Alberta Income Support: amounts, rules and how to apply

What Income Support is

Income Support is Alberta's last-resort financial help. It is for adults who cannot pay for their basic needs — food, clothing and a place to live — because they are looking for work, working but not earning enough, temporarily unable to work, or unable to work because of a lasting health problem.

It is not only a monthly cheque. People on Income Support also get health benefits, help finding work, help collecting child support, and can ask for one-time amounts for things like a damage deposit, a special diet or an emergency.

The program has two streams, and which one you are placed in changes your amount:

• Expected to Work (ETW): you are able to look for work or train, even if you are working part-time or temporarily unable.
• Barriers to Full Employment (BFE): a chronic health problem or another serious barrier limits your ability to work. The monthly amount is higher.

Who qualifies

You must meet all of these conditions:

• Live in Alberta and be at least 18 years old.
• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee or refugee claimant.
• Be unable to pay for your basic needs.
• Have no more than $5,000 in RRSPs per adult and no more than $10,000 of equity in vehicles.
• Not have cash or savings above the liquid-asset limit, which is generally three times the core benefit you would receive.
• Be willing to apply for other income you may be entitled to, such as Employment Insurance.
• Give personal and financial information for everyone in your household and follow a plan with your Income Support worker.

Your own income also counts: if it is higher than what the core benefits would pay you, you are not eligible. Gifts and some one-time amounts are treated differently — ask your worker before assuming something counts.

How much you get each month

The monthly core benefit has two parts: core essential (food, clothing, diapers, household and personal needs, telephone, laundry and basic transportation) and core shelter (rent or mortgage, utilities, heating fuel, property taxes, insurance, condo fees). The shelter part depends on where you live.

Expected to Work (amounts effective July 2, 2026)

Barriers to Full Employment

Each additional child adds $30 to core essential and $26 to shelter in private housing. A dependent child aged 18 or 19 who attends school adds $238.

These are the maximums for the household type. Your actual payment is the maximum minus your counted income.

What happens when you work

You keep all of your wages. Only part of what you earn is counted against your benefit, so you are always better off working. The rule is called the earnings exemption.

Worked example

A single adult in private housing, Expected to Work, earns $800 net in a month.

• Exempt: $230 + 25% × ($800 − $230) = $372.50
• Counted against the benefit: $427.50
• Benefit: $860 − $427.50 = $432.50
• Total in your pocket: $1,232.50 instead of $860

The same earnings for a Barriers to Full Employment single adult (benefit $1,000): exempt $575, counted $225, benefit $775, total $1,575.

Net employment income means pay after mandatory deductions. Example computed from the official formula; your worker confirms the final amount.

Extra help on top of the monthly amount

If you qualify, you can ask for extra amounts for specific needs. Some must be repaid. Examples from the official benefits summary:

• Damage deposit: actual cost up to $414 for a single person or couple without children and up to $1,177 for families with children, once every 3 years.
• Private child care: $9 an hour for the first child plus $6 for each additional child, up to $15 an hour.
• Child supplement allowance: up to $238 per child.
• Prenatal needs: $117 a month from the 14th week of pregnancy.
• Special diets: $26 to $132 a month depending on the diet (for example $95 for celiac or gluten-free, $132 for renal failure).
• Children's school expenses: $63 (kindergarten), $121 (grades 1 to 6), $208 (grades 7 to 12).
• Employment and training supports: $590 per adult per calendar year.
• Funeral costs: up to $4,601.
• Fleeing abuse: help with a damage deposit, emergency shelter, relocation and up to $1,177 to set up a new home.

Health benefits

People on Income Support and their dependent children get basic dental care, eye exams and glasses, prescriptions, essential diabetic supplies and emergency ambulance trips, unless they have federal coverage or full employer coverage. When you leave Income Support for work, you may be moved to the Alberta Adult Health Benefit.

How to apply, step by step

1. Create an Alberta.ca Account. A basic account lets you start; staff require you to verify it (with your Alberta driver's licence or ID) before approving the application.
2. Gather identification for you, your spouse or partner and dependents; bank statements for the 60 days before the application for every account; and a medical letter if you cannot work for health reasons.
3. Apply online. If you cannot, make an appointment at your local Alberta Supports Centre. An interpreter can be arranged.
4. Expect up to about 2 weeks. Payments are made 4 business days before the first of the month.

Urgent situation? Emergency financial help for shelter, food, clothing or transportation can be arranged in as little as 2 days. Call the 24-hour Emergency Income Support Contact Centre at 1-866-644-5135. Emergency food benefits can be requested online through MyAlberta Emergency Benefits and are paid by Interac e-Transfer.

Questions: Alberta Supports Contact Centre, 1-877-644-9992 (7:30 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday).

Mistakes to avoid

• Report every change (income, address, people in the home, savings) to your worker right away. A payment you were not entitled to becomes an overpayment you must repay.
• Apply for other income you may be entitled to (Employment Insurance, child support, CPP). The program requires it, and it is often higher.
• Keep bank statements and pay stubs: you will be asked for them.
• If you disagree with a decision, you can appeal. The refusal letter explains how and by when.