I live alone on disability.
I live in Canada in Alberta. I receive currently some CPPD, AISH, LTD and a government payment for disability credit for $200 that just came out that was then subtracted from AISH. No one government is in charge of everything. There is federal and provincial. If you worked previously, then you can get CPPD.
All in all it doesn’t amount to much.
Enough for me to live modestly in a small apartment in a specific area of the city far from anyone I know. And if that was the way it was it would be fine.
The problem
It isn’t though because some of these things are not guaranteed. Things change abruptly with time. Things become uncertain and you have no idea where you stand.
Alberta
Approximately 80, 000 Albertans are moving from AISH to ADAP in JULY. The new government program. It permits more allowable work ours before they deduct you. It also reduces your income by $200. So everyone gets reduced by 200 dollars which is a lot on a fixed income. A whole lot.
AISH max is $1940 and ADAP will be $1740. Subtract from that your other earnings like CPPD and so forth. For example, I do not make that at all on AISH due to CPPD and I make 200 from Canada Disability Credit
The idea is that ADAP will not replace AISH but be a complementary program for all those ‘deemed’ able to work. Why every single person is being shoved onto it off the get go I have no idea (Aside from those terminally ill, on PDD and over 60)
They have not released any regulations on who can reapply for AISH that has high pay and better benefits. Not how to or who can, as of yet. So it will be quite the surprise for us all and all our doctors. And bog down the entire system.
From what we do hear if you are on ADAP not only are you permitted to earn $700 dollars before reduction but you are expected to work to make up that 200 dollar loss in some way. How they haven’t said. But it may be tracked and monitored in some way.
SEE:
And it is also said if you can unreliably and unpredictably function sometimes you should be on ADAP. Not exactly what an employer wants. And usually we get fired for such things.
I can’t drive so if I worked I have to tack on transportation costs. I can’t take the bus at the moment due to issues with spatial awareness. That would mean about $400 I would have to make to make what I make now.
But I am on LTD and if LTD takes that away because I am working in some sort of capacity then I lose that. Which means I would have to work the full $700. And also lose my pension- so my future income earnings as well.
Financial instability
And not one of us knows what they are doing. Which is the financial instability part. We all have to fully re-apply for AISH all over again with qualifications we are are not aware of yet. With just a month to go.
I am not able to work. But I would be forced to do so. And lose my LTD and pension in the process of being forced to do so. And likely get fired shortly after I start. But on AISH anyway, with lower income because the LTD would be gone. If that happens, I couldn’t live here.
The unpredictability of the future and changes that we have absolutely fundamentally no control over is horrible.
If we can’t work and can’t support ourselves what are we to do?
There is nothing a person can do but wait and try to figure it out when we get more information. That is a lot of people waiting to try and figure it out.
It is a frightening change and absolutely terrifying. To have to wait like this and not know your fate even more cruel. The system can be like this sometimes. I don’t understand the abruptness of the change and why it wasn’t done slowly. That isn’t for me to decide. What is for me to decide how to react and prepare.
The site above suggests everyone on AISH currently and will no longer be so as of JULY 1st to order their entire AISH file and gives instructions on how to do so. So I have done that.
Chronically Nikki 
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