Alberta Government to Re-Index AISH, Seniors Benefits to Inflation

The Alberta government will re-index benefit payments to inflation for nearly 300,000 people, the minister of seniors, community and social services announced Wednesday.

Minister Jeremy Nixon said he's working to get Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), income support benefits and seniors' financial assistance unfrozen "as soon as possible," but could not provide a timeline.

"This is obviously one we want to make sure that we get right," Nixon said in an interview Wednesday. "Getting the right number is critical. And we also understand the urgency of this."

In 2018, the former NDP government tied the value of those benefits to the cost of living in Alberta.

After its election in 2019, the United Conservative Party government suspended that policy, saying the province couldn't afford the increased costs while running deficits.

The province is forecasting a $13-billion surplus this year.

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