Table

1. Components of welfare income

2a. Welfare income over time, 2021 constant $

2b. Welfare income over time, nominal $

3. Adequacy of welfare income

4. Adequacy over time

Definitions and assumptions

Welfare income: a household’s total income from government transfers and not just social assistance payments. Individuals a
eligible for financial support through tax credits, child benefits for families with children, and where applicable, additional soci
annual back-to-school allowance). Together these form the total welfare income of a household.

To calculate the welfare income for each household type, the following assumptions were made:
• The households started to receive assistance on January 1 and remained on assistance for the entire year.
• The households had no earnings so were eligible to receive the maximum rate of assistance.
• The heads of all households were deemed fully employable, with the exception of the single person with a disability.
• The households lived in the largest city in their province or territory.
• The households lived in private market housing and utility costs were included in the rent.
• The households filed an income tax return at the end of the previous tax year.
• Changes to welfare rates or other program rates over the course of the year were accounted for.
• Basic rates and recurring additional items (for example, a Christmas allowance or a back-to-school allowance) were included

The five household types are:

1. Single person considered employable
2. Single person with a disability (BFE)
3. Single person with a disability (AISH)
4. Single parent with one child age two
5. Couple with two children ages ten and 15

Go to www.maytree.com/welfare-in-canada for more information

 Description
The value and components of welfare incomes for five household types living in Calgary in 2021.

The total annual welfare incomes for five household types living in Calgary between 1986 and 2021. Values are in constant 20
account the effect of inflation.
The total annual welfare incomes for five household types in Calgary between 1986 and 2021. Values are in nominal dollars, w
for inflation.
2021 welfare incomes for five household types living in Calgary compared to the poverty and low income thresholds used by S

Welfare income as a percentage of the Official Poverty Line (Market Basket Measure) for five household types in Calgary betw

me from government transfers and not just social assistance payments. Individuals and families who are in receipt of basic rates of social a
credits, child benefits for families with children, and where applicable, additional social assistance payments that are automatic and recurr
her these form the total welfare income of a household.

household type, the following assumptions were made:

tance on January 1 and remained on assistance for the entire year.
e eligible to receive the maximum rate of assistance.
ed fully employable, with the exception of the single person with a disability.
in their province or territory.
housing and utility costs were included in the rent.
urn at the end of the previous tax year.
am rates over the course of the year were accounted for.
ms (for example, a Christmas allowance or a back-to-school allowance) were included where applicable. Special needs amounts were not in

15

ada for more information

Components of welfare income
The value and components of welfare incomes for five household types living in Calgary in 2021.
Income component Unattached single Unattached single Unattached single Single parent, one Couple, two
considered with a disability with a disability child children
employable (BFE) (AISH)1

Basic social assistance $8,940 $10,392 $20,220 $14,076 $18,936

Additional social assistance $0 $0 $0 $0 $282
Federal child benefits $0 $0 $0 $7,999 $11,473
Provincial child benefits $0 $0 $0 $1,330 $1,995
Federal tax credits/benefits $788 $803 $944 $1,486 $1,888
Provincial tax credits/benefits $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Total 2021 income $9,728 $11,195 $21,164 $24,891 $34,574

2021 COVID-19 pandemic-related payments

This table displays the breakdown of pandemic payments. These amounts are included in, and are not in addition to, the figures in the table
above.
Unattached single Unattached single Unattached single Single parent, one Couple, two
considered with a disability with a disability child children
employable (BFE) (AISH)1

Provincial payments $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal payments $0 $0 $0 $1,200 $0
Total 2021 covid-related payments $0 $0 $0 $1,200 $0

1
The AISH program referenced in this report provides recipients with a flat-rate living allowance benefit that is not linked to household size. In
addition to the living allowance, AISH may provide a Child Benefit for each dependent child and Personal Benefits (for those whose non-exempt
assets fall below a certain level) for the recipient and his or her dependent children to meet one-time or ongoing needs, such as a special diet
and child care.

