Episode Summary

Gordon (wills & estates lawyer) and Annie (disability advocate) sit down with Dr. Gillian Petit—an economist and JD—to unpack Alberta’s proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) and what it could mean for people currently on AISH. The government frames ADAP as “empowering” people to work while keeping needed supports. Dr. Petit puts that claim under a microscope: lowered base benefits, smaller earnings exemptions, missing policy details (clawback rate!), new administrative hurdles, and the reality that only ~16% of AISH recipients currently have employment income. Her takeaway: for most, ADAP may reduce choice—not increase it—and leave many worse off.

Why this matters

• Money: ADAP’s proposed max benefit ($1,740) is lower than AISH ($1,901/$1,940 in 2026).
• Work claims: Government says you can “earn more,” but exemptions shrink and the math may not add up for many.
• Process & power: Forced transition to ADAP, re-applications to return to AISH, and a medical review with no appeal raise serious fairness concerns.

Featured Guest

Dr. Gillian Petit — Senior Research Associate, Department of Economics, University of Calgary. JD (Queen’s), PhD (Economics, UCalgary). Research focus: income supports, poverty reduction, and how policy design impacts real people. Author of the analysis: “The New Alberta Disability Assistance Program: Will It Deliver on Its Promises?”

Key Takeaways

• “Empowerment” vs. reality: Making ADAP the default and forcing re-application to AISH removes choice rather than expands it.
• The numbers problem: With a lower max benefit and a much smaller earnings exemption (and an undisclosed clawback rate), many recipients must earn ~$1,800–$2,500/month just to be better off than on AISH—an unrealistic bar for most.
• Who actually works now? Only ~16% of AISH recipients report employment income, a share that’s been flat for years—even when exemptions were previously made more generous.
• Administrative barriers matter: Re-medicalization and a non-appealable medical review risk excluding people whose disabilities are episodic or complex.
• Policy alternative exists: Improve AISH (supports + fairer clawbacks) without creating a parallel program and wholesale transition.

Memorable Lines

• “The choice isn’t expanded—it’s reassigned.”
• “Generous rhetoric doesn’t pay rent; policy math does.”

Resources & Links

• Dr. Gillian Petit’s article (Substack): The New Alberta Disability Assistance Program: Will It Deliver on Its Promises? [link]
• Alberta Government ADAP Discussion Paper [link]
• AISH program overview & current exemptions [link]
• Contact your MLA / Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services [link]

Call to Action

• Subscribe on your favorite podcast app to catch upcoming deep dives on eligibility, transitions, appeals, and planning.
• Share your story: We’re gathering real experiences from Albertans affected by AISH/ADAP. Email or message us on social.
• Download our ADAP White Paper for a plain-language overview and talking points when contacting your MLA.

Disclaimer

This episode provides general information, not legal advice. For guidance on your situation, please consult a qualified professional.

In this episode of We Advocate, Gordon and Annie continue unpacking Alberta’s proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), this time focusing on income, benefits, and employment expectations under the new system.

The discussion dives into what the government’s discussion paper outlines for people with disabilities who have “some ability to work,” including how income exemptions will change and what the new employment supports might look like.

In This Episode

• ADAP vs. AISH income differences:
  ADAP’s monthly payment is set at $1,740, compared to $1,940 under AISH — a $200 reduction that assumes recipients can make up the difference through work.
• Lower income exemptions:
  The amount individuals can earn before clawbacks drops from $1,072 to $350 per month, significantly impacting those who can only work a few hours.
• Government case studies:
  • Jasmine: A fictional participant who moves from AISH to ADAP, receives employment supports, and supposedly finds 24 hours of work per week — a scenario Gordon and Annie argue is unrealistic for most.
  • Joe: Another case claiming increased earnings through more work hours, despite unrealistic assumptions about wages, supports, and employer availability.
• Employment supports and realism:
  The hosts question whether meaningful, sustained employment opportunities — and qualified job coaching — truly exist at the scale ADAP assumes.
• Systemic concerns:
  • Many individuals on AISH already struggle to find stable, accessible employment.
  • Alberta’s minimum wage hasn’t increased while costs of living continue to rise.
  • The government’s assumption that jobs and supports will materialize may not reflect real conditions.
• The bigger question:
  Why couldn’t these employment initiatives simply be added to AISH, rather than introducing a new system that reduces benefits and adds uncertainty?

