Alberta Seniors Benefit and Payment Dates for 2022

Are you looking for a government program specific to Alberta Seniors Benefit? If so, then the article is the right one for you. The Alberta Seniors Benefit provides financial support for seniors and disabled adults who meet certain eligibility requirements.
Moreso, this program is in place to help low-income seniors live independently in their own homes.The people who qualify for this program receive a monthly credit on their dental and optical help, a one-time payment once a year for minor home repairs, and one-on-one financial counselling.Alberta Seniors Benefit Payment Dates 2022Every year seniors all over Alberta apply online to receive the Alberta Seniors Benefit. Alberta Seniors Benefit is a monthly payment available to seniors 65 years of age or older.

What is Alberta Seniors Benefit

The Alberta Seniors Benefit program is a monthly payment for low-income seniors in Alberta who are living in their own home. The benefit is based on their annual household income and net assets.This benefit provides a Supplementary Accommodation Benefit for seniors living in approved long-term care or supportive living facilities.

What you need to know about Alberta Seniors Benefit

Alberta Seniors Benefit is a monthly benefit that is a non taxable income supplement. It helps eligible senior households by providing them with a regular payment to help offset their living expenses. Such expenses includes rent, utilities, food and transportation costs. However, you will also be required to pay your share of these expenses. You are assessed on your income, assets and household size. The benefit is to help seniors who do not have an adequate amount of money to survive.Moreso, it is a monthly benefit paid to seniors with an annual income of $27,690 or less, or a senior couple with a combined annual income of $44,965 or less. These income levels are guidelines only and are for seniors whose income includes a full Old Age Security pension.

Eligibility for the Alberta Seniors Benefit

To qualify and gain the money from Alberta Seniors Benefit, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a Canadian citizen or be a permanent resident
• You must be at least 65 years old and above
• Be a recipient of the Old Age Security pension (OAS) and
• Have lived in Alberta region for at least 3 months

Requirements for the Alberta Seniors Benefit

In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements above, you must also meet the income requirements:

1. Meet the requirement for the income threshold for the 2021-2022 benefit year with a maximum of $29,285 for a single senior and 
2. $47,545 for a couple.

Note: Your income amount from the previous year is used to calculate your benefits for the current benefit year. However, the 2021 benefit year runs from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

What Benefits are Available for Seniors in Alberta

I have generated a list of the top benefits available for seniors in Alberta, Canada. All financial support is offered free ‌to Albertan seniors and is funded by the Government of Alberta. The programs include:

1. Alberta Seniors Benefit
2. Special Needs Assistance for Seniors
3. Seniors Health Benefit
4. Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors
5. Coverage for Seniors
6. Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program
7. Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program.

How Much Can You Get in Alberta Seniors Benefit?

Alberta Seniors Benefits are calculated based on:

• Income (joined with a spouse, if you have one)
• Type of accommodation
• Marital/cohabitation status
• Old Age Security eligibility

Maximum Benefit Available for the Alberta Seniors Benefit

If you are a person of senior age, and you live in the province of Alberta. Then you can start applying for the Alberta Seniors Benefit Program. They can help you in different ways to make your life easier. It is really very easy to apply these benefits claims, as well as getting your payments on time as well. Below are lists of Benefits available:

How To Apply for the Alberta Seniors BenefitThe following are the procedure to apply for Alberta seniors benefit:

1. Simply fill out the Seniors Financial Assistance application form and submit it online
2. Depending on your circumstances, you may also be required to complete an income estimate. Also a direct deposit request, an authorization of a representative, and other forms.
3. Submission of either your passport, birth certificate, driver’s license, permanent resident card, or Alberta identification card to confirm your age.
4. After submitting your application via the online portal, you can also fax it to 780-422-5954. If mailing is better, mail it to Alberta Seniors and Housing, Seniors Financial Assistance, PO Box 3100, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4W3.
5. Wait for about 16 weeks and you can apply for retroactive payments for up to 11 months.
6. After the duration, if successful, you will get your financial benefit and if your application is unsuccessful, you can appeal the decision by writing a letter of appeal and faxing it to 780-422-5954. Address it to the Director.
7. However, if your problem is not resolved, write the Assistant Deputy Minister of the Seniors Services Division for a final review.
8. In the case of other general inquiries relating to your application, contact the support centre toll-free at 1-877-644-9992.

Eligibility for Alberta Seniors Financial Assistance

As part of your Senior Financial Assistance application, you are also assessed for two other programs:

1. Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors
2. Special Needs Assistance for Seniors

Nevertheless, payments of the Alberta Seniors Benefit cease after death or if you move permanently out of Alberta.

5 Seniors Financial Assistance and Benefits in Alberta

In Alberta, eligible seniors have access to five additional sources of financial and health assistance.

1. Special Needs Assistance for Seniors

In this program, low-income seniors receive help to pay for medical and personal support. You can receive a maximum benefit of $5,105 per year, depending on your marital status, income, and living arrangement.

Explore the lists below:

1. The program funds appliances and furniture including a bed, dryer, washer, refrigerator, and stove. However, this may depend on your type of housing situation. Microwaves, televisions, and vacuum cleaners are secondary appliances to be claimed.
2. In addition to a CPAP machine, diabetic supplies (e.g. test strips, lancets, needles, antiseptic swabs), nutritional drinks, podiatry, and prescription costs are also provided as health supports.
3. Bed bug treatment, celiac groceries, clothing, home clean-up and medical trips. Even medication administration fees, wigs, and more are all included as personal support.
4. As part of the extra secondary financial support for personal support, housekeeping, yard care, and respite care are covered.
5. To submit a claim online, you will need a receipt or estimate of the cost. The receipts should not be older than 12 months, and some claims may require medical notes.
6. The government cannot fund expenses incurred before you turn 65 years old. Get more information on this program here.

2. Dental and Optical Assistance for Seniors

Seniors with low incomes can get financial assistance for dental and optical care. In addition, if you have already applied for the senior financial assistance program, they automatically enroll you in the dental and optical assistance program. The amount of coverage you can receive is determined by your income and marital status:

The dental fee is a maximum of $5,000 every five years and it includes:

1. Diagnostic, preventive, and restorative services
2. Extraction Services
3. Root canals
4. Procedures relating to gum diseases such as periodontics and root planing
5. Bridges, teeth bleaching, fluoride treatment, crowns, braces, implants, and inlays are not available.

Optical services are subject to a maximum payment of $230 every three years. Prescription glasses and lenses are included in this payment.To find out how much dental services will cost and what your coverage is, call the Alberta Dental Service Corporation (1-800-232-1997).Also, Alberta Blue Cross offers optical services and cost estimates (Edmonton: 780-498-8000; Calgary: 403-234-9666; Toll-free: 1-800-661-6995).

3. Coverage for Seniors

Alberta Blue Cross administers the Coverage for Seniors program. It includes: 

1. Prescription drugs
2. Diabetic Supplies (up to $600 per year)
3. Ambulance services
4. Clinical psychological services (A maximum of $300 per family year)
5. Home nursing care (To  $200 per year)
6. Chiropractic services (up to a maximum of $200 per year)

4. Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program (SHARP)

The program provides low-interest home equity loans to seniors so they can repair or renovate their homes for safety reasons. However, the maximum loan amount offered by SHARP is $40,000. Applicants must meet the following eligibility:

1. You must be at least 65 years of age and listed as the owner of the property in the Land Titles Office
2. You need to make $75,000 annual income or less per year and have at least 25% equity in your home
3. Be a citizen of Canada or a permanent resident
4. Have lived in Alberta for at least three months
5. A registered charge cannot be charged against your title. Including a reverse mortgage, bankruptcy, or a maintenance lien.

Complete the loan application and agreement form and mail it to PO Box 1050 STN Main, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2M1. Be aware that the current interest rate on a SHARP. Despite the fact that you can pay off the loan, the principal and interest become due if you sell the home or are no longer a registered owner. Most times,  if it is no longer your primary residence.They may consider SHARP loan applicants who do not qualify for a SHARP grant. If you would like more information about the Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program, please call 1-877-644-9992 (toll-free).

5. Seniors Property Tax Deferral Program

In this program, they offered eligible senior homeowners low-interest home equity loans so they can defer all or part of their residential property taxes. However, to qualify for the loan, you must apply at least 30 days before the residential property tax is due. The applicant must be at least 65 years old. You must also have a minimum equity of 25% in the house. Fill out the Seniors Property Tax Deferral application to apply.

Phone Numbers of Alberta Seniors Benefit

These are the list of numbers peculiar to each need :

1. Center toll-free line 1-877-644-9992 for all the general requirements about the application
2. 1-877-644-9992 (toll-free) for seniors home adaptation and repair program
3. Toll-free: 1-800-661-6995) for optical services and cost estimate
4. (1-800-232-1997), this is for Dental service corporation.

Conclusion

If you are a senior considering a move to Alberta, you’d be well advised to check out this website. It has all the information you can get your hands on about Alberta Seniors Benefit.In this article, I explored the various benefits available to the seniors of Alberta. I first looked at what is provided by the government and all other things you need to know about it.