Alberta affordability payment applications open Wednesday
Posted Jan 14, 2023 2:11 pm.
Last Updated Jan 17, 2023 4:31 pm.
The Alberta Affordability Plan (AAP) online portal opens on Wednesday at 9 a.m., with applications open until June 30.
Eligible households in the province making less than $180,000 annually qualify for $100 affordability payment for six months.
This is part of the provincial plan to help seniors, families with children under 18, and Albertans on benefit programs pay their bills.
Monthly $100 affordability payments for families, seniors and vulnerable Albertans will be released soon, and Albertans can act now to get ready. To learn more, watch the video or visit https://t.co/oZ5w5LADFd pic.twitter.com/gBTNZYE2ed
— Alberta Government (@YourAlberta) January 14, 2023
People receiving Income support, AISH, Alberta Seniors Benefit, or services through Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) will automatically receive their payments.
Families with children under 18 will need to apply.
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People interested in receiving the payment should confirm their eligibility online and sign up for an Alberta.ca account, which was previously known as MyAlberta Digital ID, the province says.
After submitting the application, payments will be either directly deposited or paid by cheque at the end of the month. Cheque payments will take longer to be paid.
Late submissions applied after the beginning of the application period will be “retroactive to the first month you are eligible,” and all payments will be made by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Public Interest Alberta (PIA) said the measures are not enough, as Albertans are hit hard by the “affordability crisis,” and the measures do not address the root cause.
“Food banks can’t keep food on their shelves. Homelessness has more than doubled across the province, and families are sinking further and further into debt,” said Bradley Lafortune, executive director at PIA. “Albertans deserve better than sleepless nights with their stomachs in knots wondering how they will pay their utility bills, feed their families, or make rent or mortgage payments.”
“While the $100 per month for six months offered to seniors, AISH recipients, and children will provide some temporary relief, it will not address the problem at the root,” he explained. “Albertans are suffering with sky-rocketing costs as grocery stores and utility companies are posting record-breaking profits. The pay gap between CEOs and Canadian workers recently hit an all-time high.”
The payments are non-taxable.