Key Takeaways

• ADAP introduces less money and lower income exemptions — even before clawbacks.
• Government case studies paint an overly optimistic picture that doesn’t match the lived experience of most AISH recipients.
• Employment supports sound good in theory, but questions remain: who’s providing them, are they disability-informed, and are they ongoing?
• Hosts stress the importance of holding the government accountable for ensuring supports are real, continuous, and accessible.
• The next episode will explore how transitions from AISH to ADAP will occur — and what risks recipients may face during the shift.

In this episode, Gordon and Annie unpack eligibility for Alberta’s proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) and how it may differ from AISH. They walk through age, residency, income and asset tests, the medical criteria, and the new adjudication flow. Plus why episodic and complex disabilities may be hardest hit if the rules aren’t nuanced.

In This Episode

• ADAP at a glance: Proposed to run alongside AISH starting July 1, 2026; placement appears to hinge on “ability to work.”
• Baseline eligibility (what we know from the discussion paper):
  • Age: 18–64 (not eligible for federal seniors’ benefits)
  • Residency/citizenship: Alberta resident; Canadian citizen or permanent resident
  • Financial tests: Income limits and asset tests (exempt vs. non-exempt)
  • Medical: Severe, long-term disability not expected to resolve with treatment
• Assets — key exemptions (mirroring AISH today):
  Principal residence, one vehicle (incl. mobility-adapted), RDSP balances, and certain trusts where the recipient is a beneficiary.
• Application & placement: Single application with the government deciding ADAP vs AISH; requires a medical report (physician).
• Adjudication & reviews: Use of adjudicators and a medical review panel is contemplated; concerns raised about no external appeal route and what “re-apply with new info” will look like.
• Episodic conditions & equity: How bipolar, schizophrenia, severe anxiety, and other fluctuating conditions fit when eligibility is judged at a single point in time.
• Practical worry: Families who fought to secure AISH may have to re-prove medical status, straining access to doctors and documentation.

Key Takeaways

• Two-track system: AISH (cannot work) vs. ADAP (some ability to work) sounds simple, but real-life disability is complex and episodic.
• Proof burden rises: Expect fresh medical evidence and more adjudication steps; capacity to work may be interpreted broadly.
• Fairness gap risk: If decisions are final (no appeal), applicants with fluctuating conditions could be locked into the wrong stream.
• Assets still matter: Exemptions like home, one vehicle, RDSP, and some trusts are expected to remain similar—details pending.
• Advocacy needed: Until rules are published, families should document conditions carefully, line up medical support, and prepare for re-assessment.

Resources Mentioned

• Alberta government ADAP discussion paper (add the official link when publishing)

Next up: Do the promised income rules and employment supports under ADAP actually add up? Gordon and Annie dig into clawbacks, exemptions, and what “ability to work” means in practice.

Welcome to the relaunch of We Advocate , a podcast where lawyer Gordon VanderLeek and disability advocate Annie VanderLeek break down the Alberta government’s proposed Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) and what it means for Albertans living with disabilities.

In this first episode, they explore the government’s goals for ADAP, how it compares to the long-standing AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped) program, and why the change has many people worried.

In This Episode

• What is ADAP?
  The Alberta government plans to launch ADAP in July 2026 as a “modernized” program that runs alongside AISH, focusing on those who have some ability to work.
• A Two-Track System:
  ADAP will apply to people who can work in some capacity, while AISH will remain for those who cannot work due to permanent disabilities.
• The Financial Impact:
  • Current AISH benefit: $1,901/month, rising to $1,940 in 2026.
  • ADAP benefit: $1,740/month — a $200 reduction for those deemed able to work.
    The government says this can be offset by increased earnings — but many question how realistic that is given Alberta’s job market and support limitations.
• Health Benefits & Positives:
  ADAP promises continued access to health and prescription benefits even for those working, which Gordon and Annie agree would be a positive — if it’s implemented as promised.
• Concerns About Stigma & Reality:
  Annie points out that the new program risks reinforcing stigma — implying people on AISH aren’t working by choice, when most already face barriers that prevent full employment.
• Bigger Picture:
  Rather than scrap and rebuild, the hosts question: Why not improve AISH instead? They argue the system already allows people to work within set income limits and simply needs refinement, not replacement.

Key Takeaways

• ADAP introduces a two-tier system that separates people with disabilities based on perceived ability to work.
• The $200 monthly reduction creates additional financial strain in an already tight cost-of-living environment.
• Health benefit continuity could be a positive change, but details remain unclear.
• The government’s claim that the disability community asked for this reform appears unsupported by public feedback.
• Gordon and Annie emphasize the need for transparency, advocacy, and community awareness before ADAP rolls out in 2026.