Alberta AISH to ADAP transition (2026)

AISH and ADAP are Alberta disability income-assistance programs with different medical criteria and employment-income rules. This page explains what each program is, how Alberta assigns them, and includes a calculator to compare how employment income may affect monthly payments.

What are AISH and ADAP?

AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped)

AISH is Alberta disability income assistance for adults who meet financial, general, and medical criteria. The medical test is broadly about a severe disability that permanently prevents employment. Receiving AISH does not mean you can never earn employment income; AISH has its own earned-income exemption rules. Working does not automatically make someone ineligible.

ADAP (Alberta Disability Assistance Program)

ADAP is Alberta disability income assistance for adults whose severe disability significantly restricts, but does not permanently prevent, employment. ADAP uses different employment-income rules and puts more emphasis on employment support. This calculator compares those different financial rules side-by-side.

AISH vs ADAP at a glance

Both programs use one shared application process. Alberta makes the final program decision based on medical and financial criteria.

AISH

Main purpose: Severe disability that permanently prevents employment
Working: Employment is permitted; AISH earned-income rules apply (about $350/month exemption for a single adult in this tool)
Maximum individual living allowance shown by this tool: $1,940/month (before employment clawback)
Transition top-up: Not applicable
Employment income before benefits phase out: Lower earned-income exemption than ADAP in this tool (about $350/month for a single adult).
Health benefits (prescription drugs, dental): Generally maintained under both programs; Alberta materials indicate health coverage can continue even when employment income reduces cash benefits (confirm your file).
Medical eligibility appeals: Historically included independent appeal options for some medical decisions (confirm current AISH review routes on alberta.ca).
New application process: Shared Disability Income Assistance application (AISH/ADAP)
Final decision: Alberta (medical and financial review)

ADAP

Main purpose: Severe disability that significantly restricts, but does not permanently prevent, employment
Working: Different earned-income rules and employment-support orientation (about $700/month exemption for a single adult in this tool)
Maximum individual living allowance shown by this tool: $1,740/month base rate (before employment clawback)
Transition top-up: $200/month through December 31, 2027 for applicable former AISH clients who moved to ADAP (temporary)
Employment income before benefits phase out: Higher employment tolerance; Alberta has published that ADAP recipients may earn substantial employment income (about $45,000/year in public materials) before financial assistance fully phases out.
Health benefits (prescription drugs, dental): Generally maintained under both programs; Alberta materials indicate health coverage can continue even when employment income reduces cash benefits (confirm your file).
Medical eligibility appeals: Medical Review Panel decisions on ADAP eligibility are described as final in Alberta's transition materials; confirm review and reassessment options on alberta.ca.
New application process: Shared Disability Income Assistance application (AISH/ADAP)
Final decision: Alberta (medical and financial review)

Main purpose: AISH: Severe disability that permanently prevents employment; ADAP: Severe disability that significantly restricts, but does not permanently prevent, employment
Working: AISH: Employment is permitted; AISH earned-income rules apply (about $350/month exemption for a single adult in this tool); ADAP: Different earned-income rules and employment-support orientation (about $700/month exemption for a single adult in this tool)
Maximum individual living allowance shown by this tool: AISH: $1,940/month (before employment clawback); ADAP: $1,740/month base rate (before employment clawback)
Transition top-up: AISH: Not applicable; ADAP: $200/month through December 31, 2027 for applicable former AISH clients who moved to ADAP (temporary)
Employment income before benefits phase out: AISH: Lower earned-income exemption than ADAP in this tool (about $350/month for a single adult).; ADAP: Higher employment tolerance; Alberta has published that ADAP recipients may earn substantial employment income (about $45,000/year in public materials) before financial assistance fully phases out.
Health benefits (prescription drugs, dental): AISH: Generally maintained under both programs; Alberta materials indicate health coverage can continue even when employment income reduces cash benefits (confirm your file).; ADAP: Generally maintained under both programs; Alberta materials indicate health coverage can continue even when employment income reduces cash benefits (confirm your file).
Medical eligibility appeals: AISH: Historically included independent appeal options for some medical decisions (confirm current AISH review routes on alberta.ca).; ADAP: Medical Review Panel decisions on ADAP eligibility are described as final in Alberta's transition materials; confirm review and reassessment options on alberta.ca.
New application process: AISH: Shared Disability Income Assistance application (AISH/ADAP); ADAP: Shared Disability Income Assistance application (AISH/ADAP)
Final decision: AISH: Alberta (medical and financial review); ADAP: Alberta (medical and financial review)

Key dates to remember

July 1, 2026: Most existing AISH clients automatically moved to ADAP unless exempt (age 60+, continuing care, palliative condition, or other categories Alberta defines).
December 31, 2027: The temporary $200/month ADAP transition top-up for former AISH clients ends. Plan for possible lower total cash if you are still on ADAP and not working.
2028 onward: Without the transition top-up, ADAP base living allowance is lower than pre-reform AISH for many households. Alberta may reassess medical eligibility if you believe you should be on AISH instead of ADAP.

