The Alberta Affordability Action Plan offers direct payments of up to $600 per eligible individual to offset higher costs of living due to inflation.
It is expected to cost $2.8 billion and was launched on January 18.
Families with children under 18 will receive $600 in total per child over the next six (6) months if their household income is below $180,000. Seniors aged 65 and older with similar incomes also qualify.
Other recipients include individuals receiving Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD), or Income Support.
What is the Alberta Affordability Payment Plan?
Alberta’s Affordability payments are a tax-free financial benefit designed to help Albertans cope with increasing costs of everyday goods and services due to high inflation rates over the last year.
The program launches on January 18 and will involve monthly payments for six (6) months, from January to June 2023.
The Affordability Action Plan comprises payments to three categories of individuals:
- Families with children under 18
- Seniors aged 65 and older
- Vulnerable residents
Affordability Benefits For Alberta Families with Children
Families with children under 18 can apply and receive benefits for each dependent child if their household income is below $180,000. This income threshold is based on their 2021 tax return.
Each eligible child receives $100 monthly for a total of $600 per child over six months.
Affordability Payments for Seniors
Seniors aged 65 and older are eligible for $100 monthly benefits (for a total of $600) if their household income is below $180,000.
Those receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit are automatically enrolled and do not need to sign up. The top-up benefit is paid out monthly starting on January 31.
Seniors with kids under 18 can apply for them separately.
Affordability Payments to AISH and Income Support Recipients
If you receive AISH PDD or Income support benefits, you are automatically signed up for the Affordability Payments.
You will receive $100 monthly for six (6) months, starting January 31.
If you have kids under 18, you can submit their applications separately.
Alberta Affordability Payment Dates
Seniors receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit and those on AISH will begin seeing payments starting on January 31. These payments will be issued as direct deposits or physical cheques, depending on how you receive other monetary benefits. Cheque payments will take longer.
Other applicants will receive payments at the end of the month their application is completed. This will vary per applicant.
Payments are retroactive, and you can apply anytime between January 18 and June 30, 2023.
How to Apply for the Alberta Affordability Payment
If you are a client of the Alberta Seniors Benefit, AISH, PDD, or Income Support programs, you are automatically enrolled,
Otherwise, you can apply by signing up for a Verified Alberta.ca Account to access the portal when it opens on January 18.
You can also call 1-844-643-2789 (starting January 9) or 1-844-644-9955 (starting January 16) for assistance.
Alternatively, you can visit a registry agent, or Alberta Supports location for in-person services.
Other Alberta Affordability Action Plan Benefits
Fuel tax relief: The fuel tax is waived from January 1 to June 30, 2023, saving drivers up to 13 cents per litre on gasoline and diesel.
Electricity rebates: Over 1.9 million homes, farms, and small businesses will get $500 in rebates applied to eligible electricity bills. In place until April 2023.
- Natural gas rebates
- 6% increase to the Alberta Child and Family Benefit.
- 6% increase to AISH, income support, and seniors benefits
Related:
Ref. affordability payments. Applied for and received eligibility for these payments Jan. 22,2023. To date have received one cheque no. 0013716118 for $600 in the name of Sandra Jordan but nothing in the name of Robert Jordan.The application was for both and approved as such and I would appreciate information regarding the payment of the remaining payment presumably in the name of Robert Jordan.
Thank you.
@Robert: I can’t say for sure, but that payment may be for the household. You can follow up with them to confirm.