unemployment, the provinces provide welfare relief and assistance. For those who have a disability and are unable to work, provinces also provide relief. Disability welfare is usually differentiated from usual welfare by providing additional funds and having additional eligibility requirements. In Alberta, welfare relief and assistance is through the Alberta Works program. Depending on the person’s circumstances, there are different assistance classifications and programs available. For the purposes of Alberta Works, this report will focus on the categories of “individuals who face barriers to full employment” and individuals who are “expected to work or are working”. Individuals who are classified as facing “barriers to full employment” include: adults 18 years or older (16/17 years of age if cohabitating) who are experiencing multiple barriers to full employment that are beyond their control. The category also includes adults who are having a persistent and severe health problem that is expected to be more than six months in duration.”349 Individuals who are classified as “expected to work or are working” are adults who are able to work but are temporarily unavailable to work because of a temporary health problem of six months duration or less, are the primary caretaker of a child 12 months old or younger, or face other circumstances determined by Alberta Works to make the adult temporarily unavailable for work.350 The eligibility criteria for the two classifications requires the adult be present in Alberta351 and to be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, temporary resident permit (TRP) holder approved for entry into Canada by the Alberta government, a refugee or refugee claimant, or a victim of human trafficking.352 The assets and financial resources of the applicant are also assessed before the individual can be determined to be eligible.353 For persons who are “severely handicapped”, they may be eligible for additional income benefits. A “severe handicap” means an impairment of mental or physical functioning, or both, that causes substantial limitation in the person’s ability to earn a livelihood and is likely to continue to affect that person permanently because no remedial therapy is available to improve the person’s ability to earn a livelihood.354 A person is eligible to receive a disability benefit if the person satisfies that they: • Are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident ordinarily resident in Alberta and are of 18 years of age or older; • Have a severe handicap; • Have, and their cohabitating partner have, income less than the maximum amount of the living allowance; • Have assets less than $100,000; • Not be in receipt of a monthly Old Age Security pension; Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation, Alta Reg 122/2011, at s. 8(2), available at: http://canlii.ca/t/52bsl [Income Support, Training and Health Benefits Regulation]. 350 Ibid., at s. 9(2). 351 Ibid., at s. 11. 352 Ibid., at s. 10(2). 353 Ibid., at ss. 20-24. 354 Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped Act, SA 2006, c A-45.1, at s. 1(i), available at: http://canlii.ca/t/kxcx. 349 74