The Alberta government overhauling the AISH program is a step in
the right direction. However, more steps are needed. Albertans who are
currently on the program have not seen an increase in 5 years. It’s time to end
the gap between AISH and the poverty line. Hall
members react to today's announcement to overhaul the Assured Income for
Severely Handicapped (AISH) program.
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| Tammy Poirier thanking previous government who raised AISH five years ago - file photo |
"I would like to see AISH to go up. The cost of living is going
up.
People should not have to fight to get it. When I came from Ontario, I
had to wait. It’s a great thing to look at shorter wait times. There are people
who apply who have to wait and wait, so less wait time is better, especially
when they turn 18 and have severe disability. It is great to improve the wait
times and measure how long it takes. If you already have the label, why
make people to jump through hoops who already have a diagnosis. They should not
have to more evaluations in order to get on it."
- Tammy Poirier, Disability Action Hall member and AISH recipient
"I think they should raise the AISH. Other than that, it is pretty good. I think it is good to do an overhaul. There are lots of people who have
dual diagnosis where mental health prevents them from holding a steady
job." -Christina Stebanuk, Disability Action Hall member and AISH recipient
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"We applaud the government for reviewing AISH.
A recent study shows Albertans with disabilities incomes are the worst in Canada...
We need to see them review the rates
as well as the efficiency and efficacy of the program. It is important to
review how well the program works, as well as to ensure it is enough to live
on."
-Denise Young, Disability Action Hall member and Ally
"On the income of people with disabilities, Alberta has
the poorest showing among the provinces—in Alberta, people with
disabilities earn 66 per cent of the income of people without disabilities. "
The overhaul is a step in the right direction. However, a significant change people need is for the base amount to be indexed to the cost of living. Currently the base amount is not built on what it costs to live a life with dignity in Alberta.
It's time Alberta! When our province scores a “C” on income for people with disabilities, we need to take action.
Bureaucratic theatrics. Still no increase for AISH recipient's.😠
ReplyDeleteYes, AISH needs go go up. A start would be a bump-up to $1650/month. NOW, also, anyone that is on AISH should automatically be eligible for a Rent Subsidy in the region they are in if the government isn't going to give COLA'S every year.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that has to change is Albertan's attitudes towards people on AISH. I am fed up with people calling us 'Dippers' (mainly Tories/Wildrosers) because they think that we have never contributed anything towards Taxes, CPP, and other programs, while working, most of us were supporting oil workers and trades people too stupid to save money and going on pogey all the time.
So a fair compromise would be an increase to $1650, and anyone who lives on their own...automatically qualifies for a rent subsidy..it costs less to live on our own than institutionalized.
Its unreal as meat goes up food in general if not for food bank i dont know how i would eat..A hundred and fifty a month or something
ReplyDeleteHow many more yrs.are we still getting the same amount..i paid into taxes for 22yrs.i had 2 back surgeries and currently I'm under a specialist careplan
ReplyDeleteI think it would really help if the AB.government and the Feds. and the white collar people need to interview people that Need to be on Aish and Social Assistance
ReplyDelete