Affordability payments

Payment timelines

• Applied before January 27: First payment will arrive on January 31.
• Applied after January 27: First payment will arrive within 10 days.
• Additional payments will arrive on the last business day of each month.

Missing payments

A small number of applications had incorrect banking information so payments could not be delivered on January 31. We are working to address the issue.

• If you applied and were not paid because of incorrect banking information, you will receive monthly cheques in the mail.
  • If you applied online, you can switch the payments to direct deposit if you update your banking information online.
  • If you applied in-person, you can switch the payments to direct deposit if you update your banking information at any registry office.
• If additional action is required, we will contact you by email to provide instructions on when and how you can edit your application.
  • Remember, we will never ask you to provide your personal or banking information over the phone, by email or text message.
  • The only way to apply for the affordability payment or update your profile is through the secure online application portal, or in-person at an Alberta Registry or Alberta Supports Centre.
• Once your application is corrected, you will receive all missed payments retroactively.
• The deadline to update your application, if you're contacted to do so, is June 30, 2023.

Updating or editing your application

• It is now possible for applicants to edit their banking information:
  • If you applied online, you can now edit your banking information in the application portal. Once your banking info is updated, you can expect payment within 10 days.
  • If you applied in-person, you can now edit your banking information at any registry office.
• We are still working on a solution to edit other application areas. Information will be posted here as the edit functionality expands.

Editing your application

• You must edit your application the same way you applied:
  • If you applied online, you will need to use the application portal. 
  • If you applied in-person, you will need to go to a registry office.

Editing your banking information

• If you applied online, you can now edit your payment method and banking information in the application portal.
• If you applied in-person, you now edit your payment method and banking information at any registry office.

Updating your contact information

• If you applied in-person, you can now edit your mailing address, email and phone number at any registry office.
• This functionality is not yet available to online users.

Adding dependents

• If you applied online, you can now use the application portal to add dependents, including any children born or adopted since the program began.
• If you applied in-person, you can now visit any registry office to add dependents, including any children born or adopted since the program began.

Editing other information

• It is not yet possible to edit other areas of your application once it has been submitted, but we are working on it.
• Information will be posted here as the edit functionality expands.

Application period

• Applications will be accepted any time between January 18 and June 30, 2023.
• Once the application process is successfully completed, most Albertans will receive payments at the end of that month. Exact timing will vary for each individual.

Applied late

• If you applied in the middle or end of the application period, payments will be retroactive to the first month you are eligible.
• All applications must be made by June 30, 2023.
• All payments will be made by December 31, 2023.

Children born between January and June 2023

• Apply for benefits any time before the application period ends June 30, 2023.
• Payments will be retroactive to the month your child is born.
• If you already applied for other children, you can now add your newborn:
  • If you applied online, you can use the application portal to edit your information.
  • If you applied in-person, you can visit any registry office to edit your information.

Children turning 18 before June 30, 2023

• Payments will end the month your child turns 18 or July 2023, whichever comes first.

Seniors turning 65 before June 30, 2023

• Apply for payments any time between January 18 and June 30, 2023.
• Payments will begin the month you turn 65.

Household income

• Adjusted 2021 household income of less than $180,000 to receive affordability payments for children or as a senior.
  • You do not need to calculate your income. We will use Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) 2021 tax data when you apply.
  • If you wish to calculate your adjusted family total income, use line 15000 (total income) minus:
    • 21000 (deduction for split-pension amount)
    • 32000 (tuition expenses)
    • 33099 (medical expenses for self, spouse or common law partner and dependent children under 18)
    • 33199 (medical expenses for other dependents)
• If you did not file a 2021 tax return, or filed a return outside of Alberta but meet all other eligibility requirements, you can still apply but your application will be reviewed and audited by the Government of Alberta to verify your household income.
• The affordability payment is not taxable income, and does not need to be claimed on your 2023 income tax return.

Resident of Alberta requirements

• You must be an Alberta resident as of November 30, 2022 to be eligible.
• You must remain an Alberta resident on the first day of each month between January and June 2023 to be eligible for each month's payment.
• If you moved to Alberta before November 30, 2022, you can apply for the affordability payment if you meet other eligibility criteria.
• If you moved away from Alberta:
  • before November 30, 2022, you are not eligible
  • between January 18 and June 30, 2023, your payments will end the first full month you were away from the province (for example, if you moved March 25, you would only receive 3 payments for January, February and March).

AISH, PDD, CPP Disability, Income Support and Alberta Seniors Benefits

• You must be enrolled to receive regular monthly benefits through AISH, CPP Disability, Income Support, Alberta Seniors Benefit, or services through the PDD program to be eligible for affordability payments.
• If you are on a waitlist for PDD services, or working with a caseworker to plan for services, you will receive affordability payments.
• If you are eligible for any of these programs retroactively, you will receive the affordability payment retroactively, as long as you did not receive affordability payments as a senior by applying through the online portal.

