Open ProvincesSocial assistance in Alberta: how to apply for income support
How to apply for income support (welfare) in Alberta: where to start, what to bring and what to expect, from the official pages.
How to apply
Income Support: you must live in Alberta, be 18 or older and be a citizen, permanent resident, refugee or refugee claimant who cannot pay for basic needs, with savings under the liquid asset limit. Start online at MyAlberta Emergency Benefits, then call the Income Support Contact Centre to confirm eligibility (about two weeks). AISH and ADAP are separate programs for people with disabilities; from July 2, 2026 only Disability Income Assistance applications are accepted.
Benefit amounts and asset limits change and some pages disagree, so they are not listed: ask the program. Rules, fees and programs change and were read on 2026-11-14: confirm with the official source. General information, not legal advice. Quebec follows its own rules: see atlasquebec.ca.
Guides for this province
- Renting in Alberta: rights, rent increases and average rents
- Working in Alberta: minimum wage, standards and wages
- Moving to Alberta: health card, driver's licence and taxes
- Cost of living in Alberta: prices, rent, wages and taxes
- Buying a home in Alberta: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
- Health care in Alberta: health card, drug plans and dental help
- Studying in Alberta: tuition, student aid and grants
- Seniors in Alberta: pensions, supplements and programs
- Taxes in Alberta: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
- Families in Alberta: child benefits and family programs
- Documents and ID in Alberta: birth certificate and change of name
- Starting a business in Alberta: register a name, GST/HST and licences
- Problems and disputes in Alberta: consumer complaints, small claims, workplace injury and legal aid
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- Getting married in Alberta: marriage licence, fees and documents
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- When someone dies in Alberta: death certificate, estate and probate
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- Disability income and supports in Alberta: how to apply
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- Help for family violence and victims of crime in Alberta
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