Manitoba EIA Payment Dates and Benefits (2023)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read thisย disclosureย for more info.

This post covers the Manitoba Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) social assistance program.

Like many other provinces in Canada, the government of Manitoba provides financial assistance to its residents that are in need.

Weโ€™ll start off with the EIA payment dates for 2023, the available benefits, eligibility and how to apply for the support.

Also find out if the benefit is taxable and if itโ€™ll be increasing in 2023.


Manitoba EIA Payment Dates 2023

The Manitoba EIA Payment Dates for 2023 are:

EIA Benefit MonthEIA Payment Dates
January 2023December 28, 2022
February 2023January 27, 2023
March 2023February 24, 2023
April 2023March 29, 2023
May 2023April 26, 2023
June 2023May 29, 2023
July 2023June 28, 2023
August 2023July 26, 2023
September 2023August 29, 2023
October 2023September 27, 2023
November 2023October 27, 2023
December 2023November 28, 2023

These are the scheduled direct deposit dates for Manitoba EIA.

EIA payments are always issued a few days before the end of each month (about 3 business days) to ensure that participants receive their benefits by the first day of the benefit month.

Note that the payment dates in the table above apply to both existing and new clients.

However, participants may also receive their benefits outside of the scheduled dates above. This is because EIA works with beneficiaries to match the monthly benefits payment dates to their personal circumstances.

As a result, some participants receive their EIA benefits weekly, bi-weekly or on a mid-monthly basis.

That makes EIA more flexible than some other provincial social assistance benefits like Ontario Works, Alberta AISH, British Columbia PWD and so on.

GST/HST Credit and Canada Child Benefit amounts were reassessed in July 2023 using your 2022 income. Find out how much you can receive in the links.

What is Manitoba EIA?

Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) is a Manitoba Government social assistance program that provides financial help to those in need that have no other means of supporting themselves.

It covers housing costs, health-related supplies, employment support for those who can work and many more.

The EIA program has 3 categories, namely EIA for single parents, EIA for persons with a disability and EIA for the general assistance category.  


EIA Benefits

The EIA benefit can be categorized into 2, namely Income Support and Employment Assistance. Weโ€™ll cover both in details below and how much you can receive in benefits.

Manitoba EIA Income Support

The EIA income support is a combination of both provincial and federal government benefits to eligible Manitoba residents.

The provincial benefit includes Rent Assist, a program that covers the housing and utilities costs of those receiving EIA benefits and other low-income renters in Manitoba.

There are three main categories of Manitoba EIA:

  • Manitoba EIA for Single Parents
  • Manitoba EIA for Persons with Disabilities; and
  • Manitoba EIA for General Assistance

How much you can receive depends on your family unit size, other income and the category you fall under.

Manitoba EIA for Single Parents

As the name suggests, this Manitoba EIA category is for single parents and those without a spouse or common-law partner.

Specifically, to be eligible for Manitoba EIA for Single Parents, you must satisfy the following conditions:

  • Be a Manitoba resident and be 18 years or older
  • Seven to nine months pregnant or be in custody of one or more dependent children
  • Divorced, separated, widowed, have a partner in prison or unmarried
  • Meet the financial eligibility criteria

Manitoba EIA for Singles Rate:

A single person with no children can receive up to a total of $948 in combined provincial and federal benefits.

With a kid, the total benefit goes up to $1,901. That is, $1,363 from the province and $538 from the federal government.

Note that the federal government amount includes GST/HST Credit and Canada Child Benefit payments.

The table below shows how much you can expect to get as a single parent:

How much you can receive as Manitoba EIA as a single person

Manitoba EIA for Persons with Disabilities

To receive the Manitoba EIA as a persons with disability, you must meet the following conditions:

  • Aged 18 or older and be a Manitoba resident
  • have a condition (mental or physical) that is likely to last more than 90 days and prevents you from earning
  • have a financial need

The financial assistance covers the cost of your basic needs and some of the on-going medical needs.

Manitoba EIA for Persons with Disabilities Amounts:

With no kids, a single person can receive up to $1,093 and $1,418 for two adults. The amounts increase as the number of dependent children increases.

The table below shows the maximum amount of Manitoba EIA for up to three children for persons with disabilities.

How much you can receive as Manitoba EIA as a person with disability.

Manitoba EIA for General Assistance

This is the default Manitoba EIA category for anyone that does not fall into any of the other 2 categories above.

To be eligible, you must satisfy the following:

  • Be a Manitoba resident
  • Aged between 18 and 65 years
  • have a financial need
  • have no disability and are either a single person with no children, couple without dependents or 2 parent family.

Manitoba EIA for General Assistance Rates:

How much you can receive as Manitoba EIA if you fall in this category depends on your specific situation including the number of dependents.

