Glossary of terms

This glossary is intended to help define key AISH terms for recipients.

See also:
List of partners
Partners’ responsibilities

AISH Benefits Administration Program

This is a program to help you take care of the money you get from AISH. Your participation in this program is voluntary. If you decide to participate in the program, your AISH cheque will be sent directly to the Office of the Public Trustee. You make the decisions about how your money will be spent. You will get help setting up a budgeting plan from someone you know (called your Primary Contact Person) and the Office of the Public Trustee will follow your plan. If, at any time, you want to change your budgeting plan, you and your Primary Contact Person will make a new Instruction Form and send it to the Office of the Public Trustee. They will then follow your new plan.

Instruction Form/Budget

Your Instruction Form/Budget tells the Office of the Public Trustee how you want to spend your AISH money. The Instruction Form/Budget can include things like:

  • Pay my rent.
  • Pay my utilities (water, gas, telephone, etc.).
  • Give me $X.00 for my groceries.
  • Give me $X.00 for spending money.
  • I want to save $X.00 for something special.
  • I want regular reports on what is happening to my money.

Remember, you can't spend more money than you receive from the AISH program, but if you have money left and want to buy something special in the future, you can make a note in your Instruction Form/Budget to save the money.

Office of the Public Trustee

The Office of the Public Trustee helps you take care of your AISH money. If you also receive money from somewhere else, like a job, another benefit program such as C.P.P. (Canadian Pension Plan), or a gift, the Office of the Public Trustee will not take care of this money. However, you and your Primary Contact Person may want to work together to plan how to use this other money.

The Office of the Public Trustee also will receive your medical card from AISH. They will send the card to you. The Office of the Public Trustee receives your Medical Services card with your AISH benefits as they are mailed together from the AISH office.

See also
Things you should know

Primary Contact Person

The Trust Agreement uses the words "Primary Contact" and "Alternate Primary Contact." Your Primary Contact Person will help you set up your budget plan and help to make sure the AISH program has all the information it needs. The Alternate Primary Contact Person will help you when your Primary Contact Person asks them to. You and your Primary Contact must sign the Instruction Form/Budget that goes to the Office of the Public Trustee.

Program Contact Person

The Trust Agreement uses the words "Program Contact." Your Program Contact Person is your representative for the AISH Benefits Administration Program.
Find your Program Contact Person

Trust Agreement

The Trust Agreement makes sure that everyone knows what they are to do and that you can control your money the way you want. When you sign the Trust Agreement, you become part of the AISH Benefits Administration Program. The Trust Agreement is a legal document. It explains the roles and responsibilities for you, your Primary Contact Person and the Public Trustee, in taking care of your AISH money. The Trust Agreement begins after everyone has signed it.