OTTAWA — Alberta Social Services Minister Jason Nixon is urging the federal government to eliminate the standalone application form for the new Canada Disability Benefit (CDB). In a letter addressed to federal Minister Patty Hajdu, Nixon proposed that individuals receiving Alberta’s Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and other provincial disability benefits should automatically qualify for the CDB.

Nixon emphasized that social services fall under provincial jurisdiction and requested that the federal government align with Alberta’s eligibility criteria to simplify access to federal disability support. He noted that the current federal application process, which may require individuals to pay for medical examinations out of pocket, creates a "significant barrier" to access for many Albertans.

"We’ve heard concerns from Albertans with disabilities who are encountering barriers in applying for the CDB," Nixon stated in his letter. Applications for the maximum benefit of $200 per month opened in late June. However, medical examinations needed to determine eligibility can cost between $200 and $400 in Alberta, according to the Office of the Advocate for Disabled Persons.

The Liberal government has pledged in the April 2024 federal budget to reimburse medical examination costs, but specific details on how this reimbursement will be implemented have not yet been provided. Currently, Canadians with disabilities can claim these expenses as medical deductions on their tax returns. Meanwhile, the Alberta government has committed to covering medical examination costs for AISH recipients who apply for the federal benefit.

Hajdu’s office confirmed receipt of Nixon’s letter, stating, "We will review it and respond in due course," according to spokesperson Aissa Diop.

Greg McMeekin, Alberta’s Advocate for Persons with Disabilities, expressed agreement with Nixon’s call for reduced barriers to enrollment. He noted, "Many Albertans with disabilities are well beyond the point of frustration getting access to the CDB. The federal government should make access to the benefit easier, such as automatic enrollment for people on existing disability benefits."

Yusuf Ariyo, a support worker with the Edmonton-based Voice of Albertans with Disabilities, reported an increase in requests for assistance with benefit applications since the CDB was introduced. "It’s our job to help them navigate the benefits system, but there’s limits to what we can do," Ariyo said.

Lee Stevens, an independent social policy consultant in Calgary, criticized the application process as one of several missteps by the federal government in rolling out the benefit. "They could have easily automatically enrolled everyone who already qualified for the disability tax credit, thereby avoiding extra costs like medical assessments," Stevens remarked. She also pointed out that not structuring the benefit as a refundable credit could lead provinces like Alberta to treat it as non-exempt income. Stevens suggested that the application form may have been designed to reduce the federal government's financial burden by limiting the number of beneficiaries.