1188 Challenge

$1188 Challenge

What is the $1188 Challenge?

Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), which is Alberta’s income support program for persons with disabilities, is currently $1188 a month. AISH is the primary or only source of income for persons with disabilities due to the fact that their disability substantially limits their ability to earn a living. We are asking Albertans for one month to live on $1188.

Why the $1188 Challenge?

The Government of Alberta has improved the AISH program over the past few years.  Although we are grateful for these improvements, we would like to draw attention to the urgent need to immediately increase the AISH basic monthly allowance due to the increase in the cost of living in Alberta.

How do I take part in the $1188 Challenge? The rules…

For the month of March, set aside $1188 and then hide the rest of your income from yourself. If you are brave enough to take on the $1188 challenge, you will be trying to make it through one month on the income that nearly 41 000 Albertans with severe disabilities are provided by AISH. However, to make it easier, everyone will pay the same rent of $ 705 a month.

Why $705 a month? The average rent for a bachelor suite in Calgary is between $700 and $1000. We are going to imagine that you got a really good deal on your bachelor suite and are paying $705 a month for rent. So from your $1188 for the month, deduct $705, leaving yourself with $483.

$483 is the amount that you are going to try to live on for the month. This means all of your food, your transportation, whether that is a bus pass or gas for your car, clothing, utilities and of course any recreation that you wish to pursue has to be included in this amount.

And now, the good news - we are magically erasing all of your debts - your mortgage, your car payments, and lines of credit. We aren’t doing this because no one living on AISH has debts, but rather because between a mortgage and car payments alone you might find yourself with nothing left of your $1188.

We would love to hear how it’s going living on $1188! 

Why not write about your experience and share it on our blog?

 

Sharing your experience may help raise awareness of the issue. aishcampaign.blogspot.com/

or facebook  facebook.com/pages/AISH-Campaign-2011/190252127654498?v=wall

The current system too often maintains people in poverty, rather than lifting them into a life of full participation in the economic and social life of their communities.  Thank you for taking on the $1188 challenge and standing in solidarity with Albertans living with disabilities. Keep us posted! Email us at aishcampaign@gmail.com on how you do living on $1188!