Association says comparing AISH to other provinces is irrelevant

Robin Hood Association says comparing AISH to other provinces is irrelevant

• Travis Dosser
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https://www.sherwoodparknews.com/news/local-news/robin-hood-association-says-comparing-aish-to-other-provinces-is-irrelevant

Published on: November 5, 2019 | Last Updated: November 5, 2019 11:05 AM EST

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A group that helps adults with disabilities thinks the United Conservative Party’s pause on indexing for Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) is a step in the wrong direction.

The Robin Hood Association (RHA), which provides services for adults with disabilities in Strathcona County and Fort Saskatchewan, said a majority of their clients receive AISH income to cover their living expenses and this move will hurt them.

“Technically you could say AISH has not been cut by the UCP in this provincial budget, but individuals will not receive any increase in their payments that are indexed to inflation/cost of living,” Ann Marie LePan, chief executive officer for Robin Hood Association told The News.

The pausing is seen as a broken election promise by the UCP, who campaigned on keeping AISH benefits tied to inflation.

“AISH income was increased in January 2019 to $1685 a month from $1588 monthly. This had been the first increase since 2012,” she said.

The pause might have an impact on RHA, according to LePan, who said the groups operating costs have steadily increased, without adequate government funding. She said it is having a serious impact on the organization’s financial sustainability.

“RHA has recently had to increase user fees that are directly charged to the individuals we serve, in areas such as housing/food & household, maintenance, and transportation,” LePan noted. “ Expenses continue to rise, no increase to AISH is a decrease.”

Finance Minister Travis Toews justified the paused indexing but suggesting it puts Alberta more in-line with similar programs in other provinces. As of July 2019, 1.5 per cent of Albertans were receiving benefits through AISH as primary recipients.

“Individuals with disabilities are on a tight budget, it is irrelevant that other provinces income benefits are less,” the Robin Hood Association CEO said. “Alberta should lead our country to be a progressive, compassionate, caring society. We must care for the most vulnerable and provides opportunity and resources needed to empower people to be their best and contribute meaningfully to their community.”

LePan said by indexing AISH, which is a minimal investment, it will reduce the likelihood of more people going further into poverty.

Adequately supporting individuals on AISH is far more effective to help minimize the risk that would likely increase costs put onto other systems like Alberta Health and Justice if people on AISH find themselves struggling to thrive and survive,” LePan added.

Despite the service cuts, spending in 2019-20 will go up 4.2 per cent to $58.7 billion.

The budget — the largest cut to provincial spending on programs in 25 years — projects an $8.7-billion deficit. It puts the province on pace for a modest surplus budget by 2022–23.

tdosser@postmedia.com