The following are special circumstances that may affect the assessment of your application.

Estates

Estates of a deceased senior are not eligible to receive reimbursement for expenses that a senior incurs prior to his/her death.

Seniors in a long-term care facility

If you are a senior couple who have been involuntarily separated because one of you is residing in a long-term care facility, ensure that you have contacted the Income Securities Program to ask about updating your marital/cohabitation status to involuntary separation under the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) program. GIS may consider you and your spouse/partner single seniors, if it is to your financial benefit.

You must also let the Alberta Seniors Benefit program know that you are involuntarily separated. Depending on your specific situation, Alberta Seniors Benefit may provide additional support. Special Needs Assistance for Seniors may also take into consideration that you are maintaining two residences. If you live in long-term care or designated assisted living, the Supplemental Accommodation Benefit you receive from Alberta Seniors Benefit will be deducted before calculating your eligibility for assistance.

Spouses under 65 years of age/dependants

The program is for seniors 65 and over. Assistance is not provided for spouses under 65 years old nor for dependant children or grandchildren. Other programs and services may be available to assist these individuals.

Travel out of the province

If you traveled out of the province or expect to travel out of the province during the benefit year, you are not eligible for assistance.

However, if you explain the reasons for your travel, the period of time that you were or expect to be out of the province, and provide proof of how you paid for the travel, your application may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Trustee/Power of Attorney

This area on the application form only needs to be completed if someone has been designated as your legal Trustee/Power of Attorney. Please provide authorizing documents, if they are not already on file with the Alberta Seniors Benefit program.