Home » Living With Hep C » Financial help in your region

Getting help with costs in your region

Print Page  |  Font Size + -

If you are sick or having trouble finding a job, you may need help paying for food, rent or medicine. There are different programs that can help you with some of these costs. Income assistance, also sometimes called financial assistance or social assistance, is for people who need help paying for these basic needs. If you apply for income assistance, you may want to talk to your case worker about your health and money concerns so they can get you the most help possible.

 
Programs in Alberta

Income Support

In Alberta, you can apply for Income Support from Alberta Works if you need help paying for basic needs such as food, rent, clothing and medicine. The amount of money you can get every month depends on things like how much money you make, whether or not you can work and the size of your family. When you apply for Income Support, you will also get health benefits for you and your family, such as prescription drugs, eye care and dental care. You may also be able to get extra money to pay for things like child care and transportation to medical appointments or job interviews. 

To apply for Income Support, you can call the 24-hour Income Support Contact Centre at (780) 644-5135 in Edmonton or toll-free at 1-866-644-5135 from outside of Edmonton. You can also call or visit your local Alberta Employment office.

If you receive Income Support and you are able to work, you can get money to pay for employment and training programs to help you find work or train for a new job. You can talk to your case worker to find out what program is best for you.

If you have a permanent disability or are living with hepatitis C and you can't work, you can ask your case worker about the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program. This program helps people with disabilities by giving money every month for basic needs, such as food, clothing and rent, and by giving health and personal benefits, like support with addictions treatment and child care. Chronic hepatitis C may or may not be considered a disability by the AISH program. You can call your local AISH office to find out how you can apply. 

If your application for Income Support is turned down or you think that the amount of your monthly cheque is wrong, you have the right to challenge the decision by making an appeal. An appeal can be made by filling out a Notice of Appeals Form and taking it to your local Alberta Employment office.   


 
Programs in Canada

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

If you’ve worked before in Canada, your employer probably made deductions on your paycheque for Employment Insurance (EI) and CPP. When you retire (usually when you’re 65) you can collect CPP but CPP also has a disability program for people who can’t work because they’re sick.

Programs in Canada

Canada Pension Plan (CPP)

If you've worked before in Canada, your employer probably made deductions on your paycheque for Employment Insurance (EI) and CPP. When you retire (usually when you're 65) you can collect CPP but CPP also has a disability program for people who can't work because they're sick. Click here for more information on how to apply for CPP Disability and remember you have the right to appeal if they say you don't qualify.

Employment Insurance (EI)

EI is a program for people who have stopped working because they were laid off (EI Regular Benefits), had a baby (EI Maternity and Parental Benefits) or are too sick to work (EI Sick Benefits). EI payments cover a shorter period of time and it's for people who have had a job in the last year or so.

Jobs with Benefits

Some jobs come with sick pay or disability benefits that can pay you if you have to stop working. You can ask your Human Resources (HR) department what coverage you have at work. You can also ask about Employment Assistance Programs (EAPs) which help people with short-term counselling or referrals.

Published 2010.