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
Trump delivers rambling response to his hush money conviction
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee held a press conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.
Mediterranean diet helps women live much longer, a large new study finds
Women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet lived much longer than those who did not, according to a new study that followed more than 25,000 women for 25 years.
How did Ontario's bankrupt 'Crypto King' travel the world on Scene+ points?
Newly released documents suggest Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ paid for months of world travels with $13,000 worth of Scene+ points while bankrupt – but how?
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
Solutions coming for piled-up bodies outside Newfoundland hospital
Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador say they are only weeks away from a solution to move unclaimed human remains out of roadside freezers and into a nearby hospital.
Actor Nick Pasqual charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing estranged girlfriend
An actor who has appeared in film and TV projects like 'Rebel Moon' and 'How I Met Your Mother' has been arrested and charged with stabbing his estranged girlfriend multiple times.
'Unprecedented': Human smuggling from B.C. to U.S. soars, using train, Uber and foot
American prosecutors and law enforcement officers say they're dealing with a huge increase in human smuggling from British Columbia.
The northern lights are returning to night skies across Canada this Friday
If you missed the brilliant displays of the aurora borealis over North America on May 10, you may have another chance to see them on Friday night.
Incendiary device thrown at Vancouver synagogue, Jewish Federation says
An incendiary device was thrown at a Vancouver synagogue Thursday night, leading to increased police presence at local institutions, the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver says.