AISH and ADAP Visual Application Walkthrough
Alberta's single Disability Income Assistance application, explained one step at a time.
What this program is
AISH and ADAP are Alberta's two disability income programs. AISH is for a severe disability that permanently prevents employment. ADAP is for a severe disability that significantly impedes employment. Alberta now uses one combined Disability Income Assistance application for both, and eligible applicants are placed in the program that fits their situation.
Who applies
You apply for yourself as an adult Albertan. You must be at least 18, not eligible for an Old Age Security pension, living in Alberta, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and not in a correctional facility or certain mental health facilities such as Alberta Hospital Edmonton. You also have to meet the financial criteria.
How you can apply
Pick the method you will actually use. The steps below are written for that method, and you can change it at any time without losing your place.
Apply online
Alberta encourages the online Disability Income Assistance application, and you can save it and come back.
The online application is at dia.alberta.ca. If you need help with it, Alberta Supports answers questions by phone.
Apply on paper
Download the Disability Income Assistance Application (DS2444A) and send it in.
Alberta warns that fillable PDF forms may not open properly on some mobile devices and browsers. If that happens, open the form on a computer or contact Alberta for help rather than retyping it somewhere else.
You do not need an account. Nothing you type here is sent to the government, and this page never asks for a social insurance number, medical details or banking information.
Accessible Compass is an independent educational resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for the government body named on this page. Always submit your application through the official channel.
Last verified: November 6, 2026
Checked against: Alberta — How to apply for AISH and ADAP · Alberta — Disability Income Assistance (combined application) · Alberta — AISH / ADAP program pages
This is general education, not legal, financial or medical advice. The government decides eligibility, and only the government can tell you whether your application is approved.
What we could not verify
Rather than guess, this guide leaves these items out and points you to the official instructions.
- Alberta's current pages do not state a processing time, only that applications are reviewed in the order received, so this guide gives no estimate.
- Benefit amounts and income and asset thresholds are not reproduced here, because they change and are specific to your household.
- AISH and ADAP medical eligibility involves an adjudicator and, for AISH, possibly a panel of medical professionals. This guide does not describe what those reviewers look for.
