Here is the Alberta Seniors Benefit payment schedule for 2024:
| Month (2024) | Payment Dates |
|---|---|
| January | January 25, 2024 |
| February | February 23, 2024 |
| March | March 22, 2024 |
| April | April 24, 2024 |
| May | May 27, 2024 |
| June | June 24, 2024 |
| July | July 25, 2024 |
| August | August 26, 2024 |
| September | September 23, 2024 |
| October | October 25, 2024 |
| November | November 24, 2024 |
| December | December 17, 2024 |
Source: Alberta.ca
What is the Alberta Seniors Benefit?
The Alberta Seniors Benefit is a program which allows for low-income seniors to receive payments to help with their monthly living expenses.
Am I Eligible for the Alberta Seniors Benefit?
To meet the eligibility requirements to receive the Alberta Seniors Benefit, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Be at least 65 years old.
- Be receiving OAS. If you or your spouse/partner have chosen to delay or defer these payments, you won’t be eligible for the Alberta Seniors Benefit.
- Have lived in Alberta for at least 3 months prior to your application date.
- Meet the financial criteria. In general, this means that to be eligible, total income for single individuals cannot exceed $31,080, and for couples, the combined amount cannot exceed $50,720. These amounts include OAS payments and are based on the January to December period for the year prior to your application.
Alberta Seniors Benefit Payment Amounts
The amount you receive for the Alberta Seniors Benefit will depend on a number of factors, including your income, your spouse or partner’s income (if applicable), whether or not you receive OAS payments, your type of residence, and whether you cohabitate with your spouse or partner.
The easiest way to find out whether you are eligible for the Alberta Seniors Benefit and get an idea of how much you could receive as monthly payments, use this handy benefit estimator tool.
If you’d like to understand how the benefit payment amounts are calculated, check out the following tables.
For single Albertans aged 65+:
| Residence type | Maximum annual benefit (when income is $0) | Phase out rate (the amount the benefit is reduced by for every $1 of income) |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner, renter, lodge resident | $3,792 | 0.1660 |
| Long-Term Care Centre or Designated Supportive Living Facility | $12,312 | Check out Accommodation Benefit rules |
| Other residence types | $2,642 | 0.1158 |
Source: Alberta.ca
For Albertan couples aged 65+:
| Residence type | Maximum annual benefit (when income is $0) | Phase out rate (the amount the benefit is reduced by for every $1 of income) |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner, renter, lodge resident | $5,687 | 0.1663 |
| Long-Term Care Centre or Designated Supportive Living Facility | $16,104 | Check out Accommodation Benefit rules |
| Other residence types | $5,282 | 0.1546 |
Source: Alberta.ca
Did You Know?
The Alberta Seniors Benefit counts as non-taxable income.
How Can I Apply for the Alberta Seniors Benefit?
You can apply for the Alberta Seniors Benefit online, by faxing your application and supporting documents to 780-422-5954, or by mailing them to:
Seniors Financial Assistance
PO Box 3100
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4W3
For help with your application, you can call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre toll-free at 1-877-644-9992 from Monday to Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
The process is lengthy and requires quite a bit of support documentation on your part.
Click here to see a full list of all the required documents and forms needed.
Once your application has been reviewed, you’ll receive a letter in the mail to find out if you are eligible to receive the benefit.
Once you start receiving the benefit, they won’t stop unless you leave Alberta permanently, your eligibility changes due to increased income, or you pass away.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the eligibility requirements for the Alberta Seniors Benefit?
- How can I appeal my eligibility for the Alberta Seniors Benefit?
Tara Al-Khudairihas worked in the financial services industry since 2017. She graduated from McMaster University with a degree in Finance and is pursuing her CFA.
She has worked at a major Canadian financial institution in various client-facing advisory roles, starting as a bank teller and working up to a Client Services Associate within the Asset Management division. She specializes in simplifying concepts of personal finance for people of various financial backgrounds.
When she’s not examining the markets looking for the next SHOP.TO, she’s either practicing yoga, planning her next vacation, or has her nose buried deep in a book.
