Alberta Seniors Benefit

Maximum Benefit Amount

The Alberta Seniors Benefit provides monthly payments that vary based on the applicant's income, marital status, and type of residence.

Seniors whose income used to calculate benefits is $0 receive the maximum benefit for their residence type and marital status. Any income above $0 reduces the benefit by the phase-out rate for the benefit year until the benefit reaches zero.

Maximum benefit amounts are adjusted each January, and phase-out rates can change each benefit year, so check the year shown in the table below.

Alberta Seniors Benefit Maximum Annual Benefit by Year

In 2026, the maximum annual benefit for a single senior in a continuing care home is $12,466, and $16,412 for a senior couple with one partner living at home.

Effective July 1, 2026, the phase-out rates are 17.14% for single homeowners, renters and lodge residents, 17.17% for senior couples in the same residences, 11.94% for single seniors in other residences and 15.94% for senior couples in other residences.

Current benefit amounts, income thresholds and phase-out rates are published on Alberta’s official Alberta Seniors Benefit page. Because these figures can change, check them before relying on a specific dollar amount.

Benefit Year and Income Used

The Alberta Seniors Benefit year runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Benefits are based on your previous calendar year’s total income, so 2025 income is used for the benefit year that starts July 1, 2026.

For example, if you reported $20,000 of total income on your 2025 tax return, your benefit from July 2026 to June 2027 is based on that $20,000, even if your income rises in 2026.

Seniors applying for the first time, or who have applied before but never received benefits, can submit an income estimate if their current income is lower than on their most recent tax return.

Purpose and Eligibility Criteria

The primary purpose of the Alberta Seniors Benefit program is to ensure that seniors with low income have access to additional financial resources that can help them live more comfortably. To be eligible for the Alberta Seniors Benefit, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Age: Must be 65 years of age or older.
• Residency: Must be residents of Alberta for at least three months immediately before applying.
• Legal Status: Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Income: Must have an income below a certain threshold, which is determined annually by the government.
• Other Benefits: You must receive the federal Old Age Security (OAS) pension. If you or your spouse/common-law partner have deferred OAS, you will not be eligible for the Alberta Seniors Benefit.

Income Limits

The Alberta Seniors Benefit has specific income limits. Maximum benefit amounts are adjusted each January to account for inflation and changes in the cost of living, and the Government of Alberta can also change income limits and phase-out rates through policy decisions. The total income threshold is the general income guideline used to determine whether a senior may be eligible. The benefit itself is calculated using non-deductible income, which is total income after Alberta subtracts allowable deductions. This means that as long as their yearly qualifying income falls below the specified threshold, they may be eligible for the benefit.

Senior couples residing in these residences have a higher combined maximum annual qualifying income limit. Again, they may qualify for the Alberta Seniors Benefit if their combined qualifying income does not exceed this amount.

However, the income limits are higher for seniors residing in continuing care homes, which provide round-the-clock care and support. The maximum qualifying annual income for a single senior in this type of residence is higher because this considers the additional expenses associated with residing in a continuing care home. These seniors may be eligible for the Supplementary Accommodation Benefit.

For seniors living in other types of residences not mentioned above, such as shared housing arrangements, Alberta applies the relevant maximum benefit and phase-out rate shown in its current thresholds, rates, and percentages table.

Qualifying income is your total income from line 15000 of your previous year’s tax return, minus certain income and deductions that Alberta does not count. These include:

• Old Age Security pension
• Net federal supplements (Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowance)
• Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) income
• Social assistance payments
• Registered Pension Plan (RPP) deduction
• Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) deduction
• Deduction for elected split-pension amount (senior couples only)
• Up to $3,600 of employment income or the amount of other employment expenses, whichever is higher
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) death benefit
• Lump-sum payments under the Heroes’ Compensation Act

Alberta Seniors Benefit Income Thresholds (As of July 1, 2026)

Non-deductible income amounts are calculated by dividing the maximum annual benefit by the phase-out rate.

Total Income Threshold vs. Non-Deductible Income Amount

Alberta uses two income measures for the Alberta Seniors Benefit. The total income threshold is the general income limit, including a full OAS pension, used to indicate whether a senior may be eligible. The non-deductible income amount is the income left after Alberta subtracts allowable deductions from total income, and it is the amount used to calculate the benefit.

If non-deductible income is $0, the senior receives the maximum benefit. As non-deductible income increases, the benefit is reduced by the phase-out rate until it reaches zero.

Supplementary Accommodation Benefit

In addition to the Alberta Seniors Benefit, seniors living in continuing care homes may also be eligible for the Supplementary Accommodation Benefit. This benefit is intended to help offset the high cost of living in a continuing care home and can provide up to $710 per month towards accommodation fees.

To calculate the amount of the Supplementary Accommodation Benefit, follow these steps:

1. Determine the Monthly Private Room Accommodation Charge: Use the maximum monthly private room accommodation charge for continuing care homes set by the Government of Alberta.
2. Add the Minimum Monthly Disposable Income: Sum this accommodation charge with the minimum monthly disposable income amount set by the government. This income is meant to cover things like telephone or cable bills and personal hygiene expenses.
3. Subtract the Senior's Prior Year’s Monthly Total Income: From the total of the accommodation charge and disposable income, subtract the senior's total income from the previous year, excluding any Supplementary Accommodation Benefit they received during that period.
4. Calculate the Difference: The resulting difference between the sums calculated in steps 1 and 2 and the subtraction made in step 3 is the senior's monthly Supplementary Accommodation Benefit.
5. Apply the Maximum Cap: Ensure that the calculated month-to-month benefit does not exceed the maximum allowable amount of $710.

As of 2026, the minimum monthly disposable income amount is $373.

For example, as of January 2026, Alberta’s monthly private room rate is $2,433 and the monthly disposable income amount is $373. If a single senior in a continuing care home had a monthly total income of $2,300 in 2025, their Supplementary Accommodation Benefit in 2026 would be $506 per month, since the calculation would be:

= (Private Room Rate + Monthly Disposable Income) - Monthly Income

= ($2,433 + $373) - $2,300

= $506

Supplementary Accommodation Benefit payments are combined with the Alberta Seniors Benefit monthly payments.