Renewing AISH : report and recommendations of the MLA AISH Review Committee

2005·5.7 MB·English

by  Alberta. Alberta Seniors and Community Supports

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< MLA Committee Letter to Minister

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N February 2005
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RE Flonourable Yvonne Fritz
Minister of Seniors and Community Supports
Dear Minister Fritz:

RATN D As members of the Government MLA AISFI Review Committee, we are pleased to present
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ER E P our final report and recommendations for renewing the Assured Income for the Severely
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T Flandicapped (AISFI) program.
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The recommendations have been developed after listening to and reviewing input
from over 18,000 Albertans, including over 10,000 AISFI clients. We are grateful to the

LA thousands of Albertans who provided their suggestions about how the program can
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better meet the needs of AISFI clients. Our recommendations respond to the issues
raised during the consultation. Although Albertans can be proud of the AISFI program,
we believe that implementing our recommendations will renew the program so it b etter
meets the needs of p eople with a severe and permanent disability.
While we believe there is a n urgent need to implement the recommendations to renew
the AISFI program, we also believe additional work should be done to better coordinate
other Government supports and services for Albertans with disabilities. This is r eflected
in our final recommendation.
It i s o ur hope that the recommendations will help improve the quality of life for persons
with disabilities.
Thank you for the opportunity to undertake this review.
Rob Lougheed, Chair Alana DeLong Dr. Neil Brown
MIA Strathcona
MA Calgary-Bow MLA Calgary-Nose Hill
Table of Contents
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Executive Summary
Introduction 6
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Background O
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Information about AISH 7 EN
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The Need for Change 8 TIO
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The Goal of the Review 8 S
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The Process 8 R
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What We Heard 9 ORT

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Recommendations 13 OM
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Concluding Comments E

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Appendix - R enewing AISH: What We Heard
The quotes and personal stories included in this document are actual stories
submitted during the consultation process. To protect the confidentiality
of the individuals, no names have been included, and in some cases the
comments have been slightly edited.
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Executive Summary
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CO "I think most people do not believe they will ever be in the position of
E needing a p rogram like AISH. But last summer I d eveloped a condition
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that caused my heart to severely enlarge. Because I w as self-employed,
and did not carry separate disability insurance, without AISH, I w ould not
have been able to survive."

RATN D
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ER E P The Government of Alberta is c ommitted to supporting people with a p ermanent disability
E that severely limits their ability to earn a living. The Assured Income for the Severely
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MI Handicapped (AISH) program was established in 1979 to help meet the needs of severely
C- O M disabled Albertans.
In September 2004, the former Minister of Alberta Human Resources and Employment,
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M the Honourable Clint Dunford, responsible for AISH, announced a review of the AISH
program and appointed a G overnment MLA Committee to oversee the review.
There were several reasons to conduct a review of the AISH program. AISH clients had
said that the benefit was too low and the program was not meeting their needs. As well,
when the government announced their response to the Low Income Programs Review
in 2001, they confirmed that AISH would remain a separate and distinct program and
committed to doing a r eview to update AISH. Finally, there was a l egislative requirement
to commence a review of the AISH Act in 2004.
The goal of the review was to identify ways to renew the AISH program to make it m ore
responsive to client needs, while ensuring the program remains available to those who
need it.
Albertans with Disabilities
• About 6.4% of Alberta's population between the ages of 18 and 64 -
or 205,000 Albertans - h ave a d isability
• About 2.4% - o r 75,000 people - h ave a s evere disability
• 1% of Alberta's population - o r 31,700 people - c urrently receive the
AISH benefit
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When the review was announced in S eptennber 2004, a d iscussion guide and questionnaire
was made available that contained six ideas for changes to AISH. The guide was sent to
all AISH clients, many disability organizations, and was also available to the public online.
Two public meetings were held to obtain feedback, and written submissions were also
welcomed. Over 18,000 questionnaires and 130 written submissions were submitted, and
almost 500 people participated in the public meetings. RE
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Throughout the consultation, Albertans were clear about what they felt was needed to ND
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renew the AISH program: TI
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• Almost every respondent identified the need to increase the AISH financial benefit AN
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• 96% wanted to see additional benefits for clients with unique needs beyond the EP
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$850 cash benefit and health coverage T

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• 84% supported having medical benefits separate from income support M
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• 83% supported increases to the employment earnings exemption rates EE

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As well, many respondents said AISH clients should be treated with dignity and respect,
and called for greater flexibility in t he program to better meet individual needs.
In developing our recommendations for renewing the AISH program, we were guided by
the following principles:
• Providing financial security
• Respecting individuals
• Helping individuals succeed
• Ensuring accountability
• Improving program responsiveness
• Improving program effectiveness
Our recommendations for renewing AISH are as follows:
Recommendation #1 (see page 15)
Increase the monthly maximum financial benefit for all AISH clients to $ 1,000, then to $ 1,025
effective April 2006. Starting in 2007, conduct bi-annual reviews of the benefit rate.
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Recommendation #2 (see page 16)
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I Provide supplementary benefits as part of the AISH program, in addition to the base
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D financial benefit, to AISH clients with liquid assets of less than $3,000.
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Increase the employment earnings exemptions as follows:
• Increase by $ 200 a month for singles and couples, the amount that is f ully exempt

