Province reverses decision to cut support payment for mother of child with disabilities

WATCH ABOVE: Province reverses decision to cut monthly support payment for a Calgary mother in need. 

CALGARY – The Government of Alberta has reversed a controversial decision to cut the monthly support payment for a Calgary mother in need.

Nicole Daugherty, the mother of a young child with severe disabilities, received $1,000 in cash and another $1,000 in gift certificates from CJAY 92’s Secret Wish Program last week.

The money was a welcome surprise for Daugherty, who stays home to look after her three-year-old boy Izrahia, who needs 24-hour care. She also has two other children, and survives on a monthly support payment of $1,000.

When she checked in with Alberta Human Services, as she is required to do on a monthly basis, she was in for a shock.

“They asked if I received any cash gifts, so I reported that,” says Daugherty.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“They kept back $570 from my next month’s benefits because they consider it (the gift) as income.”

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "They kept back $570 from my next month's benefits because they consider it (the gift) as income."

Daugherty explained the money was for Christmas gifts for her kids, but says she didn’t get any sympathy from government officials.

The story drew sharp criticism of the province, with Global News viewers expressing their disgust with the decision over social media.

On the evening of December 23rd, Alberta Human Services called Global News to say the reduction of Daugherty’s support payment would be waived.

“We were looking at the case, and we wanted to make sure that it was resolved before the holidays, so we did take a good look at it in detail,” says Alberta Human Services spokesperson Mike Berezowsky.

The province says that income support clients can receive a one-time gift per year of up to $900 per household member, which won’t affect their income support payment.

“In this case there are a number of members in the household, so it was determined that the gift does not affect her payment from the Alberta government,” explained Berezowsky.

“We wanted to make sure that this was dealt with – and that we made the right decision before the holidays so that she can enjoy her Christmas.”

Share this on X Click to share quote on X: "We wanted to make sure that this was dealt with - and that we made the right decision before the holidays so that she can enjoy her Christmas."