SHORT TERM

LONG TERM

• The real value of the maximum monthly AISH benefit increased by 34% between 2000 and 2020.
• In April 2012, there was an increase of $400 to AISH benefits, however, the real value of the monthly AISH benefit then declined 9.5% by 2018. There was a small increase in 2019, with a monthly benefit of $1,685.
• In October of 2019, the provincial government announced that AISH would no longer be indexed to the price of inflation. AISH will thus remain at $1,685 until at least 2023. [2019 Alberta Budget]

Government Transfers. Government income supports (also known as income transfers), as well as other social programs and services, play an important role in the prevention of poverty.

For many people, hard work is not enough to break the cycle of poverty. Barriers to accessing well-paid employment include: limited English language proficiency, lower education completion, unrecognized international credentials, social isolation, limited access to child care, conflicting work and family responsibilities, and even the difficulties of navigating government programs. These barriers disproportionately affect visible minority groups (particularly newcomers), Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and lone-parent women.

This data has been collected from external sources and should not always be attributed to ESPC. We would be happy to provide you with a specific reference for the data that you have used. Please click on the text to the right to request sourcing information, report an error or omission, or provide your comments