What is Alberta Works, and how does it work?

Alberta Works is an integrated system of provincial programs and services provided by the Alberta government, designed to help unemployed and low-income Albertans find work and meet their basic needs. The system was fully implemented in 2004 as part of the province's social assistance reform, replacing previous social assistance programs with a more employment-focused approach.

Alberta Works operates under the Alberta Ministry of Social Services and is the foundation of the province's strategy to combat poverty and unemployment. The program is based on the principle that the best way to overcome poverty is through employment, so all services are designed to help people achieve self-sufficiency through stable employment.

Key components of Alberta Works

Alberta Works consists of four main service areas that work together to provide comprehensive support:

1. Income Support

Income Support is the central program of Alberta Works, providing financial assistance to Albertans who do not have sufficient resources to meet their basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

Eligible recipients:

  • Expected to Work (ETW) – individuals who are looking for work, working but not earning enough, or temporarily unable to work
  • Barriers to Full Employment (BFE) – individuals who are unable to work due to chronic health problems or other barriers to employment
  • Emergency Allowance – for individuals who have experienced an unexpected one-time emergency

Eligibility criteria:

  • Reside in Alberta
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or person seeking asylum
  • Unable to pay for basic needs
  • Assets do not exceed: $5,000 in RRSPs per adult, $10,000 in equity in vehicles
  • Willingness to apply for other income programs for which the person may be eligible

2. Health Benefits

The Health Benefits program provides coverage for medical services for Income Support recipients and their families:

Coverage includes:

  • Dental care
  • Prescription drugs
  • Eye exams and glasses
  • Basic diabetes supplies
  • Emergency ambulance services
  • Basic over-the-counter medications

3. Employment Services

Employment Services provides free career and employment services to all Albertans, regardless of their status in the social assistance system. These services are designed to develop skills, provide training, and assist with job searches.

Key services include:

  • Transition to Employment Services – individualized services to obtain and maintain employment, including job matching, work experience, and short-term training courses
  • Integrated Training – competency-based training that combines vocational skills, work experience, and basic skills
  • Self-employment – formal training in all aspects of running a business
  • Workplace Training – on-the-job training and paid work experience
  • Immigrant Bridging – training for immigrants with prior skills and education

How to access:

  • Online through the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS)
  • By phone through the Career Information Hotline: 1-800-661-3753
  • In person at over 50 Alberta Works/Alberta Supports centers across the province

4. Child Support Services

Child Support Services helps low-income single parents obtain child support from the other parent. This program recognizes that child support has the greatest financial impact on low-income families after wages.

Services include:

  • Gathering information from both parents
  • Helping locate the other parent
  • Confirming parentage through DNA testing, if necessary
  • Negotiating an agreement with the other parent
  • Going to court to obtain an order if negotiations fail
  • Registering agreements and orders with the Child Support Enforcement Program

Structure and organization of Alberta Supports

As part of the evolution of Alberta Works, a broader system called Alberta Supports was created, bringing together more than 30 programs and 120 services. Alberta Supports is a modern organizational structure that provides access to all Alberta Works services and additional support programs.

Alberta Supports Centers

There are over 50 Alberta Supports Centers across the province that provide in-person services to residents. These centers are open Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and are closed on public holidays.

Main locations include:

  • Calgary (6 centres)
  • Edmonton (multiple centres)
  • Red Deer
  • Lethbridge
  • Grand Prairie
  • Fort McMurray
  • More than 40 other communities across the province

Contact Information and Access

Alberta Supports Contact Centre:

  • Toll-free: 1-877-644-9992
  • Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
  • Assistance available in over 100 languages

24-hour Income Emergency Support Centre:

  • Toll-free: 1-866-644-5135
  • 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Financial aspects and payments

Income Support payment amounts

The amount of Income Support you receive depends on your needs, ability to work, and family size. The program provides assistance to cover:

  • Basic expenses (food, clothing, housing)
  • Child care
  • Special diets
  • Utility bills
  • Work-related expenses
  • Unexpected emergencies
  • Costs of leaving domestic violence
  • School expenses for children

Payment dates

Income Support and AISH payments are made on the 4th working day of the month. If this day falls on a weekend or public holiday, payments are made on the previous working day.

Working while receiving support

Income Support recipients are encouraged to work. The system allows them to keep all of their earnings, with only a portion of their earnings taken into account when calculating the amount of assistance. This creates incentives to work without penalizing people for earning income.

Specialized programs and services

Programs for people with disabilities

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) is a separate program for Albertans with disabilities. AISH provides:

  • Monthly living assistance
  • Monthly assistance for children
  • Personal benefits
  • Medical benefits

Employment programs for vulnerable groups

EmployAbilities provides specialized employment programs for people with disabilities across Alberta:

  • Learn 2 Earn for youth aged 15-30 with disabilities
  • Restart Your Career for returning to the workforce
  • Strive 4 Work for people with barriers to employment
  • EmployAbilities for Newcomers for new Canadians with disabilities

Self-employment programs

Alberta Works supports self-employment through specialized programs such as Business Works Central Alberta (BWCA), a free 26-week self-employment training program for unemployed or underemployed Albertans.

Evolution and development of the system

Historical development

Alberta Works was fully implemented in 2004-2005 as part of the province's social assistance reform. This reform replaced the traditional “welfare offices” with “employment and training offices,” reflecting a shift in philosophy from passive assistance to active employment support.

The Income Support program (formerly Alberta Works) was introduced in 2004 under the Income and Employment Supports Act, which was passed in 2003 and came into effect in January 2004.

Recent modernizations

In 2022, a new online application system for Income Support and AISH was launched, allowing Albertans to apply for assistance 24/7 from anywhere using a computer or mobile device.

Statistics and effectiveness

According to 2023-2024 data, approximately 5% of Income Support cases had employment income. Among those receiving BFE assistance, less than 0.5% had employment income, while among AISH recipients, the figure was over 16.4%.

Partnerships and collaboration

Alberta Works works closely with the federal government through the Canada-Alberta Workforce Development Agreement, which coordinates workforce development and training efforts.

The program also actively collaborates with private service providers, who are selected through a competitive procurement process to provide training and employment services.

Challenges and oversight

According to the 2024 report of the Auditor General of Alberta, the Income Support program needs improved oversight. The auditor noted that the province does not publicly report on whether people receiving assistance are receiving enough money to meet their basic needs, and does not track how people are doing in the medium and long term.

Conclusion

Alberta Works represents a comprehensive and integrated support system that goes well beyond traditional social assistance. Focusing on employment as the primary pathway to self-sufficiency, the program combines financial support with active employment services, health benefits, and family support.

The system continues to evolve, incorporating new technologies and approaches to better serve Albertans. While there are challenges related to oversight and effectiveness, Alberta Works remains an important tool in the province's strategy to combat poverty and unemployment, serving tens of thousands of Albertans each year and helping them achieve economic independence.