Go to www.maytree.com/welfare-in-canada for more information

Welfare income over time (2021 constant dollars)
The total annual welfare incomes in 2021 constant dollars for five household types in Calgary between 1986 and
2021.
Year Unattached single Unattached single Unattached single Single parent, one Couple, two
considered with a disability with a disability child children
employable (BFE) (AISH)1

1986 $13,088 $21,288 $33,283

1989 $9,225 $11,377 $19,148 $29,287
1990 $8,941 $10,995 $18,705 $28,434
1991 $9,914 $11,776 $19,889 $31,407
1992 $9,831 $11,556 $19,718 $31,021
1993 $9,277 $11,221 $19,013 $29,978
1994 $8,141 $11,186 $17,863 $28,444
1995 $7,964 $10,974 $17,458 $28,073
1996 $7,848 $10,814 $17,191 $27,662
1997 $7,761 $10,679 $17,024 $27,313
1998 $7,790 $10,680 $17,197 $27,476
1999 $7,656 $10,762 $17,339 $27,313
2000 $7,460 $11,262 $17,109 $27,115
2001 $7,283 $10,998 $16,823 $26,633
2002 $7,128 $10,764 $16,474 $26,071
2003 $6,940 $10,665 $16,387 $25,866
2004 $6,822 $10,612 $16,433 $25,921
2005 $6,683 $10,390 $16,312 $25,802
2006 $7,078 $11,043 $16,280 $18,310 $28,342
2007 $6,424 $10,718 $16,207 $17,403 $25,804
2008 $6,733 $10,892 $16,601 $17,491 $25,701
2009 $8,963 $11,676 $17,696 $19,493 $27,356
2010 $8,806 $11,480 $17,762 $19,216 $27,010
2011 $8,559 $11,163 $17,270 $18,721 $26,332
2012 $8,900 $11,461 $21,209 $19,004 $26,593
2013 $8,979 $11,517 $22,423 $19,100 $26,723
2014 $8,812 $11,303 $22,012 $18,804 $26,344
2015 $8,717 $11,181 $21,775 $19,465 $27,784
2016 $8,600 $11,026 $21,476 $20,309 $29,487
2017 $8,716 $11,103 $21,397 $21,438 $31,478
2018 $8,604 $10,935 $21,002 $21,152 $31,035
2019 $9,763 $11,283 $21,665 $23,671 $34,524
2020 $10,349 $11,861 $22,325 $25,352 $36,953
2021 $9,728 $11,195 $21,164 $24,891 $34,574

1
The AISH program referenced in this report provides recipients with a flat-rate living allowance benefit that is
not linked to household size. In addition to the living allowance, AISH may provide a Child Benefit for each
dependent child and Personal Benefits (for those whose non-exempt assets fall below a certain level) for the
recipient and his or her dependent children to meet one-time or ongoing needs, such as a special diet and child
care.

Go to www.maytree.com/welfare-in-canada for more information

Welfare income over time (Nominal dollars)
The total annual welfare incomes in Calgary for five household types between 1986 and 2021.
Year Unattached single Unattached single Unattached single Single parent, Couple, two
considered with a disability with a disability one child children
employable (BFE) (AISH)1

1986 $6,062 $9,860 $15,416

1989 $4,873 $6,010 $10,115 $15,471
1990 $4,951 $6,088 $10,356 $15,743
1991 $5,797 $6,886 $11,630 $18,365
1992 $5,832 $6,855 $11,697 $18,402
1993 $5,608 $6,783 $11,494 $18,122
1994 $4,927 $6,770 $10,811 $17,215
1995 $4,927 $6,789 $10,800 $17,367
1996 $4,927 $6,789 $10,793 $17,367
1997 $4,955 $6,817 $10,869 $17,437
1998 $5,023 $6,886 $11,088 $17,716
1999 $5,023 $7,061 $11,375 $17,919
2000 $5,026 $7,587 $11,527 $18,268
2001 $5,030 $7,596 $11,619 $18,395
2002 $5,034 $7,601 $11,634 $18,412
2003 $5,039 $7,743 $11,897 $18,778
2004 $5,044 $7,846 $12,151 $19,166
2005 $5,050 $7,851 $12,326 $19,497
2006 $5,454 $8,509 $12,543 $14,108 $21,837
2007 $5,059 $8,440 $12,762 $13,703 $20,319
2008 $5,426 $8,776 $13,377 $14,094 $20,710
2009 $7,241 $9,433 $14,297 $15,749 $22,101
2010 $7,245 $9,445 $14,614 $15,809 $22,222
2011 $7,248 $9,452 $14,624 $15,852 $22,297
2012 $7,649 $9,850 $18,228 $16,333 $22,856
2013 $7,787 $9,988 $19,446 $16,564 $23,175
2014 $7,791 $9,994 $19,463 $16,626 $23,293
2015 $7,794 $9,997 $19,468 $17,403 $24,841
2016 $7,798 $9,998 $19,474 $18,416 $26,738
2017 $8,027 $10,225 $19,705 $19,743 $28,989
2018 $8,106 $10,301 $19,786 $19,927 $29,238
2019 $9,377 $10,837 $20,808 $22,735 $33,159
2020 $10,013 $11,476 $21,600 $24,528 $35,752
2021 $9,728 $11,195 $21,164 $24,891 $34,574
1
The AISH program referenced in this report provides recipients with a flat-rate living allowance benefit
that is not linked to household size. In addition to the living allowance, AISH may provide a Child Benefit for
each dependent child and Personal Benefits (for those whose non-exempt assets fall below a certain level)
for the recipient and his or her dependent children to meet one-time or ongoing needs, such as a special
diet and child care.