Incarcerated for 90 days or more

• If you are incarcerated for 90 consecutive days or more during the January to June 2023 period, you may only be eligible for payments for the months when you were not incarcerated on the first day of the month.
• For example, if you are incarcerated from January 15 to May 3, you may be eligible for January and June payments.

When applying in person at a Registry Agent or Alberta Supports Centre, you will need to bring:

• Valid identification:
  • Alberta driver's licence or ID card to provide proof of identity and residency, OR
  • Other identification and proof of residency (see list of options below)
• Social Insurance Number
• Banking information (account, institution and transit numbers) or mailing address

If you do not have an Alberta driver's licence or ID card that is not expired for more than 6 months, you may need to provide separate documents to prove your identity and residency. The other accepted documents listed below must be valid and not expired. The lists are not inclusive.

Accepted proof of identity

• Driver’s licence or ID card issued by an official government outside of Alberta
• Canadian-issued travel documents such as a:
  • Passport
  • Certificate of identity (grey) – issued to non-Canadians lawfully admitted to Canada as permanent residents who meet certain conditions
  • Travel document for refugees (blue) – issued to non-Canadians who have been determined to have Convention refugee or 'protected person' status in Canada
• Foreign passport
• U.S. Passport Card
• Canadian citizenship certificate with photo (issued prior to February 1, 2012)
• Permanent resident card
• Temporary resident permit or refugee protection claimant document
• Secure Certificate of Indian Status
• Métis Nation of Alberta Card
• Department of National Defence (DND) Driver Permit (DND404)
• Military ID cards NDI20 and NDI21
• Possession and Acquisition Licence
• NEXUS Card
• Single Journey Travel Document, Single Journey Travel Document for Resettlement to Canada, and Emergency Travel Document for a Single Journey Only (all issued by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada)
• Temporary confirmation of registration document issued by Indigenous Services Canada
• Temporary Resident Permit

Accepted proof of Alberta residency (paper or electronic)

• Utility, gas, phone or cable bills
• Bank or credit card statements
• Residential lease agreement
• Pay stub
• Insurance Policy Pink Card
• Statutory declaration completed in a registry agent office stating you are a resident of Alberta

Eligibility

• First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals can apply online or in person to receive affordability payments if you meet the other eligibility criteria.

Identification

• An Alberta driver’s licence or Alberta ID card is needed to apply online.
• If you do not have one, you can apply in person at any Registry Agent or Alberta Supports Centre using your Secure Certificate of Indian Status, Métis Nation of Alberta Card, or other forms of identification to verify your identity and residency (see the identification section above for the full list).

Enrolled on AISH, PDD, Income Support or Alberta Seniors Benefit

• Indigenous people who currently receive benefits through AISH, Income Support, Alberta Seniors Benefit or services through PDD will automatically receive $600 over 6 months.

• Legally separated or divorced parents who meet the eligibility criteria and have shared custody of their children can apply for the affordability benefit payments. Each parent needs to apply.
• Each parent in the shared custody arrangement will receive half of the payment.

Foster and kinship caregivers

• You do not need to apply. You will be automatically enrolled to receive affordability payments for children placed in your care. 
• There is no income testing or threshold limit for children placed in your care.
• Payments will come from Children's Services through your regular payment process.
• Payments are based on a daily rate. 
• You must meet eligibility requirements and apply for biological or adopted children under 18 through the application portal. 

Delegated First Nation Agency (DFNA) caregivers

• You do not need to apply. You will be automatically enrolled to receive affordability payments for children placed in your care. 
• Payments will come directly from the DFNAs.
• DFNAs will receive payment funds for eligible foster and kinship caregivers from Children's Services.

Agency caregivers

• You do not need to apply. You will be automatically enrolled to receive affordability payments for children placed in your care. 
• Payments will come directly from the contracted agency.
• Contracted agencies will receive payment funds for their foster and kinship caregivers from Children's Services.

Using the Alberta.ca Account

• Your information is protected using both server authentication and data encryption, ensuring that it is safe, secure and private.
• We only store information required to create and verify your identity. 
• We do not collect or store any information from participating services when you access them.
• We only provide information that participating services need and have authority to collect. 

Using the Application Portal

• To prevent unauthorized access to the application portal, applicants must log in using their verified Alberta.ca Account.
• Information collected is stored in an encrypted format to ensure it is safeguarded.
• Information collected can only be used for the purpose of administering the Affordability Program.

If you have other issues or questions that cannot be resolved using the tips listed above, contact the following supports and services.

Alberta.ca Account

• For questions or issues setting up your verified account, call: 1-844-643-2789 

Affordability Action Plan Information Line

• For questions or issues applying for affordability payments, call: 1-844-644-9955

In-person support or applications

• Registry Agents (contact for business hours)
• Alberta Supports Centres (Monday to Friday from 8:15am to 4:30pm)