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Expected to Work/Barriers to Full Employment Policy & Procedures

Published Date: September 18, 2023
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07 Core Essential

Core Essential Rate Adjustment

AUTHORITY

Income and Employment Supports Act, Schedule, section 6 and Table 1
Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation, sections 2(1), 2(2) and 2(3) 
Ministerial Order No 2018-19, Appendix A: Core Essential Payment Rates

INTENT
Clients not eligible for the standard Core Essential as per the standard Core Essential Payment Table may still be able to receive a benefit to cover core essentials as outlined in this section.

POLICY
In certain situations the full amount of the standard Core Essential benefit is not issued. Instead, the standard Core Essential 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 Essential for a full month, they receive a pro-rated portion based on the number of days remaining to month end.

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

Parenting Agreement/Order
If a client has a Parenting Agreement/Order, the child is included in the household unit to determine the Core Essential benefit rate. The child’s Core Essential is only paid to the client for the actual days the child is in the home.

Children Supported by other Government Programs
For information about how to issue Core Essential 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. 

Backdating File
Core Essential can be backdated for applicants to the date they first requested Income Support. Core Essential 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 Essential benefit issued. Both of the following potential adjustments need to be considered in all cases:

  1. If a new type of Core Essential is required part way through the month, the new Core Essential is pro-rated over the number of days remaining to month end. For example, if a recipient is receiving the Comforts Allowance or Personal Benefit - Family Violence Shelter, and moved into private residence part way through the month, the new Core Essential amount should be pro-rated; and
  2. Notwithstanding adjustment 1, the total amount of Core Essential (standard and/or varied) issued to the client in a given month should not exceed maximum values listed in the standard Core Essential table. For example, if a client received the maximum standard Core Essential at the beginning of the month and, part way through the month, moved into a Group Home, there would be no additional Core Essential provided for that month.


Food Only
Where the Core Essential payment is for food only, a food amount may be provided, either for the full month or for a portion of the month required.

See Core Essential policy for Food Only rates.