Alberta is tightening eligibility requirements for provincial seniors’ benefits and tax credits for caregivers as it faces a $9.4-billion budget deficit.

But seniors and anti-poverty advocates said they’re grateful the budget at least preserves funding for affordable housing, health care and subsidized child care.

Provincial officials did not respond when asked how many seniors will lose provincial benefits, which are worth up to $328 a month. But 194,000 Albertans are in the program now and the province expects to save $23 million by tightening the rules.

That means at least 5,800 people will be impacted, assuming the people being cut are receiving the maximum stipend.

Finance Minister Nate Horner said the province is dropping the threshold for eligibility by nine per cent to align with other Canadian provinces. Under the new rules, an individual will only be eligible if they receive an income of less than $32,690 a year, down from a cutoff of $34,770. For a couple, the cut-off will be $53,800, down from $56,820.

Provincial officials say the grant component of the seniors’ home adaptation and repair program threshold will be similarly cut.

Michelle James is director of policy with Vibrant Communities Calgary. She was disappointed to see a lower threshold when the cost of living in Alberta has been going up.

“I don’t believe it’s adequate. We’re supporting our seniors to be just above the poverty line,” she said. “Seniors in Alberta are visiting food banks more; they’re skipping their medication. We want to make sure they have access to the financial assistance they need.

“We think this narrative of saving money on these programs that are important for people living on fixed incomes or in poverty is not necessarily the way to achieve financial savings during a tough budget.”

The poverty line in Alberta is $29,000.

At Unison, a Calgary-based seniors’ centre, president Larry Mathieson said they are glad to see funding for health care maintained, because it’s critical for seniors. 

“But on the other side of things, we see the challenges seniors have been facing. Everything from increased cost of living and groceries and housing challenges,” Mathieson said.

“Any layer of government support is important.”

Mathieson said he’s also glad the provincial government preserved the budget that funds seniors’ centres and similar community non-profits. But individual organizations won’t know how they fare until later.

Minister says benefit still most generous in the country

Speaking about the change on budget day, Horner said the budget change for seniors’ benefits came out of the government’s continuous improvement committee.

He said the seniors’ benefit was flagged because it was one of the most generous in the country. 

“We’re looking for places [where] we’re outliers. That one specifically, we will still have the highest threshold in the country. I think we’ll be tied with New Brunswick and the three territories,” he said.

“We’re just looking everywhere we can to not be outliers, but not make Alberta less generous than anyone.”

The amount each senior receives under the program varies depending on their income. The move is expected to save the government $23 million in 2026-27 and $31 million in 2027-28 and beyond.

Cuts to tax credit for Alberta caregivers 

Another change that will affect seniors is the Alberta caregivers tax credit. The provincial government plans to consolidate two tax credits into one, and will change the eligibility criteria. The new tax credit will focus on Albertans caring for loved ones with physical and mental health impairments. It will exclude anyone caring for someone who is aging but not infirm.

Provincial officials say 35,000 people are currently getting this tax credit, which is worth roughly $1,000 as a non-refundable credit.

Next year, 16,500 Albertans will lose the credit.

At the same time, provincial officials say an estimated 7,500 Albertans will either get more through the new grant or gain eligibility for the first time. But they did not respond when asked how many people will become newly eligible, or in what circumstances that would happen.

Horner said the province changed the rules to align with the Canada Caregiver Credit.

When are they frail enough?– Sharon Anderson, University of Alberta project lead

Sharon Anderson is a University of Alberta project lead who studies caregivers, those who provide medical and other daily living help to family members. Some quit their jobs to do this.

She says in their studies, about half of Alberta caregivers are experiencing some kind of financial distress. And she worries the new rules will make the application process for the tax credit more complicated. 

“For example, people who have a parent that they’ve moved into their own home because they need more care — they’re frail, but not that frail. I don’t know what the limits will be,” she said. “When are they frail enough?”