Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation, Schedule 4, section 19
Full Time Learners:  Schedules 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Advanced Education)
Full Time Learners: Schedules 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Labour and Immigration)

INTENT

To assist parents in covering additional costs associated with having children in school.

POLICY

The Government of Alberta will provide a benefit for the fees and costs associated with school attendance for a child in a learner household if the child:

• is registered in and attending school, is enrolled in correspondence school in Alberta, or is home schooled and
• has not previously received the benefit through Income Support for the current school year

The allowance covers school-related expenses including:

• school fees
• locker fees 
• school supplies (e.g., pencils, books and paper)
• field trips
• gym shoes
• sports supplies, and
• all other supplies required by the school for school attendance

Rate

See: Benefit Rate Table

PROCEDURE

The Children’s School Expenses benefit is automatically issued to eligible Learners with their September payment for children (aged 5 or older as of December 31 of the academic year) unless they received funding as an Expected To Work (ETW) or Barriers to Full Employment (BFE) in the month of August.

For a child that is 4 years of age, a request for school expenses may be attached to the Learner Income Support Application (Full-Time Study) or a Change in Circumstances form may be submitted.

Parents of a child who is in a higher grade than is usual for their age may request school expenses at the rate applicable for their grade.

Substantiation

The benefit is issued automatically in September. If a request is made for any month other than September, the Learner must submit a Change in Circumstances form and a letter from the school confirming fees have not been paid. If requesting the benefit for a child age 4, the Learner must indicate that the child is attending Kindergarten on their Change in Circumstances form.

APPROVAL

Learner Benefit Coordinator, Learner Income Support Office