If you receive Income Support through Alberta Works, your benefits continue because you report each month. Miss that report, and your benefits stop — not after a warning, not after a second chance, but immediately. This article explains exactly what you need to report, when the deadline falls, what the consequences of missing it are, and how to access the system whether you use the phone, the online portal, or need to visit in person.
The Monthly Reporting Deadline — The Date That Matters Most
Alberta Works Income Support recipients must submit their monthly report by the 5th of each month to continue receiving benefits for that month. This is not a soft deadline — it is a hard cutoff in the system. If you submit after the 5th, your benefit payment may be delayed or cancelled for that month, and you will need to contact your Alberta Works office to have it reinstated.
The report covers the previous calendar month. So when you report on or before February 5th, you are reporting on what happened in January — your income, your employment status, any changes to your household. The payment you receive after that report covers February. This is a one-month lag that confuses some new recipients: the report you submit this month is about last month, and the payment you receive this month covers next month.
When the 5th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the deadline shifts to the Friday before. When it falls on a statutory holiday, it shifts to the previous business day. Do not wait until the 5th to report — if anything goes wrong technically or personally, you have no buffer. Reporting between the 1st and 3rd of each month gives you time to correct any problems before the cutoff.
What You Must Report Each Month
The monthly report is a declaration of your current situation. Reporting requirements vary slightly depending on whether you are on a Living Wage or Barriers to Employment file, but in general you must report all of the following if they apply:
- Employment income — all wages, salary, tips, commissions, and self-employment income earned during the month, from every job. Report gross amounts, not net take-home pay. The system applies an earnings exemption automatically.
- Other income — CPP benefits, EI (Employment Insurance), child support received, AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped), pension income, rental income, gifts of money over a certain threshold, and any other money received.
- Changes to household composition — if someone moved into your home (including a partner, roommate, or family member), or if someone moved out. Changes to who you are responsible for financially must be reported.
- Changes in assets — if you inherited money, sold property, or received a settlement or insurance payout above the asset limit, this must be reported.
- Changes in address — if you moved, report your new address. Benefits and correspondence go to the address on file.
- Changes in employment status — if you started a new job, lost a job, left a job voluntarily, or moved from part-time to full-time employment.
- School or training status — if you started or stopped a school program or approved training.
If nothing changed from the previous month and you had no income, you still have to submit a report confirming that. The act of reporting — even to say nothing changed — is what keeps your file active and your benefits flowing.
Three Ways to Submit Your Monthly Report
Option 1: Online Through MyAlberta Digital ID (Recommended)
The fastest and most reliable way to submit your monthly report is through the Alberta Works Income Support online portal. You will need a MyAlberta Digital ID to log in. If you do not already have one, create it at account.alberta.ca using your email address — it takes about five minutes.
Once logged in, navigate to the Income Support section and select “Monthly Report.” The system will prompt you with questions about your income and circumstances for the previous month. Answer each section, review the summary, and submit. You will receive a confirmation number — save it as proof of submission. The online portal is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, though reports submitted after midnight on the 5th may not be processed before the payment run for that month.
Option 2: By Phone Through the Automated Phone System
Call 1-800-567-2273 (Income Support Contact Centre) to report by phone. This automated system is available 24 hours a day. You will need your Alberta Works client ID number (found on your benefit statement) and your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Follow the prompts to report your income and any changes.
The phone system works well if your situation is straightforward — no income, no changes. If you have multiple jobs with different amounts of income or unusual circumstances, the online portal gives you more flexibility to enter details accurately. Errors made through the phone system can still result in an overpayment if you inadvertently under-report, which must be repaid.
If you need to speak with a worker directly, call the same number and select the option to speak with a representative. Wait times can be long — 30 to 60 minutes or more on high-volume days like the 1st to 5th of the month. Call early in the morning to reduce your wait time.
Option 3: In Person at an Alberta Works Office
If you cannot report online or by phone, you can visit your local Alberta Works office to report in person. Bring photo ID and your client ID number. Walk-in service is available at most offices, though some locations have moved to appointment-only service — call ahead before making the trip. Office locations and hours can be found on the Alberta.ca Income Support website.
