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Learner Policy & Procedures |
Published Date: February 17, 2021
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Financial Benefits Decision |
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Income – General |
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Overview
Income and Employment Supports Act, section 5(2)
Income Support, Training and Health Benefits (ISTHB) Regulation, sections 50 and 51
Federal Child Benefit Amounts (Advanced Education)
Federal Child Benefit Amounts (Labour and Immigration)
INTENT
Training is a joint responsibility between government, the learner, and the learner’s spouse. Where possible, learners are to contribute as much as possible financially to their training. However, certain types of income are fully or partially exempt to ensure that:
- learners have incentives to earn money from employment
- learners get the benefit of specific federal and provincial financial supports available to other Canadians
- learners may have some resources they can use to purchase items that are not available through income support
- dependent children are encouraged to save for post-secondary and/or technical training.
POLICY
To be eligible as a full-time learner, an individual and their spouse/partner:
- cannot have income (after all applicable exemptions have been given) that equals or exceeds their assessed needs over the funded period of study.
The learner’s needs are met through a combination of:
An individual and their spouse/partner, who are applying to attend training, must declare the total household income on their application.
PROCEDURE
The individual and their spouse/partner must complete the Learner Income Support Application (Full Time Study) and identify all forms of income.
Changes to Income During the Period of Training
Individuals provide information on projected monthly income when they complete their Learner Income Support Application (Full Time Study).
If the monthly income varies from the projection by more than $75 (more or less), the change must be reported by submitting a Change in Circumstance for Learners form.
By the end of training, learners are responsible for ensuring that any variation is reconciled. The learner will:
- be paid if the income was overestimated, or
- be required to pay the Government of Alberta if income was underestimated
Substantiation
The individual’s and their spouse/partner’s written statement and signatures on the Learner Income Support Application (Full Time Study) is considered as substantiation of the declared household income.
Documentation Requirements
Learners are responsible for keeping all financial records so they can verify all income and expenses if selected for an audit, or otherwise required to do so.
The following table identifies documentation for each type of income that should be kept.
Type of Income | Individual’s Documentation |
Employment Income (for the funded period of training) |
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Income with no supporting documentation (e.g., tips, other casual employment) |
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Self Employment – Business or Farm |
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Employment Insurance |
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Government Pensions |
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Private Pensions, Insurance and Retirement Savings |
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Worker’s Compensation |
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Training Allowance |
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Scholarships, Bursaries |
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Court/Voluntary Maintenance and Alimony |
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Rental and Room and Board |
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Dividends, Interest, Royalties, Investments |
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Registered Education Savings Plan |
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Other (e.g., Money in Trust for Children, Gifts) |
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APPROVAL
Learner Benefit Coordinator, Learner Income Support Office
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