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Expected to Work/Barriers to Full Employment Policy & Procedures
Published Date: January 01, 2024
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06 Core Shelter

Social Housing

AUTHORITY

Income and Employment Supports Act, Schedule, section 8 and Table 3
Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation, sections 2(1), 2(2) and 2(4)

INTENT

To describe the core shelter benefits available to individuals living in social housing.

POLICY

Core Shelter is provided to clients residing in social housing. Social housing is a housing unit operated and maintained by a housing authority established under the Alberta Housing Act. Core shelter is determined by household composition and living arrangement.

Core Shelter for Social Housing covers the following items:

  • Rent
  • Heating fuel and utilities other than electricity
  • Damage deposit


Social Housing shelter rates are regulated and cannot be exceeded by Seniors, Community and Social Services staff or Appeal Panels.

Clients in Social Housing are allowed an amount for electricity over and above the Maximum Core Shelter rate for Social Housing. The amount provided is the actual cost of electricity or the established regional electricity rate. In all cases, the total costs of Social Housing rent and utilities cannot exceed the Maximum Core Shelter Payment Table amount for private housing.

Instead of paying the utility companies directly some social housing authorities give income support recipients a set amount of money for paying utility bills (excluding electricity). These funds if received, are exempt as income. 

See Core Essential Rate Adjustment policy for information about adjusting Core Essential benefits. 

Maximum Monthly Core Shelter Payment Table-Social Housing

Household Composition Amount
  Single adult $134
  Single adult, 1 child $235
  Single adult, 2 children $288
  Single adult, 3 children $352
  Single adult, 4 children $417
  Single adult, 5 children $484
  Single adult, 6 children $549
  Couple, no children $214
  Couple, 1 child $290
  Couple, 2 children $352
  Couple, 3 children $417
  Couple, 4 children $484
  Couple, 5 children $549
  Couple, 6 children $615

  Exception:

  1. A household unit living in social housing with more than 6 children does not receive an additional amount.
  2. If a household unit is living in social housing, the amount set out in this Table must be increased by the household unit’s actual cost of electricity up to the maximum amount payable for private housing.
  3. If the Director is satisfied that a child will become a member of the household unit, the Director may consider that child a member of the household unit.


Need Code 1115 Social Housing Rent
Need Code 1201 Utilities – Social Housing
Living Arrangement 6 Social Housing

PROCEDURES
  1. LISA will default the Core Shelter when the worker presses the Enter key in Preliminary Budget in Eligibility Determination and PF10 key in Client Budget for all household types except One-Time Issues when the Living Arrangement is ‘6’ Social Housing.
  2. To ensure LISA defaults the right Core Shelter amount from the Maximum Core Shelter Payment Table, the worker must ensure the Living Arrangement field displayed in Client Budget is correct and that household composition is correct in Client File.  
Note
Workers can change Living Arrangement in Client Budget.