Edmontonians protest clawback of federal disability benefit

Disability advocates gathered at the Alberta Legislature on Tuesday, calling out the province’s decision to claw back $200 in federal benefits from those living on provincial income support.

“$200 a month in some cases, that’s a difference between I need to go to the food bank and I don’t need to go to the food bank,” said Dan Pederson, an AISH recipient.

Pederson has a mobility disability and is only working 20 hours a week. He says he’s frustrated that he won’t get the $200 monthly amount through the new federal program.

“I worry as someone who works part-time while living on AISH,” said Pederson.

Azrael Wick, an AISH beneficiary, adds, “With the cost of rent and other bills and food, it’s kinda hard to make ends meet.”

The rally comes in response to a recent move by the province to not pass the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) to those living with disabilities and receive the assured income for the severely handicapped known as AISH.

“A lot of my AISH goes towards rent. Not to mention the fact that the prices of groceries are going up. And also finding employment is also a challenge,” explained Mike Wing, a disability advocate.

Zachary Weeks, the rally organizer, added, “Albertans with disabilities are tired of being treated last. There’s been no communication on how that’s going to impact those who can’t work full time.”

There are approximately 77,000 Albertans on AISH with the maximum payment per person of $1,901 a month. Minister Jason Nixon is defending the claw back, saying the province plans to keep AISH payments the same.

“We have regulations that have been in place under this government, the NDP government, the PC government to calculate individuals’ income, income that you receive from the federal government, including like Canadian Pension Plan, are part of the calculation of income. Alberta has the highest AISH payments in the country,” said Minister Nixon.

Weeks, however, says, “Quite frankly, we’re tired of that rhetoric. It’s equivalent to bragging about the highest steaming pile of garbage. It’s still a pile of garbage. The other provinces certainly are lagging. All they had to do is increase the eligibility cap for how much you can earn on AISH.”

The protest is also hoping to put pressure on Alberta to join other Canadian provinces to pass an accessibility act, to ensure the rights of those living with disability are treated equally.