People with disabilities are more likely to also be living in poverty—unemployed, underemployed, or in low-wage, unstable work.
Many barriers may contribute to the issue: Health limitations. Discrimination. The cost of training. Unreliable transportation. The fear of losing benefits. These can make every career decision feel like a gamble.
Disability and poverty in Alberta
About 27% of Canadians—roughly 8 million people—have 1 or more disabilities.
In 2023, the employment rate for Canadians with a disability was 47%, compared to almost 70% for those without. Alberta had the highest provincial employment rate for people with disabilities at 53%. But that’s still below the 70% rate for people without disabilities.
Even when people with disabilities are working, they often earn less. In 2024, employees with disabilities earned an average of $33.42 per hour, compared to $35.64 for those without.
Different disabilities, different barriers
Many types of disabilities affect employment:
Physical disabilities
Mental health conditions
Illnesses that come and go (episodic disabilities)
Cognitive or developmental disabilities
The picture gets more complicated when you add in factors like Indigenous identity, rural or remote location, gender, and age. All of these affect a person’s access to work and supports.
Income supports and the trade-offs of working more
If you’re on income support in Alberta, career decisions can be more complicated.
It’s important to understand how your benefits interact with money you earn from working. Here are the key programs:
Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) gives eligible Albertans with severe, permanent disabilities a monthly living allowance. It also provides health benefits like prescription drugs, dental coverage, and optical coverage.
Income Support is for people who have barriers that limit their ability to work full time but don’t qualify for AISH. Benefits are lower than AISH, and the rules around how much you can earn are different.
Canada Pension Plan disability (CPP-D) is a federal benefit for people who have contributed to CPP and have a severe, prolonged disability that keeps them from working regularly. CPP-D has its own earnings rules and can interact with provincial benefits.
Assessing job demands and your needs
If you’re coping with a disability, you may need to think carefully about job demands and possible accommodations. For example:
Think long term, not just “big.” If your health is up and down, the amount of work you can do will change too. Think about what kind of work you can keep up with over time, not just on a good day.
Be honest about what you need. How’s your energy? Do you deal with pain or fatigue that comes and goes? How much stress can you handle? Do you need the option to work from home, or shorter hours?
Look at other ways of working. Consider part-time work, contract work, self-employment, supported employment, and jobs shaped around what you can do. A meaningful career doesn’t have to look like a 9-to-5 job.
Lower-risk ways to learn and work
Here are some education and employment options that can help you manage your health and protect your benefits.
Education and training with low financial risk
Going back to school can feel risky when you’re living on a fixed income. But Alberta has several options that bring the risk down. Disability Related Employment Supports (DRES) can fund training, assistive technology, and other supports for eligible Albertans with disabilities.
Micro-credentials and short certificate programs let you build a specific skill without committing to a long, expensive program. Online and part-time options at institutions like NAIT, SAIT, Bow Valley College, and Athabasca University can fit around your health needs and schedule.
Flexible and supported employment
Part-time or reduced-hours jobs can keep you connected to the workforce while you manage your health.
Some employers will also create a role around what you’re good at, which is sometimes called job carving. It’s worth asking about. And employment programs that you can access through disability agencies can help with things like job coaching, placement, and ongoing support. The Employment and Training Services Directory lists free programs available across Alberta.
Self-employment and gig work
Working for yourself can offer flexibility that a traditional job might not. But it also comes with risks, such as unpredictable income, no employer-provided benefits, and the chance that what you earn could cut into your benefits.
If you’re thinking about going this route, talk to a financial counsellor first. Understand how your earnings will be treated under your income support program before you start. Learn more about benefits offered by the Government of Alberta.
Your legal rights if you have problems in the workplace
Under the Alberta Human Rights Act, employers have to accommodate employees with disabilities unless it would cause them major hardship. That means they must make reasonable changes to the work environment, policies, or how tasks are performed so that you can do your job.
That said, discrimination in hiring still happens. A lot of people are afraid to disclose a disability. Accommodations aren’t always available. And if you live outside Edmonton or Calgary, just getting to work can be a barrier.
If you face discrimination or your employer refuses to accommodate you, here is what you can do:
Document everything. Keep written records of any accommodation requests, conversations, and responses you get. If it’s not in writing, it’s hard to prove.
Get support. A job coach, employment advocate, or disability agency can help you work through tough workplace situations.
Know your right to complain. You can file with the Alberta Human Rights Commission within 1 year of a discriminatory act. The commission can look into it and try to solve the issue.
Protect yourself. If a work environment is causing you physical or mental harm, it’s OK to leave. Your well-being comes first.
Practical tips for moving forward
Career planning when you’re living with a disability and limited finances is different from the advice you’ll find in most career guides. Here are some things to keep in mind:
Keep track of how you’re doing over time before you make a big change. A few weeks of notes on your energy, symptoms, and capacity can help you figure out the right work schedule and setup.
Know your income rules. Find out exactly how extra earnings would affect your benefits and ask for it in writing.
Work with someone who gets it. A career counsellor or employment specialist who understands disability and financial pressure can make a real difference. Ask about their background.
Stability matters more than speed. A job that works with your health and your benefits is worth more than a fast promotion that puts either one at risk.
Talk to people who have been through it. Others who have navigated these systems can share things no guidebook can.
Small steps count. Research 1 program, make 1 phone call, or show up to 1 workshop.
Resources that can help
Government programs and services:
Alberta Supports Centres—Centres located across the province offering help with income support, AISH navigation, and employment referrals.
Alberta Career and Employment Information Services—Free employment counselling, resumé support, job matching, and workshops.
Disability Related Employment Supports (DRES)—Funding for training, job search supports, workplace supports, and assistive technology.
Community and non-profit organizations:
EmployAbilities—Programs available across northern Alberta offering skills development, training, and employment services.
Prospect Human Services—Free employment programs for people with disabilities in Edmonton and Calgary.
Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division—Mental health support, programs, and resources across the province.
Inclusion Alberta—Advocacy and information for Albertans with developmental disabilities and their families.
Financial and benefit navigation supports:
Voice of Albertans with Disabilities—Not-for-profit that provides 1-on-1 advocacy, help with benefit applications, tax and disability tax credit support, and help preparing appeals.
Office of the Advocate for Persons with Disabilities—Provincial office promoting disability rights and guiding Albertans to supports.
Free tax clinics—Events where community volunteers can help you file your taxes at no cost and claim all credits you’re entitled to.
Federal supports for Albertans:
Disability tax credit—A federal non-refundable tax credit that can reduce the tax you owe and open the door to other programs.
Registered Disability Savings Plan—A long-term savings plan for people eligible for the disability tax credit.
Canada Workers Benefit (Disability Supplement)—A refundable tax credit that tops up earnings for low-income workers with disabilities.