Southern Alberta family facing tough times due to AISH benefit policies
A Raymond, Alta., family of eight is struggling after their Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) was cut in half because of Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) coverage.
The family says changes to certain policies need to be made to prevent the same thing from happening to others.
It's been 10 months since Andrew Smith, a husband and father of six, re-injured his knee at work and had to go on workers' compensation while waiting for surgery.
Following a review last month of his wife's AISH, their benefits were cut by almost $1,000.
"We are a low-income family on AISH," Smith said.
"I work, or did work, until I got injured in August and this month, we woke up to find that over half our benefit was cut from AISH because I’m on WCB because I got injured at work."
They say they were informed by AISH they are unable to collect two supplementary incomes despite the current situation.
"In my mind, workers' compensation is an insurance policy," Smith told CTV News.
"Whereas, with programs like EI, you're starting new and so I don't think they should be considered the same and that's the issue with the policy."
The Office of the Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services issued the following statement to CTV News:
"A family can earn up to $2,612 per month with no deductions to an individual’s AISH benefits. Whereas, a spouse or partner receiving WCB can earn up to $875 per month without deductions. Seventy-five per cent of income earned over that amount would be deducted."
Smith says they reached out to AISH to see what could be done and were told the policies are set by the provincial and federal governments.
"They finally got back to us and told us that there's nothing they can do about the policy, however, they'll do everything they can to keep our family in our home."
Smith says they're grateful for the help and support from their friends, family and landlord, but any public fundraising effort like a GoFundMe would further cut their benefits.
"I'd like the government to actually look into these policies that haven't been changed for 20 or 30 years," Smith said.
"They need to be looked at. They need to be rewritten, and with the idea that these programs are to help Albertans."
Smith is on a waiting list for knee surgery, but it may take until the fall before he can get back to work and off WCB.
CTV News reached out to Grant Hunter, MLA for the Taber-Warner riding, but has yet to hear back.
The Smiths say they've been speaking with Hunter with hopes to meet in person early next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Potential tornado 'surreal' for residents who witnessed damaging storm in southern Ontario
Witnessing a potential tornado was 'surreal' for residents who caught a glimpse of the damaging storm in southern Ontario on Wednesday night.
Was this the bug that stung you? Wasp sightings revive murder-hornet concerns; no detections confirmed
As temperatures rise out of a mild El Nino winter, Canada's buggy season is already upon us again, and this year, the bugs are looking especially big.
Minister tables bill to extend citizenship rights to children born abroad
Immigration Minister Marc Miller tabled legislation today that is intended to extend citizenship to some children born outside of the country.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
Hundreds have applied for this 'adventurer' job in Banff National Park
Coined as Banff's 'ultimate summer job,' the Moraine Lake Bus Company says hundreds of people from across the world have applied for its adventurer position.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
Jennifer Lopez's response to question about Ben Affleck is a reminder of their decades of love in the spotlight
Plenty of people are wondering if Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are having problems in their marriage, but one person had the nerve to ask in a public forum.
U.S. Justice Department says illegal monopoly by Ticketmaster and Live Nation drives up prices for fans
The U.S. Justice Department filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment on Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America -- squelching competition and driving up prices for fans.
Adding just 10% ultraprocessed foods to healthy diets may raise risk of cognitive decline, stroke
Eating more ultraprocessed foods is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke, even if a person is trying to adhere to a Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet or the MIND diet, a new study found.