Who may stay on AISH instead of moving to ADAP?

AISH continues for some Albertans after July 2026. Alberta's published transition materials and notices describe exemptions and medical-review outcomes. Common examples cited in transition guidance include:

Adults age 60 or older
People living in continuing care homes
People with palliative or terminal medical conditions
Adults assessed as permanently unable to work through Alberta's medical review (including some severe developmental disability pathways and PDD service recipients). Confirm your category with Alberta Supports.

Already receiving disability assistance?

Most existing AISH clients were automatically moved to ADAP on July 1, 2026 unless Alberta placed them in an exempt group. Alberta notices and your benefit statements should show which program you are on. If you transitioned to ADAP and believe you meet AISH medical criteria, Alberta's transition guidance describes how to request an AISH assessment (the province may cover one reassessment; confirm current rules on alberta.ca).

View Alberta transition guidance

What you can do right now

Confirm which program your file is on and whether you meet an exemption (age 60+, continuing care, palliative, or medical-review AISH criteria). Contact Alberta Supports if your notice is unclear.
If you moved to ADAP but believe you belong on AISH, read Alberta's transition guidance about medical reassessment. The province may cover one assessment; additional assessments may be at your cost.
Budget for December 31, 2027 when the $200/month transition top-up ends if you expect to remain on ADAP without employment income.
Connect with a disability advocate or community legal clinic if you need help understanding medical review or reassessment options. MyEligible cannot access your case file.

Why working changes the comparison

AISH and ADAP do not reduce benefits the same way when employment income rises. Enter your take-home employment income in the calculator below to compare estimated monthly outcomes for each program.

Applying for AISH or ADAP

Alberta uses one combined application for disability income assistance. You do not apply separately for AISH and ADAP.

Start Alberta's Disability Income Assistance application
Use Alberta's combined AISH/ADAP application on alberta.ca. There is one process for new applicants.
Apply for disability assistance
Provide financial and personal information
You will need information about income, assets, household members, and Alberta residence.
Complete the medical report
A health professional may need to complete the medical report (Part B) that supports your application.
Get the medical form
Alberta reviews your application
Alberta may contact you if more information is needed. Medical adjudication is part of the process.
Alberta determines the applicable program
Based on medical and financial criteria, Alberta decides whether AISH or ADAP applies. You receive one program, not both.
Receive your decision and next steps
Alberta sends a decision with payment details and any follow-up steps. Official review options may exist if you disagree.

Before you apply

Frequently asked questions

Want a person to help?

An Alberta Supports or AISH worker can help with the application, questions about your current AISH or ADAP status, income reporting, transition questions, and case-specific assessment. MyEligible cannot see or interpret your case file.

Published living allowance maximums (August 2026)

Reference amounts from Alberta Regulation 96/2026 before employment clawback. Your actual payment depends on household composition, income, and caseworker review.

AISH maximum living allowance (individual): about $1,940/month
ADAP maximum living allowance (individual): about $1,740/month
ADAP transition top-up for former AISH clients who moved to ADAP: $200/month through December 31, 2027 (temporary; not a permanent base-rate increase)
First-child monthly benefit (AISH/ADAP): about $300/month

Last reviewed for this tool: 2026-09-05. Amounts may change.

Employment income comparison calculator

This page compares AISH and ADAP take-home when you enter employment income. It helps you understand the July 2026 transition rules side-by-side. It is not Alberta's official benefit estimator and does not include pensions, Canada Disability Benefit, CPP disability, or other income.

Alberta rules (2026)

Updated 2026-09-05

Enter your take-home employment income and household details to see side-by-side AISH and ADAP estimates.

Your monthly take-home pay from work

Take-home pay from work after tax and payroll deductions. Enter 0 if you are not working.

Household

Single (or parent without a partner on AISH/ADAP)Couple: both you and your partner receive AISH or ADAP (uses August 2026 couple payment rate)

Dependent children in your household

Monthly comparison

Enter your monthly take-home pay to see side-by-side AISH and ADAP estimates.

Confirm with your AISH worker and alberta.ca. This tool does not include other income such as pensions, Canada Disability Benefit, or CPP disability. Alberta AISH and ADAP benefit estimator (alberta.ca) · Alberta Disability Assistance Program transition guidance (alberta.ca)

When to use Alberta's official estimator

Use the official AISH and ADAP benefit estimator on alberta.ca when you need a single-stream payment estimate that Alberta publishes for caseworkers. An AISH or Alberta Supports worker can also run a comprehensive assessment including income this tool omits.

Alberta AISH and ADAP benefit estimator (alberta.ca)

Compare earnings scenarios across programs

See how a change in employment income may affect your overall monthly resources before tax.

Working While on Disability Calculator

Other provincial disability earnings tools

Each province uses different exemption rules. These standalone estimators are separate from the main benefits quiz and from each other.