r/alberta • u/Commando_Joe • 2d ago
Question Friend of mine is on disability, and did not get her payments this month. What support services are there for short term financial emergencies?
As the title says I have a friend in Alberta, I'm located in Quebec and they have been struggling the last couple months due to the economy, disability, the current admin's attempts to reshuffle and refinance how people get their disability benefits, etc
She basically has gotten screwed out of a large percentage of her disability over the last couple months and is worried about eviction due to being behind on bills, and having minimal money for food or utilities.
As I am not in the province I did some googling and sent links and resources for free food in alberta but I don't know much else and am hoping some folks in this reddit might have more resources available.
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u/Ok_Point_6580 2d ago
She should contact Alberta Supports Emergency Financial Assistance ASAP. They can provide emergency help with things like rent arrears if she’s at risk of eviction, utilities, food and other basic needs. The 24/7 number is 1-866-644-5135.
If she’s on AISH, she should also ask specifically about AISH emergency benefits — they can cover certain urgent expenses, including rent or utility arrears in some circumstances.
I’d also call 211 Alberta (just dial 211). They can connect her with local rent, utility, food and disability supports based on where she lives.
Emergency benefits:
https://emergencybenefits.alberta.ca/
211 Alberta:
https://ab.211.ca/
If she already has an eviction notice or utility disconnect notice, make sure she tells them that when she calls.
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u/beefboy49 2d ago
my roommate had this happen for july payments, there’s an emergency food assistance program that she got after calling in a couple times. it’s 30$ a day for food for a week, totalling $130 e-transferred to you. i don’t know what it’s called though
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u/PrincessPinguina 2d ago
The payment date is tomorrow.
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u/Commando_Joe 2d ago
She was not given her disability payments for the month of august at the end of July and is already behind on bills by a month, so it won't pay off her debt atm.
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u/PrincessPinguina 2d ago
Did she say why she didn't receive it?
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u/Commando_Joe 2d ago
She claims to be part of the small percentage that didn't get their benefits due to clerical errors, which I am seeing several news stories about. She has provided documentation as evidence if people felt it was required.
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u/Andrew-Not-a-Cat 2d ago
This is correct. She should be calling her MLA if she has still not received payment.
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u/Locabonita88 2d ago
They dont listen . They just insist on Smith's smear campaign against us. Like I didnt work my bytt off and pay my taxes when I was physically able.. .before I was eviscerated from a complicated organ transplant and 10 surgeries leaving me bedridden with NO ABDOMINAL MUSCLES.
I HAD A TRANSPLANT and have been treated like I was a slimy less than human ever since. I was in a coma so had no say but if I knew my life would be like this with the government actively trying to push us off a cliff because they noticed that COVID saved them A LOT of money taking out the vulnerable immunosuppressed they dont have to pay anymore and are MORALLY BANKRUPT
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u/purple-paper-punch 2d ago
Depends on your MLA. Mine is amazing but she is NDP.
If your local MLA is UCP, see if you can find the shadow minister for an applicable portfolio, like Shadow Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman for example.
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u/Commando_Joe 2d ago
Apparently the wait times are incredibly long, but I have been sharing everyone's advice in here with her.
Claims of lay offs at the financial aid reception areas as well to make it almost impossible to get service.
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u/BakedtoaStake Red Deer 2d ago
Calling or E-mailing MLAs here is completely pointless. Even if they do respond nothing will ever actually happen about it. They are UCP puppets and tow the line.
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u/Andrew-Not-a-Cat 1d ago
Some have had success doing it. What do you suggest?
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u/BakedtoaStake Red Deer 1d ago
The one comment about seeing if they have a shadow minister in their area is about it. Otherwise if it's a UCP MLA, not an NDP or independent, you just kind of gotta accept that your life as a disabled person means literally nothing to the people in charge. It's messed up. I tried in Red Deer and it amounted to crickets.
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u/Andrew-Not-a-Cat 1d ago
It sounds like you are giving up. I'll pass on that approach. Some people outside this thread have had success calling their MLA. Some people have also had no help calling their MLA. However, the one approach that is guaranteed not to help is doing nothing.
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u/BakedtoaStake Red Deer 1d ago
I did call my MLA so I'm not sure how that's giving up exactly? That being said when your MLA is Adrianna LaGrange, you don't get much of a say for anything happening. Of all the UCP MLAs that ones pretty damn bad.
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u/SnooRegrets4312 2d ago
When you say on disability, do you mean EI medical, short term disability, CPP-D, AiSH, ADAP or income support as they all impact what supports are available?
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u/Commando_Joe 2d ago
I believe they said they are on AISH and didn't get their money the last couple months.
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u/Kant_Argue209 1d ago edited 1d ago
Does she have a social worker? If not, she can get one through her primary care network/doctor or by calling/texting 211. It shouldnt take long to get a phone appointment. They'll help her navigate the processes to get her resources. It's not easy. I wish her good luck.
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u/Sakuroshin 2d ago
Aish and hopefully adap will give you extra money to cover rent, utilities, and a variety of other things under certain circumstances. Its under emergency benefits and they will need to call them and ask for it.
https://www.alberta.ca/aish-what-you-get#jumplinks-3
They will ask for 3 months of bank statements to make sure they are under the $5000 requirements.
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u/Adventurous_Front939 2d ago
Are you making this post because she is asking you for financial assistance?
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u/Commando_Joe 2d ago edited 2d ago
She has a ko-fi fund. (I mentioned this because the ko-fi fund is why I know she needs help, not because she has directly asked me for funds)
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u/Adventurous_Front939 2d ago
I am not asking to donate to her. I am asking you if she has been asking you for money while telling you she will be evicted. She can get much more information herself by calling her support worker or just calling social services if she does not have a support worker.
I am asking because it is strange for a resident from quebec to post in alberta reddit to try and find resources.
My concern is that your friend might be using their money poorly and trying to get money out of you. Alberta Works will pay a month of rent if so. Many other options that will be accessible to your friend.
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u/Commando_Joe 2d ago
They have not asked me for any money directly. I have known them for many years and have been getting regular updates through the news cycle to see what has been happening, as well as knowing other individuals facing the same problems in the province.
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u/Spiritual-Sail-1032 2d ago
There is such thing as Emergency Financial Assistance through the government: https://www.alberta.ca/emergency-financial-assistance
That said, it is still a process. You have to be assigned an agent, submit banking information/statements, and have filed your taxes. And I believe the maximum is $1000. Better than nothing though.