RATN D • Increase from 25% to 50%, the exemption rate on income over this amount to a
EER E PO mmaaxxiimmuumm aofm o$ u1n,t0s0 0 w foourl ds in ngolte s b ea n de x e$m2p,t0)0 0 for couples. (Income earned above these
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Recommendation #4 (see page 18)
Discontinue the requirement that AISH clients collect Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits

LA at age 60.
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Recommendation #5 (see page 19)
Review how income is t reated under AISH to clarify rules for what income is f ully exempt,
partially exempt and not exempt.
Recommendation #6 (see page 20)
Retain the asset limit at $ 100,000.
Recommendation #7 (see page 20)
Establish contracts with experts to provide advice to AISH staff regarding complex
eligibility decisions and to the Citizens' Appeal Panel as required.
Recommendation #8 (see page 21)
AISH staff meet with their clients periodically to identify supports and services to assist
clients in moving towards independence.
Recommendation #9 (see page 22)
Improve client service delivery.
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Recommendation #10 (see page 22)
Partner with disability organizations to provide ongoing training for AISH staff.
Recommendation #11 (see page 24) RE
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Work collaboratively with partners to better coordinate supports and services for persons M
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with disabilities. ND
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We sincerely thank everyone who participated in this review and urge the Government to A
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act as quickly as possible to implement these recommendations. R
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Introduction

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N The MLA AISH Review Committee is p leased to provide a summary of input received
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M during the AISH review and our recommendations on how to renew the AISH program to
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7 b ecame disabled at 19 when I w as in the midst of post-secondary
education, I w as hospitalized various times for two years and could not
ORATN D work. If it weren't for AISH, my prescriptions would have forced my
ER E P parents into a second mortgage. I a m happy that I w as able to qualify
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TT for AISH as it h as allowed me to try to be self-sufficient. AISH allowed
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C- O M me to go back to school part-time, and then later on full-time despite
my many health-related problems. AISH allowed me to continue being
somewhat "normal" forthe past few years, and when I w as hospitalized
and unable to participate in society, it g ives me ease of mind from
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financial worries that shouldn't be a concern when your health is in
jeopardy. An improvement to the current program would be great, but
I'm grateful for all the AISH program provides me. "
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Background
Information about AISH
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What is AISH? ME
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Established in 1979, the AISH program provides income support for Albertans who have T
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a p ermanent disability that severely impairs their ability to earn a l iving. The program NS

provides financial benefits to the person with the disability, and comprehensive health AN
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benefits for them and their immediate family members. The Government of Alberta R
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spent $371.4 million on the AISH program in 2003-2004, and budgeted $394 million for T

2004-2005. - C
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What do AISH benefits include?

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AISH includes a maximum cash payment of $ 850 per month and a c omprehensive health
benefit worth, on average, $300 per month. The health benefit includes:
• Premium-free Alberta Health Care Insurance
• Alberta Aids to Daily Living co-payment fees
• Prescription drugs
• Eye care
• Dental care
• Emergency ambulance service
• Essential diabetic supplies
Who receives AISH?
Over 31,700 Albertans receive the AISH benefit:
• 45% have various physical disabilities
• 32% have mental illness
• 23 % h ave developmental disabilities
For half of the people receiving AISH, it i s t heir only source of income.
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The Need for Change
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T In S eptember 2004, Government announced a r eview of the AISH program and appointed
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ND a G overnment MLA Committee to oversee the review.
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RE The need for the review was clear. AISH clients had said that the benefit level was
too low and the program was not meeting their needs. As well, when the government
announced their response to the Low Income Programs Review in 2001, they confirmed
that AISH would remain a s eparate and distinct program and committed to doing a r eview
to update AISH. Finally, there was a l egislative requirement to commence a r eview of the
RATN D AISH Act in 2004.
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TT Other factors influenced the decision to review the AISH program, including:
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• AISH clients and families had indicated they sometimes need additional benefits,
not provided through the AISH program

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L • Recent consultations done by disability organizations, and other government
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reports, had identified the need to improve AISH
• It h ad been six y ears since the program was last reviewed
The Goal of the Review
The goal of the review was to identify ways to renew the AISH program to make it m ore
responsive to client needs, while ensuring the program remains available to those who
need it.
The Process
The MLA Committee reviewed the results of previous consultations on AISH, along
with reports done by government and disability organizations, and developed a
discussion guide to serve as the basis for the AISH consultation. The guide, released in
September 2004, presented six ideas for changing AISH.
Copies of the discussion guide were sent to all AISH clients and to about 4,000 disability
organizations and other groups. Copies of the guide were also available through MLA
offices, public libraries and online.
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