What you get with AISH

Living allowance

Standard living allowance

• This monthly benefit is provided for those who:
  • rent or own a home, apartment or condo
  • live with family or friends
  • live in a private group home
  • are homeless
• The amount you get depends on any other income you or your spouse or partner may have.
• See current and past living allowance rates.

Modified living allowance

• This monthly benefit is available for those who live in an approved Continuing Care Home. See the Continuing Care Facility Directory to find out which ones are approved.
• The amount you get may depend on other income you, or your spouse or partner, may have. See more information on the amount you may get.
• The accommodation rates are provided for:
  • private rooms in:
    • Type A continuing care homes (formerly referred to as a nursing home or auxiliary hospital)  
    • active treatment hospital when daily rate is charged
    • Type B continuing care homes (formerly referred to as an approved designated supportive living facility) 
      • shared room rate in approved designated supportive living facility units in lodges
• Speak with your AISH worker to find out if your facility is approved for Modified AISH.
• You may also get a monthly personal allowance.

Child benefit

• You may get an additional amount per month for each dependent child – see child benefit amounts.

Health benefits

Coverage may be provided for you, and your spouse or partner and dependent children.

Types of benefits

You will receive an AISH Health Benefits Card to show to pharmacists, dentists and other health-service providers to get the following:

Prescription drugs

• Review the medications AISH covers on the Government of Alberta Drug Benefit List.
• Some over-the-counter items and nutritional products may also be covered.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to help you with the items you need.

Dental

Ask your dentist, denturist or dental hygienist for more details about AISH’s basic dental coverage, which includes:

• check-ups
• cleaning teeth
• x-rays
• fillings
• removing teeth
• dentures
• other dental services

Optical

Talk to your eye doctor, optician or ophthalmologist about AISH’s basic optical coverage, which includes:

• one eye exam every 2 years for adults – children’s eye exams are covered under Alberta Health Care
• one pair of glasses every 2 years for adults and every year for dependent children

Diabetes coverage

These are the diabetes supplies AISH covers:

• test strips
• lancing devices
• glucose calibration solution
• infusion sets (tubing and needle)
• insulin cartridges / reservoirs
• insulin pen needles
• insulin syringes
• Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are available to Albertans under 18 years old who are living with diabetes. A prescription from an endocrinologist or pediatrician is required. Learn more about the eligibility criteria.

Emergency ambulance

AISH covers ambulance trips to the closest emergency room.

Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL)

You do not have to pay the cost-share amount for AADL-approved items.

When to contact AISH

Talk to your AISH worker if you:

• plan to travel outside Alberta since the AISH Health Benefits Card is only valid in Alberta – contact your worker at least 1 week before your trip
• need a drug or service the AISH Health Benefits Card does not cover
• are denied a health benefit you requested

For more information

See Your Guide to AISH for more details about health benefits and the costs AISH may cover.

Personal benefits

• Personal benefits cover specific needs over and above your monthly living allowance.
• They may be covered for you and your dependent children.
• Some personal benefits may need to be repaid.
• To be eligible, you must:
  • have no more than $5,000 in non-exempt assets such as cash, investments and bonds, or be in a financial hardship situation
  • demonstrate a need for the benefit
  • not be eligible under any other program or source, and
  • meet the specific requirements for each personal benefit

Types of benefits

There are 3 kinds of personal benefits you may get through AISH:

Health-related personal benefits

You may get help with costs for health-related supports such as:

• arch supports or foot orthotics
• continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device and supplies
• equipment maintenance for wheelchairs and scooters
• health services such as acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy and physiotherapy
• hearing aid batteries
• medical alert service
• medical equipment not available through the Aids to Daily Living program or other sources such as private insurance or temporary equipment loan programs
• medical supplies not available from the AADL program or other sources such as private insurance, home care or wound clinics
• nebulizer and supplies
• oxygen supplies
• seasonal affective disorder (SAD) light
• service animal supports
• specialized clothing adapted for a disability
• special diets
• splints and braces
• transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine and supplies

Personal benefits for children

Some costs may be covered for infant and child care or children’s education.

Other personal benefits

You may get help with costs for:

• dealing with an emergency situation beyond your control that puts you or your dependents at immediate risk
• leaving an abusive home
• employment and training expenses
• funeral arrangements
• maintaining your home in a remote community
• moving to set up a new home
• travelling for health-related services, court attendance and training

When to contact AISH

Talk to your AISH worker if you need help with a personal benefit or expense that is not normally covered by AISH.

For more information

See Your Guide to AISH and the AISH Financial Benefits Summary for more details about personal benefits and the costs AISH may cover.

Contact

Get information for AISH offices and other supports.

Take the survey about the information on this page.