Alberta.ca » Income and Employment Supports Policy Manual


Expected to Work/Barriers to Full Employment Policy & Procedures

Published Date: July 31, 2019
Bookmark this page

06 Core Shelter

Core Shelter Rate Adjustment

AUTHORITY

Income and Employment Supports Act, section 5(1)(a); Schedule, sections 4(b), 8 and Tables 2 and 3
Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation, sections 2(1), 2(2) and 2(4)

INTENT 

Clients not eligible for the standard Core Shelter as per the standard Core Shelter Private and Social Housing Payment Tables, may still be able to receive a benefit to cover core shelter in the amount specified as outlined in this section.

POLICY

In certain situations the full amount of the standard Private or Social Housing Core Shelter benefit is not issued. Instead, the standard Core Shelter benefit is adjusted depending on household circumstances or need, or a change in situation/living arrangement during the month. 

Where an applicant or recipient is not eligible for Core Shelter for a full month, they receive a pro-rated portion based on the number of days remaining to month end based on their situation.

The following situations may require the Core Shelter benefit to be pro-rated. 

  • Parenting Agreement/Order 
    If a client living in private housing has a Parenting Agreement/Order (that indicates the child's place of residence is approximately equal time with each parent), the child is included in the household unit to determine the Core Shelter private housing benefit rate.

    If both parents are Income Support recipients, the full Core Shelter private housing rate is paid to each parent only if a Parenting Agreement/Order exists. If no Parenting Agreement/Order exists, only one parent is entitled to the child’s portion of the Core Shelter private housing rate or the child’s portion may be divided between both parents.

    If a parent living in Social Housing has joint custody of a dependent child, the child is included in the household unit to determine the Core Shelter benefit rate.
     
  • Children Supported by other Government Programs
    For information about how to issue Core Shelter benefits for children who are supported by Child and Family Services (CFS) or Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) please see Children Involved with /or Supported by Children and Family Services (CFS), Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) and/or Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL) policy.  
     
  • Decrease in Family Size 
    If the worker knows in advance a household member is leaving the family, that individual is deleted from Client File and the difference between new Core Shelter and previous Core Shelter is issued under Need Code 1109 Additional Shelter for one benefit period.

    When the core shelter will be reduced, the worker provides the household with one month’s notice to allow time to find alternative accommodations when their core shelter will be reduced.

    When an unforeseeable decrease in the size of the household unit occurs because one member is incarcerated or dies, the Core Shelter is reduced for the second and subsequent benefit periods.
     
  • Increase in Household Size 
    Core Shelter for a household unit living in private housing may be increased to reflect the presence of an additional child, three months prior to the birth or adoption of that child or the return of that child who has been in the care of Child and Family Services or living elsewhere.

    ​Clients can verify the addition of the child to the household unit with one of the following documents:
  • Note from a doctor or nurse practitioner confirming the due date of the child
  • The Alberta Health Care Card, the baby’s hospital bracelet, or birth certificate
  • Adoption papers
  • Documentation from Child and Family Services
  • Other suitable indication of a child’s expected arrival/return   

 

Need Code 1135 Shelter for Expected or Returning Child(ren)

  • Backdating File
    Core Shelter can be backdated for applicants to the date they first requested Income Support. Core Shelter is pro-rated based on the number of days in the month the client is eligible.
     
  • Change in Living Arrangement
    A change in a living arrangement during the month may require a review of the Core Shelter benefit issued. Both of the following potential adjustments need to be considered in all cases:
  1. If a new type of Core Shelter is required part way through the month, the new Core Shelter is pro-rated over the number of days remaining to month end. For example, if a recipient was living with family and moved into private residence part way through the month, the new Core Shelter amount should be pro-rated; and
  2. Notwithstanding adjustment 1, the total amount of Core Shelter (standard and/or varied) issued to the client in a given month should not exceed maximum value of the greater Core Shelter amount that the client is eligible to receive in that month. For example, if a client received the maximum standard Private Core Shelter rate at the beginning of the month and, part way through the month, moved into Social Housing, there would be no additional Core Shelter provided for that month. 


PROCEDURES

When issuing shelter for expected or returning children:

  1. The worker enters a Task in Mobius to ensure the budget is updated appropriately.
  2. The worker deletes Need Code 1135 Shelter for Expected or Returning Child(ren) from the budget when the child is added in Client File.