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Affordability Action Plan
Alberta’s economy has recovered strongly, but many people are struggling with the rising cost of living due to inflation.
The Affordability Action Plan is taking quick, effective action. The Alberta Government has announced $2.8 billion in new relief measures that will cut costs for all Albertans and businesses, and will provide direct payments to help parents, seniors and vulnerable people with their daily living costs. Here is a summary from the Alberta Government Website:
Affordability Payments
Seniors, families with children under 18, and Albertans on benefit programs will get financial support to help with the rising cost of living.
Seniors with household incomes below $180,000 per year will get 6 monthly payments of $100 for a total of $600. Alberta Seniors Benefit recipients will automatically receive the benefit, there is no need to apply. For all other seniors, details on how to apply will be announced shortly.
Families with household incomes below $180,000 per year will get 6 monthly payments of $100 for a total of $600 for each dependent child under 18 years of age.
Albertans on AISH, PDD and Income Support will get 6 monthly payments of $100 for a total of $600. Payments will be issued automatically the same way you receive your monthly benefit, there is no need to apply.
Vulnerable Albertans
The Affordability Action Plan includes measures to help Albertans with their daily living costs.
AISH Benefits
We are increasing monthly benefits for Albertans with disabilities to help with the high cost of living.
How it works
In 2023, AISH benefits will go up 6%. In future years, benefits will be indexed to inflation. This means the amount will change each year so it keeps up with the cost of living.
New monthly rates
Monthly payments vary depending on your needs and family size. The examples below are the maximum monthly core benefit. Supplementary benefits will also go up 6% and be indexed for inflation.
Core benefits:
$1,787 – Living allowance; $342 – Modified living allowance for those in an approved nursing home, auxiliary hospital or designated supportive living facility
Child benefits:
$212 – First dependent child; $106 – Each additional dependent child
Income Support Benefit
We are increasing monthly benefits for Albertans out of work to help with the high cost of living.
How it works
In 2023, Income Support benefits will go up 6%. In future years, benefits will be indexed to inflation. This means the amount will change each year so it keeps up with the cost of living.
New monthly rates
Monthly payments vary depending on your needs and family size. The examples below are the maximum monthly core benefit. Supplementary benefits will also go up 6% and be indexed for inflation.
Alberta Seniors Benefit
We are increasing monthly benefits for seniors to help with the high cost of living.
How it works
In 2023, Alberta Seniors Benefit will go up 6%. In future years, benefits will be indexed to inflation. This means the amount will change each year so it keeps up with the cost of living.
New monthly rates
$303, up from $286
When payments will go up
Alberta Child and Family Benefit
We are increasing benefits for families with children to help with the high cost of living.
How it works
In 2023, Alberta Child and Family Benefit payments will go up 6%. In future years, payments will be indexed to inflation. This means the amount will change each year so it keeps up with the cost of living.
New annual rates
Annual Alberta Child and Family Benefit amounts, paid quarterly, vary depending on family size. The examples below are the maximum base amount.
$1,330 up to $1,450 – one child; $1,995 up to $2,193 – 2 children; $2,660 up to $2,920 – 3 children; $3,325 up to $3,632 – 4 or more children
When payments will go up
Food Bank Funding
We are helping local food banks and organizations put nutritious meals on more tables by providing $20 million in funding over 2 years.
$5 million each year will be distributed to food banks through the Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta. $3 million to established food banks in December 2022 to purchase and transport food, and help pay for front line staff. $2 million to eligible civil society organizations through the Food Security Grant. $5 million each year will be used to support donation-matching campaigns to encourage more Albertans to donate to their local food bank. We will match up to $5 million in donations received by food banks and related civil society organizations from December 1 to December 31, 2022 through the Donation Matching Grant.
Energy Affordability
Fuel tax relief, electricity rebate and natural gas program have been expanded to help more Albertans this winter.
From January 1 to June 30, 2023, the entire fuel tax will be lifted so drivers save: 13 cents per litre on gasoline and diesel; 4 cents per litre on marked gasoline and diesel. After June 2023, the fuel tax relief program will be reviewed every quarter based on the average price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI). Fuel tax will be suspended when prices exceed $90 and restored when prices fall below $80. Fuel tax will be applied partially when prices are between $80 and $90 – at 4.5 cents per litre from $85 to $89.99 and 9 cents per litre from $80 to $84.99. Fuel tax will not increase more than 9 cents per litre per quarter. The next change to the relief program will occur on July 1 at the earliest.
Note: Fuel tax is still collected on rail, propane and aviation fuels.
The average price savings over 6 months – 50L engine (Toyota Corolla) = $163.20; 93L (Grand Cherokee) = $303.670; 136L (Ford F-150) = $444.00; 1,364L (Semi-trailer) = $4,452.00.
