busque spoke to media that afternoon.

AISH is designed to provide basic benefits to Albertans with permanent medical issues and developmental disabilities that prevent them from working. Alberta began transitioning many disabled Albertans from AISH to the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) earlier this year. ADAP is designed to allow recipients to earn more employment income.

The specifics of how Ben's case was assessed, or what criteria led to the initial employability determination, have not been disclosed by the government. No official statement from Alberta or AISH has been provided explaining the rationale for the denial or the reversal. It remains unclear whether other cases have been similarly affected during the transition between programs.