What Happens If You Miss the 5th of the Month
This is the question that matters most to most people reading this page. Here is the realistic breakdown of consequences:
Missed by 1–5 Days (Before the Payment Run)
If you miss the 5th but report within the first week of the month, contact your Alberta Works office immediately. In many cases, a worker can manually process your report in time to catch the next payment run or issue a late payment. This is not guaranteed — it depends on when the payment processing happens for that month and the discretion of your worker — but it is worth calling the same day you realize you missed the deadline. Have your reason for missing the deadline ready to explain.
Missed Payment for the Month
If your payment does not come through because you missed the reporting deadline, it does not mean your file is closed permanently. Contact your Alberta Works office, report for the month as late, and they can typically reinstate your benefits for the following month. However, you will not receive retroactive payment for the month you missed — that month’s benefit is lost.
Three Months Without Reporting
If you fail to report for three consecutive months without contacting your office, your file may be closed entirely. Reopening a closed file requires re-applying for Income Support from scratch, which takes time and means a gap in benefits. Always contact your worker, even if you cannot report, to explain your situation and ask for an extension or grace period.
The Income Exemption — The Number That Changes How Much You Get to Keep
One of the least-understood parts of Alberta Works is the earned income exemption. This is an amount of employment income you can earn each month without it reducing your benefits dollar-for-dollar. As of 2026, Income Support recipients who are working can earn up to $1,073 per month without any reduction to their benefits. Beyond that amount, benefits are reduced by $0.75 for every $1 of additional earnings.
This means if your benefit entitlement is $1,200 per month and you earn $900 at work, you keep all $900 of your wages and your full $1,200 benefit. If you earn $1,500, you keep the first $1,073 tax-free against your benefits, and the remaining $427 reduces your benefit by $320.25. Your total income — wages plus adjusted benefit — is higher than if you were not working at all.
The exemption amount is adjusted periodically. Check with your Alberta Works worker for the current figure, as it may have changed. The point is: working and receiving Income Support at the same time is financially better than not working, even at relatively low wage levels. Report your earnings accurately every month so the system calculates the correct adjusted benefit.
Common Mistakes That Cause Problems
Forgetting to report a second job or side income. Every source of income must be reported, including cash-in-hand work, freelance projects, and gig economy income (Uber Eats, etc.). Failure to report income is considered fraud and can result in an overpayment notice requiring you to repay the amount plus potential legal consequences.
Not reporting when a partner moves in. If someone moves into your home and you are in a relationship with them, their income counts toward your household income and must be reported. Failing to report a cohabiting partner’s income is the most common reason for overpayment demands.
Assuming zero income means no reporting needed. You must submit a report every single month regardless of your income. Zero income months still require a report to confirm your status.
The deadline is the 5th of each month. You are reporting on your income and circumstances from the previous month. If the 5th falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the last business day before the 5th. Report between the 1st and 3rd to give yourself a buffer in case of technical issues.
Call 1-800-567-2273. This is the Income Support Contact Centre. The automated reporting system is available 24 hours a day. To speak with a worker, select that option in the phone menu — wait times are typically shorter early in the morning.
You can work and receive Income Support simultaneously. Alberta Works applies an earned income exemption — as of 2026, approximately $1,073 per month — which you can earn without it reducing your benefit. Income above that amount reduces your benefit by 75 cents per dollar. Report all employment income accurately each month and the system will calculate your adjusted benefit.
Go to account.alberta.ca and click Create Account. You will need a valid email address. After creating the Digital ID, link it to your Income Support file by calling your Alberta Works office or during your next in-person visit. Once linked, you can report and manage your file online.
No, not permanently. Missing one deadline results in a delayed or missed payment for that month, which cannot be recovered retroactively. Contact your Alberta Works office immediately to report late and continue your file for the following month. If you miss three consecutive months without contact, your file may be closed and you would need to reapply.
Yes, in most cases. Cash gifts from family or friends above a certain threshold (set by your caseworker and depending on your file type) must be declared. Small occasional gifts may be exempt, but regular financial support from family counts as unearned income. When in doubt, report it and let your worker determine how it affects your benefit calculation.