Alberta woman says those on disability benefits will miss out on feds’ rent top up

A 60-year-old woman who relies on provincial and federal disability benefits says she and other Albertans like her are ineligible for the federal government’s one-time rent top-up payment.

Kaeleigh Kaufman has had to rely on Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and CPP-D since June 2011, when she says she became chronically ill.

She receives $20,325 a year — monthly CPP-D payments federally topped up to a cap limit by AISH provincially.

But that means her 2021 net income surpasses the rent top-up criteria by $325 annually.

“Which amounts to $27 a month… That’s two jugs of milk, a loaf of bread and some sandwich meat,” Kaufman said.

The government of Canada opened applications Monday for the one-time top-up as part of the Canada Housing Benefit (CHB) program — an initiative that would put $500 in the pockets of low-income renters as rent costs soar across the country.

To qualify, renting families must have a net income of less than $35,000 a year, or renting individuals must make less than $20,000, according to a government statement on the website.

Applicants must also spend at least 30 per cent of their adjusted net income on shelter in order to qualify for the $500 benefit.

Kaufman said since a rent increase in April, she’s been spending 51 per cent of her net income on rent. Her rent is scheduled to go up again in January, meaning she’ll be putting 60 per cent of her income towards rent, she said.

“In Alberta, no one pays 30 per cent on their rent. We’re looking at 50, 60, 70 per cent of income going to rent.”

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After reading about the planned eligibility requirements for the top up, Kaufman emailed the prime minister and several ministers weeks ago about the Alberta income issue. She also sent copies of her correspondence to Premier Danielle Smith and Opposition NDP leader Rachel Notley.