Electricity Rebates
Many Albertans are facing high electricity bills. To help cover the costs, we are providing $500 in rebates to over 1.9 million homes, farms, and small businesses. Monthly rebates will be applied directly to eligible electricity bills, for a total of $500. $50 rebates on power bills from July to December 2022 $75 rebates on power bills in January and February 2023 $25 rebates on power bills in March and April 2023 Rebates will be applied each month and will appear as a credit on your bill listed under the “GOA Utility Commodity Rebate”
Eligible consumers will automatically receive the rebate no application or action is required
Eligibility
You are automatically eligible for the rebate if you are an electricity customer who: is currently connected to the system and receive a monthly bill directly from a utility provider; consumed less than 250 megawatt hours of electricity within the past year; disconnected from the system for missed payment but is still enrolled with an electricity retailer
You are not eligible for a rebate if you: disconnected from the system and are not enrolled with an electricity retailer; don’t receive monthly bills directly from a utility provider because you live in a sub-metered residence (some condos and apartments); only the main site that connects directly to the distribution system is eligible to receive the rebate, if it consumes less than 250 megawatt hours per year; provide yard or street lighting services
Watch out for scams
The Government of Alberta will not send texts or emails about the rebate program and will not ask Albertans to submit information to receive rebates.
Electricity consumers on the Regulated Rate Option (RRO) will be protected from high power bills this winter as part of the Affordability Action Plan.
How it works
Consumers on the RRO will not be charged more than 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour in January, February and March 2023. Any costs above the 13.5 cent price ceiling will be deferred until rates drop and will be repaid over 21 months (April 2023 to December 2024).
This is a temporary measure while we explore longer-term solutions for the RRO to help keep energy affordable for Alberta families.
Natural Gas Rebates
Update: As part of the Affordability Action Plan, the Natural Gas Rebate program will be extended beyond its current March 30, 2023 end date. Details will be announced in the new year once regulations are tabled.
Current rebate rate
To help Albertans manage higher winter heating costs due to volatile natural gas prices, we’re running an energy rebate program from October 2022 to March 2023 to shield consumers from price spikes.
Most Albertans will receive the rebates automatically on their utility bill, but a small number of people not connected to the natural gas system or using other heating fuels will need to apply. Highest default monthly natural gas rate (the Alberta price) for January 2023: $6.446 per gigajoule. No rebate will be credited for the January billing period but price protection is in place and rebates will be offered in February if the monthly rate rises above $6.50/gigajoule.
How it works
Rebates will be applied directly to all eligible consumers’ utility bill if the regulated monthly natural gas rate charged by any one of Alberta’s 3 regulated utility providers is above $6.50 per gigajoule. Each month we will post the highest price default natural gas rate (the Alberta price) from the 3 regulated utility providers (ATCO North, ATCO South, and APEX Utilities).
If the published Alberta price is above $6.50 per gigajoule, rebates will cover the difference between $6.50 per gigajoule and the regulated rate that calendar month. For example, if the Alberta price is $7.50, eligible consumers would get a rebate on their bill covering $1 for every gigajoule used.
Exact timing of the rebates will vary depending on your billing cycle. Program runs from the start of October 2022 until the end of March 2023.
Eligibility
You will automatically receive the rebate on your utility bill if you are a natural gas consumer who: is connected to the system; is on either a regulated or competitive plan; uses less than 2,500 gigajoules of natural gas annually.
You can receive a rebate if your household, small apartment building, farm, or small industrial or commercial operation is not connected to the natural gas system or uses other heating fuels under the maximum limit: Propane: 16,334 litres per month; Heating oil: 10,780 litres per month; Kerosene: 11,068 litres per month; Non-connected natural gas: 417 gigajoules per month
Information on rebate application process for non-connected consumers and those using petroleum-based heating fuels will be available soon.
Watch out for scams
The Government of Alberta will not send texts or emails about the rebate program and will not ask Albertans to submit information to receive rebates.
Income Tax Relief
Many Albertan will receive a higher refund or owe less tax in 2022, and will benefit from lower tax deductions on the paycheques in 2023.
Basic personal amounts, other credit amounts and income thresholds will be indexed to inflation.
Annual basic personal amounts are expected to go up:
2.3% in 2022, an increase from $19,369 to $19,814
6% in 2023, an increase from $19,814 to $21,003
Around 1.3 million tax filers don’t pay any provincial income tax. Nearly 95,000 more Albertans won’t have to pay by 2023.
For full details and to apply to any of these benefits, be sure to check out the Alberta Government website’s Affordability Action Plan.
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