Go to www.maytree.com/welfare-in-canada for more information

Adequacy of welfare incomes
2021 welfare incomes in Calgary for five household types compared to the low income thresholds used by Statistics Canada.
Adequacy indicator Unattached single Unattached single Unattached single Single parent, Couple, two
considered with a disability with a disability one child children
employable (BFE) (AISH)1

Total welfare income $9,728 $11,195 $21,164 $24,891 $34,574

MBM (Official poverty line)
MBM threshold (Calgary) $25,910 $25,910 $25,910 $36,642 $51,820
Welfare income minus MBM threshold -$16,183 -$14,715 -$4,747 -$11,751 -$17,246
Welfare income as % of MBM 38% 43% 82% 68% 67%
MBM-DIP
MBM-DIP threshold (Calgary) $19,433 $19,433 $19,433 $27,482 $38,865
Welfare income minus MBM-DIP threshold -$9,705 -$8,238 $1,731 -$2,591 -$4,291
Welfare income as % of MBM-DIP 50% 58% 109% 91% 89%
LIM
LIM threshold (Canada-wide) $27,462 $27,462 $27,462 $38,838 $54,924
Welfare income minus LIM threshold -$17,735 -$16,268 -$6,299 -$13,947 -$20,350
Welfare income as % of LIM 35% 41% 77% 64% 63%
LICO
LICO threshold (Calgary) $22,801 $22,801 $22,801 $27,750 $43,110
Welfare income minus LICO threshold -$13,074 -$11,606 -$1,638 -$2,859 -$8,536
Welfare income as % of LICO 43% 49% 93% 90% 80%

1
The AISH program referenced in this report provides recipients with a flat-rate living allowance benefit that is not linked to household size. In
addition to the living allowance, AISH may provide a Child Benefit for each dependent child and Personal Benefits (for those whose non-exempt
assets fall below a certain level) for the recipient and his or her dependent children to meet one-time or ongoing needs, such as a special diet and
child care.

Go to www.maytree.com/welfare-in-canada for more information

Adequacy over time
Welfare income as a percentage of the Official Poverty Line (Market Basket Measure) for five household
types in Calgary between 2002 and 2021.
Year Unattached single Unattached single Unattached single Single parent, Couple, two
considered with a disability with a disability one child children
employable (BFE) (AISH)1

2002 36% 54% 59% 66%

2003 35% 54% 58% 65%
2004 35% 54% 59% 66%
2005 34% 53% 59% 66%
2006 35% 55% 81% 65% 71%
2007 32% 53% 80% 60% 63%
2008 31% 49% 75% 56% 58%
2009 39% 51% 78% 61% 60%
2010 40% 53% 82% 62% 62%
2011 39% 51% 79% 60% 60%
2012 40% 52% 96% 61% 60%
2013 40% 52% 101% 61% 60%
2014 40% 51% 99% 60% 59%
2015 38% 49% 96% 61% 61%
2016 39% 49% 96% 64% 66%
2017 40% 51% 98% 69% 72%
2018 34% 43% 82% 58% 60%
2019 38% 44% 84% 65% 67%
2020 40% 46% 86% 69% 71%
2021 38% 43% 82% 68% 67%

1
The AISH program referenced in this report provides recipients with a flat-rate living allowance benefit
that is not linked to household size. In addition to the living allowance, AISH may provide a Child Benefit
for each dependent child and Personal Benefits (for those whose non-exempt assets fall below a certain
level) for the recipient and his or her dependent children to meet one-time or ongoing needs, such as a
special diet and child care.

Go to www.maytree.com/welfare-in-canada for more information