AISH Alberta Application: How to Apply for Adult Disability Income Support

If your child is approaching 18 in Alberta and will need long-term income support because of a disability, the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program — now in transition to the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) under Bill 12 — is the primary provincial income source for adults with severe, permanent disabilities.

The application process is not simple, and the window to prepare is shorter than most families realize. Here is what the actual process looks like.

What AISH/ADAP Is — and What It Is Not

AISH was historically Alberta's designated income support program for adults with permanent, severe disabilities that substantially limit their ability to earn income. As of 2025, the provincial government has begun restructuring AISH under Bill 12, renaming and reformulating it as the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP).

The benefit provides a base monthly income, supplemented by health benefits including prescription drug coverage, dental care, optical care, and other extended health services. It is not a day program or residential support — those fall under the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program separately.

The key eligibility threshold: the disability must be permanent and severe and must substantially limit the person's ability to earn income on a long-term basis. This is assessed through medical documentation, not just diagnosis.

Who Should Apply

AISH/ADAP is intended for Alberta adults 18 or older whose disability makes full-time competitive employment effectively impossible or extremely limited. The program is designed for individuals with:

• Physical disabilities resulting in significant functional limitations
• Intellectual disabilities affecting adaptive functioning and employability
• Psychiatric conditions that are severe, persistent, and treatment-resistant
• Neurological conditions with significant ongoing functional impairment

Having a diagnosis alone is not enough. The application process evaluates functional capacity, not just the presence of a condition.

Application Steps

Step 1: Gather Medical Documentation

This is the most time-consuming part and must not be left until the 18th birthday. You need:

• A completed AISH/ADAP Medical Assessment Form, filled out by a physician, psychiatrist, or nurse practitioner who has treated the applicant and has direct knowledge of their functional limitations
• Supporting records: specialist assessments, psychological evaluations, occupational therapy reports if available
• Documentation must be current — typically within the past two years. If your child's last assessment was done at age 14, it likely needs to be updated.

For transition-age youth who have an IEP, the school's psychoeducational assessment can support the application, but it is not a substitute for the medical assessment form.

Step 2: Submit the Application Package

The AISH/ADAP application is available through Alberta Supports Centres (formerly known as AISH Offices). Applications can be submitted:

• In person at an Alberta Supports Centre
• By mail
• Through an authorized representative with power of attorney or guardianship documentation

The application package includes financial disclosure (income and assets of both the applicant and their spouse/partner, if applicable), identity documentation, and the medical assessment form.

Step 3: Eligibility Determination

A caseworker reviews the application. If additional documentation is needed, they will contact the applicant or their representative. The process can take several weeks to a few months depending on completeness of the file.

Applicants are assessed on medical eligibility first, then financial eligibility. There are asset limits and income thresholds — a financial advisor or the Alberta Supports caseworker can clarify current thresholds, as these are subject to change under the ADAP restructuring.

Changes Under Bill 12 and ADAP

The shift from AISH to ADAP under Bill 12 introduced changes that have concerned disability advocates, particularly around employment income exemptions. Under AISH, a recipient could earn up to approximately $1,072 per month before their benefit began reducing. Under ADAP's revised structure, the exemption rules changed in ways that reduce the financial benefit of working part-time — meaning a young adult in supported employment may see sharper income clawbacks than under the previous program.

The exact current thresholds are best confirmed directly with an Alberta Supports caseworker, as the transition is ongoing and details are subject to amendment. Before finalizing supported employment arrangements for a transition-age youth, it is worth running the numbers to understand the net impact on ADAP income.

What to Do If Denied

Denial is not the end of the road. If AISH/ADAP is denied, you have the right to appeal:

1. Request a written explanation of the denial, including which eligibility criteria were not met
2. Consult with a disability advocate — Disability Action Hall, the AISH Appeals Committee, or Alberta Seniors and Community Supports can help
3. File a reconsideration request within the stated deadline (typically 30 days)
4. If reconsideration upholds the denial, request a formal appeal to the AISH Appeals Committee

Many denials are overturned when additional medical documentation is submitted or when the medical assessment form is completed with greater specificity about functional limitations rather than just diagnosis.

The Timing Problem

Waitlists for AISH/ADAP are real. More critically, the application window requires documentation gathering that takes time. Families who begin the process at age 17.5 risk not having approval — and therefore not receiving income — in the months immediately following the 18th birthday.

For families where a young adult will definitely need long-term income support, start the medical documentation process at least 12 months before the 18th birthday. This gives enough runway to gather updated assessments, complete the medical form with a physician who has adequate time in the file, and allow for processing without a gap in financial support.

For a complete timeline that integrates AISH/ADAP alongside the PDD program application, RDSP contributions, and the Canada Disability Benefit — all of which have different application timings — the Canada Post-Secondary Transition Roadmap provides a province-specific age-by-age checklist that Alberta families can use to sequence the paperwork correctly.

PDD vs. AISH/ADAP: Understanding the Difference

A common point of confusion: AISH/ADAP provides income. The Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program provides service supports — day programs, community supports, residential options. An individual may qualify for both, and often should apply to both.

The PDD application is separate and has its own strict eligibility criteria (IQ assessment indicating significant cognitive impairment is typically required). Waitlists for PDD services in Alberta average one to two years, meaning that application should be initiated during high school — ideally by age 16.

If your child will qualify for PDD supports, the two applications run on parallel tracks. Start both early.

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