Alberta’s income support landscape includes a diverse range of programs to help those unable to meet their financial needs. Though these programs play an important role in protecting Albertans from the most severe consequences of poverty, the complexity of eligibility criteria places a substantial burden on applicants and government bureaucracy. Furthermore, gaps in benefit coverage and relatively small payments leave many recipients unable to achieve a basic standard of living.
This paper is the first in a four-part series that will examine Alberta's income support landscape and identifies opportunities to align and streamline benefit programs. In identifying policy opportunities, VCC focused on improving well-being for benefit recipients and reducing administrative burden.
Recommendations have implications for all orders of government and center around three general themes:
- simplifying access to benefits,
- aligning programs to reduce gaps and disincentives to employment, and
- strengthening the adequacy of the benefits provided.