(alberta.ca/aish.aspx)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

at wits' end

Red Deerians frustrated with AISH’s lack of inflation

Jul 13, 2022 | 9:32 AM

“We’re people too,” says Gary Mottl, referring to himself and wife Stephanie, who’ve long relied on Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) to get through life.

The couple doesn’t get the sense that the provincial government really cares, however.

Gary, who was born with shorter than usual tendons, has been on AISH for roughly 20 years. He also has Asperger’s and social anxiety disorder.

Stephanie has health issues too, and while more able to work, lost her job around the start of the pandemic, and had to claim Employment Insurance (EI).

Doing so prompted the government to claw back Gary’s AISH cheque, which amounts to $1,685 each month, the maximum amount.

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“For starters, they haven’t increased AISH at all with all the inflation we’ve seen. In late 2018, the NDP had committed to indexing AISH, but when the UCP took power, they killed it,” says Gary. “Then I lost about half my cheque when Stephanie went on EI, and let’s just say that made things quite difficult.”

Stephanie also applied for AISH, but has been waiting almost a year for approval as they jump through the necessary hoops. The Mottls told rdnewsNOW today that her application was rejected.

“They’re worried about people getting on AISH and are faking it,” she says. “I have an appointment with my psychiatrist coming up to assess me for the AISH application. I have weight issues, other physical problems like flat feet, I’m doing physio for my ankle, I have ADHD and delayed speech. These are medical problems I can’t control.”

Gary and Stephanie Mottle, residents of Red Deer. (Supplied)

In a statement to rdnewsNOW, the Ministry of Community and Social Services says it recognizes AISH’s importance.

“That is why Alberta’s AISH rates at $1,685 are the highest among the 10 provinces. At over $1.4 billion, this is the largest budget AISH has ever had as well,” Justin Marshall, press secretary for Minister Jason Luan, says. “We know inflation is affecting Albertans right now and that is why Alberta’s government is working hard to find solutions to address this issue.”

The ministry wouldn’t directly answer our question asking if they’ve considered re-indexing AISH, nor if they’ve dismissed that option entirely.

Marshall does note the UCP’s recent announcement that AISH can be applied for online, aligning with their commitment to reduce red tape. He says the average application takes seven weeks from when they are sent for medical adjudication.

Marie Renaud, Minister Luan’s critic with the Opposition NDP, points to the UCP’s statement about having the highest AISH payments in Canada as short-sighted.

“They used to say it was the highest in Canada, which it was not. The Yukon and Northwest Territories are higher, but it doesn’t matter if it’s the highest anyway,” says Renaud, MLA for St. Albert. “The reality is that $1,685 a month for someone with severe disability is below the poverty line. What we’ve seen since the government cut these benefits in 2019 is people sinking further and further behind. So, I feel that statement is incredibly disrespectful and misleading.”

According to the Alberta Living Wage Network, the living wage for Red Deer in 2021 was $17.15 per hour. At $1,685 per month on AISH, divided by a full-time work schedule of 150 hours over four weeks, that comes to about $11.25 per hour.

Meantime, Alberta.ca shows the Consumer Price Index went from 148.6 in May 2021 to 159.2 in May 2022 — a 7.1 per cent increase. Across Canada, food costs are up 7.2 per cent, energy costs are up 31.7 per cent, and transportation is up 12.3 per cent — yet AISH remains stagnant.

The province’s current AISH budget is higher than ever, but Renaud says of course it is because there are more people on it than ever before with growth of the province.

The number of Albertans receiving AISH is around 70,000.

“It’s gaslighting. They’re not hearing the real stories of people losing their homes, having to skimp on medical supplies, be it for incontinence, diabetes or something else, just so they can eat,” says Renaud. “When indexing happened in 2018 under Rachel Notley, it was amazing. The disability community had been asking for this for a very long time, as a basic step to keep pace with inflation. They always need to beg for more, it seems.”

When Bill 26 – An Act to Combat Poverty and Fight for Albertans with Disabilities was passed on Nov. 29, 2018, it received near unanimous support from NDP and UCP MLAs alike. The few who opposed it were not recorded.

For the Mottls, they estimate inflation has forced them to spend nearly $200 more on monthly groceries compared to two years ago, further guessing they’d need AISH to be $2,000 to make life not so stressful.

“That would be just to keep up with everything. It wouldn’t be comfortable, but it would help,” says Gary, who’s disillusioned with the province at this point.

“I don’t think there’s really anyone in power who would even listen at this point. But if they did, I’d remind them that they need to have compassion for people less fortunate than they are. We have dreams and hopes, but a lot of people like us don’t get to achieve those because we can’t afford it.”

He’s also felt trapped during the pandemic due to a severe kidney condition, which virtually stopped him going out in public for fear of contracting COVID-19.

“I’d love to work,” says Gary. “But finding a job that fits my array of disabilities is almost impossible.”

READ MORE: Anxiety high over changes to AISH payments