Province expands Special Needs Assistance, more money for seniors travelling for medical care
Improved funding for lowincome seniors having to travel for medical care was announced by the province on Friday.
An additional $550,000 is available under the Special Needs Assistance program to help cover costs incurred for transportation and accommodation to attend medical appointments.
“I applaud this. It is a needed step to help seniors who are forced to travel to receive necessary medical care,” said Drew Barnes, Wildrose MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat. ”My preference is more local decision making and locally allocated resources, however because of specialization and past centralization history, the $550,000 is well utilized.”
The announcement means overnight accommodation allowance will increase from $75 to $100. The minimum distance required to qualify for travel costs has been reduced from 100 km to 80 km round trip. This will benefit seniors in rural areas perhaps travelling to Medicine Hat for a medical appointment. Increased funding is also available for seniors who travel more than 400 km to their appointments.
There is also a one-time benefit of $85 to help with medical transport for someone moving from a long-termcare facility to another.
The additional benefits come into effect July 1.
“Seniors built our province and they deserve to retire in dignity. Our government is making life better by protecting and enhancing seniors’ benefits. Today’s announcement will help seniors afford to get the care they need,” said Lori Sigurdson, minister of seniors and housing.
About 1,800 seniors in Alberta receive assistance every year for medical trips to a maximum of $5,000 per year.
The SNA program for low-income seniors, also provides assistance with some of the cost of appliances and some health and personal supports.
A senior’s or senior couple’s total annual income, residence and marital status, and the items requested are used to determine the amount funded.
A single senior with a total annual income of $26,965 or less, or a senior couple with a total combined annual income of $43,785 or less, may be eligible to receive assistance.
The benefit year starts July 1 of one year and ends June 30 of the following year.
If you have questions or require additional information, please call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1877-644-9992, or 780-6449992 in Edmonton from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday.