AISH terms and definitions

List of terms

Dependent child

A child who is dependent on you for support and lives with you at least 50% of the time and:

does not have a spouse or partner
is under 18, or 18 or 19 and going to high school

Designated supportive living facility: There are spaces in some facilities that are approved by AISH as a designated supportive living (DSL) unit that meet an AISH applicant or client’s care needs. Contact the AISH program to find out if a facility is approved for AISH clients.

Financial hardship: This means you are having a very hard time meeting your basic needs. If you are unable to arrange your situation and finances to meet your basic needs, and those of your spouse or partner and dependent child, you may be considered in financial hardship.

Personal representative

This is an adult or organization that is appointed to receive and manage your AISH benefits when you need help making financial decisions. They have the same responsibility to tell AISH about any changes in your household, financial or medical situation as you do. A personal representative may include:

an informal trustee appointed by AISH, called a financial administrator – this person or organization may be appointed with or without your approval when you:
- are unable to make decisions in a way that meets your basic needs, or you
- have a pattern of using your benefits in a way that puts your health at risk, such as not buying food or paying your rent and getting evicted
trustee – this adult or organization is appointed by the Court under the Adult Guardianship and Trusteeship Act
an adult who is appointed by you to manage your benefits under a Power of Attorney

Sponsored immigrant

A person who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has:

an approved sponsor who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is 18 years or older and legally supports the person, who is a family member, to become a permanent resident of Canada
applied for permanent residence under the federal Family Class immigration category

are living together, married or consider themselves in a common law relationship, or
are married or living together and have a natural or adopted child together, or
share each other’s lives and consider themselves to be in a family and share expenses, or
depend on each other financially, but are not living together – for example, one partner may be living in a nursing home