Social Policy Trends- Income Support Caseloads in Alberta

Abstract

INCOME SUPPORT CASELOADS IN ALBERTA Number of people who collect income support in Alberta, over the period April 2005 to January 2017 The effects of lower oil prices, the difficulty of gaining approval for new pipelines, and the Fort McMurray fires have all contributed to job losses, income drops, and uncertainty about future prospects. Measures of economic health typically focus on the unemployment rate, GDP, and the number of job losses. Another useful indicator is the number of people relying on social assistance. Those receiving social assistance have often exhausted all other options – including Employment Insurance – and are now relying on this last layer of the social safety net.