What is the Alberta Seniors Benefit?
The Alberta Seniors Benefit is a provincial program designed to provide supplementary financial assistance to lower-income seniors in Alberta. This benefit aims to help seniors cover their basic costs of living and improve their quality of life.
Who is eligible for the Alberta Seniors Benefit?
Eligibility for the Alberta Seniors Benefit is based on several factors, including age, residency, income, and marital status. To qualify, individuals must be 65 years or older, a Canadian citizen or a legal resident of Canada, and have lived in Alberta for at least three months before applying. The benefit amount varies depending on the senior’s income level, marital status, and other income sources.
Why was the Alberta Seniors Benefit created?
The Alberta Seniors Benefit was established in 1992 as part of the Alberta government’s efforts to support the senior population in the province. It was created to provide additional financial assistance to low-income seniors, helping them manage the cost of living and maintain a reasonable quality of life. The program was designed to supplement federal benefits like the Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), which are provided to seniors across Canada.
The benefit was introduced by the government led by Premier Don Getty, who was in office from 1985 to 1992. His administration focused on several social welfare initiatives, and the Alberta Seniors Benefit was part of this broader agenda. The program has undergone several updates and modifications over the years to better meet the needs of Alberta’s aging population, reflecting changes in economic conditions and cost of living.