The federal government has left out Albertans with disabilities in the one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit (CHB), according to the province’s minister of seniors, Jeremy Nixon.
The Alberta minister said he had met with three federal cabinet ministers, MPs Randy Boissonnault, Carla Qualtrough, and Ahmed Hussen, and “was disappointed to learn that the federal government will not commit to including Albertans with disabilities in this program.”
He said the Alberta government had increased AISH payments to help those with disabilities during “the inflation crisis,” with $600 in affordability relief payments.
Nixon posted a March 9 letter he received from Hussen, federal minister of housing and diversity and inclusion, in which Hussen stated “the eligibility criteria, including the income thresholds, for this program are entrenched in the benefit’s legislation.”
Hussen said the benefit was intended for families or individuals paying more than 30 percent of their adjusted net income on rent, and that the income limits for eligibility “align with those of other federal government programs that target those most in need.”
“Our government understands the importance of income support for lower-income individuals and families, and rest assured that this benefit will not reduce other federal income-tested benefits,” he said.
“This inflationary crisis is hurting millions of Albertans, and they need help. It is important that those living with disabilities are not left out,” Nixon wrote.
Alberta increased AISH as of Jan. 1, 2023, from the 2022 benefit of $1,685 per month to qualified disabled applicants.
