Advertisement

Eligible seniors still waiting for affordability payments from province

Click to play video: 'Eligible Alberta seniors still waiting for affordability payments from province'
Eligible Alberta seniors still waiting for affordability payments from province
WATCH ABOVE: The first installment of the province's affordability payments went out at the end of January, but some Albertans who applied say they haven't yet received any money. As Nicole Stillger explains, they don't know what the problem is or how to fix it – Feb 12, 2023

Affordability payments went out at the end of January, but some Albertans who applied to the province’s program have yet to receive a payment.

Like many people who applied for the support, Michael Dean and his wife are facing some financial challenges.

“We’ve had to cut out a number of things. We just don’t do stuff anymore because of the cost,” Dean said.

The couple applied to the province’s affordability payments on Jan. 18 in hopes the extra $100 a month would give them some breathing room.

“It showed everything’s approved — and then nothing.”

The first of the six payments was supposed to come out on Jan. 31, as long as an application was submitted before Jan. 27.

Story continues below advertisement

According to the province, the portal will indicate if an application is approved and being processed for payment.

Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday.

Get weekly money news

Get expert insights, Q&A on markets, housing, inflation, and personal finance information delivered to you every Saturday.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“If they have not received their payment, typically it’s because incorrect banking information was entered. This has only occurred in less than a fraction of a percent of applications. Alberta’s Public Service technical team is currently working on a fix for this so Albertans can go in to review and edit information if necessary,” the province said in a statement to Global News.

But Dean said no money from the province has landed in his bank account. So, he called the help desk but they said they couldn’t help.

Click to play video: 'Alberta’s affordability payment portal opens, student unions ask for eligibility expansion'
Alberta’s affordability payment portal opens, student unions ask for eligibility expansion

“They can’t make any adjustments, only the applicant can make a change — except that functionality isn’t available,” he said.

Dean added that he has heard from family members that they’ve experienced similar issues with the payments. As for him and his wife, all they can do is wait and hope the money comes soon.

Story continues below advertisement

“It’s just stuck. We have no idea what’s going on now.”

Sponsored content

AdChoices