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Albertans with disabilities will soon see one of the most significant changes to provincial support services in decades as the Alberta government prepares to launch the new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) this July.

The program, announced as part of Budget 2026, is designed to provide enhanced financial, employment, health and personal supports to Albertans with severe disabilities who are able to work, while the existing Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program will continue supporting those unable to participate in the workforce.

Current AISH recipients are expected to begin receiving letters this month outlining whether they will remain on AISH, transition to ADAP, or be affected by upcoming regulatory changes.

According to the province, approximately 50,000 Albertans are expected to transition into the new ADAP system, while roughly 30,000 current AISH clients will remain under the existing program automatically. Those automatically remaining on AISH include Albertans with severe developmental disabilities, individuals receiving palliative care, residents of continuing care homes and individuals aged 60 or older.

Provincial officials say the new system was created after more than a year of consultations involving medical professionals, disability advocates, service providers, families and Albertans living with disabilities. Public engagement included surveys, tele-townhalls, written submissions and meetings with advocacy organizations across the province.

A central focus of ADAP is reducing barriers to employment without penalizing recipients for seeking work opportunities. The program’s core financial benefit will be set at $1,740 per month, while former AISH recipients transitioning into ADAP will receive an additional $200 monthly transition benefit until the end of 2027, ensuring their payments remain at existing AISH levels during the adjustment period.

The province says ADAP recipients will be allowed to earn up to $700 per month before benefits begin to decrease. Even beyond that threshold, deductions will be gradual, beginning at less than one cent reduced for every additional dollar earned. Officials state recipients may earn more than $45,000 annually while still maintaining eligibility for financial assistance — a threshold the government describes as the highest employment income exemption among comparable disability assistance programs in Canada.

Importantly, health benefits under ADAP will continue regardless of employment income, a move advocates have long argued is essential in encouraging workforce participation without fear of losing critical medical coverage.

Additional changes also include expanded exemptions for spousal pension income and updated child benefits designed to better align with other federal and provincial child-related supports, including the Canada Child Benefit. The government estimates approximately 7,000 families receiving disability assistance will see increased child benefits under the revised structure.

Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services Jason Nixon described the launch as a major step forward for disability supports in Alberta.

“We made a promise to Albertans to improve supports for persons with disabilities, and with the launch of ADAP, we’re delivering on that promise,” Nixon said in a statement. “To the thousands of Albertans with disabilities who have been overlooked for decades and will finally be able to receive the support they need from ADAP – we see you, we hear you, and help is coming this July.”

The province has also announced it will cover the cost of one medical reassessment for current AISH clients who transition to ADAP and later request reassessment for AISH eligibility.

Albertans seeking more information, including access to an online benefits calculator, can visit the provincial government’s ADAP information portal. For more information about the Alberta Disability Assistance Program, visit the Goverment of Alberta website at www.alberta.ca/alberta-disability-assistance-program.

Information for this article was sourced from the Government of Alberta website.