For example, the maximum EIA benefit for a single person without a disability or dependents is $796. While a couple with no kids can receive up to $1,104 in both provincial and federal benefits.

EIA payment amounts for general assistance and EIA payment dates.

Manitoba EIA Employment Assistance

EIA has a concept called โ€œwork expectation.โ€ It simply means that most recipients are expected to look for work.

However, the work expectation may not be applicable to all participants. For example, parents are only expected to work when their children are above 2 years old.

Also, certain people with disabilities that prevents them from working will also be excluded.

The EIA staff will work with each participant to develop an action plan that matches their unique needs, abilities and situation. The program can also provide employment, self-employment and training programs to beneficiaries.

This may include extra money to cover things like child-care, work-related expenses for work clothing and boots, miscellaneous expenses, and a monthly Rewarding Work Allowance of $100.


Manitoba EIA Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for EIA are quite different and varies depending on the category of assistance.

Residency

Obviously, all applicants for EIA must be Manitoba residents.

Age

To receive EIA as a single parent or in the general assistance category, the participant must be aged between 18 and 65 years.

However, the age requirement for a person with a disability is 16.

Financial Need

This is perhaps the most important eligibility factor for EIA.

To be eligible for EIA, an applicantโ€™s (and their familyโ€™s) total monthly cost for basic needs and shelter must be higher than their financial resources.

The cost of basic needs under EIA is based on the EIA basic allowance amount for the participantโ€™s family size and the cost of some of their medical needs.

Financial resources are assessed using income and assets.

Income: This includes earnings from employment, allowances, pensions, child or spousal supports, interest, dividends etc. A few income sources are excluded such as tax refunds, occasional gifts, Canada Child Benefit, part of employment income and so on

Assets: Some assets such as cash, bank accounts, insurance policies, valuables, trust funds and so on are considered in determining an applicantโ€™s financial need. However, some assets do not count.

They include primary residence, liquid cash ($4,000 per person and up to $16,000 for a family), childrenโ€™s trust fund up to $40,000, RESPs etc.

How to Apply for EIA

Application for Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) starts with a pre-intake orientation appointment with an EIA staff.

The EIA staff will provide an orientation of the program including your rights and responsibilities while on EIA, documents and information requirements and so on.

After this, an intake appointment will be scheduled for you to complete the EIA application.

As part of the application, youโ€™ll also be required to provide proof of your income and assets. You should take all the documents and support needed along to your intake appointment.

You can download the application checklist here that contains all the documents and information needed to apply for EIA.

You can get additional information on the application process for EIA by contacting your local EIA office in Winnipeg and outside Winnipeg.

Alternatively, you may call using these numbers: 204-948-4000 in Winnipeg or 1-877-812-0014 (Toll-free).


Other Manitoba Social Assistance Programs

The Department of Families also provides several social assistance programs to eligible low-income earners in Manitoba.

Some of the financial benefits and assistance initiatives include:

Manitoba Child Care Subsidy: for families with kids 12 weeks to 12 years attending a licensed early learning and childcare centre.

It covers part of the fees and how much each family receives depends on a several factors including the income and number of children in their care

Manitoba Child Benefit: is for those with dependent children under the age of 18 and who are already receiving the Canada Child Benefit.

It pays up to $420 per year for each kid, or $35 per month.

Childrenโ€™s Opti-Care Program: covers some of the cost of getting glasses for children already receiving the Manitoba Child Benefit.

The benefit starts at $84 per child each year, but it can be higher for children with special needs.

Social Housing Rental Program: a program delivered by Manitoba Housing for lower income Manitobans.

It pays a subsidy that represents the difference between the market rate for the units and what they actually pay.

Manitoba Rent-Assist: Another housing initiative for low-income earners. Eligible Manitoba EIA beneficiaries also receive Rent-Assist with their benefit.

55 PLUS Program: is a quarterly benefit for Seniors in Manitoba (aged 55and over) with low income. A single can receive $161.80 or $173.90 for each person thatโ€™s eligible with a spouse or common-law partner.

Is Manitoba EIA Taxable?

Your monthly Manitoba EIA benefit payments are not taxable. The rent assistance benefits are also totally tax-free.

Also, any federal benefits like the GST/HST Credit or Canada Child Benefits you receive will not be taxed.

You wonโ€™t need to include the amounts in your tax returns when you file your income tax returns for the year.

Manitoba EIA Earnings Exemption

You are allowed to work while receiving Manitoba EIA. In fact, youโ€™ll receive more money if you decide to work because of the EIA earnings exemptions.

With the earnings exemption:

  • The first $200 you earn is fully exempted. That is, it will not reduce your EIA monthly benefit payments
  • Youโ€™ll be able to keep 30% of any amount above $200

Youโ€™re required to provide an Income Declaration Statement each month. The statement is used to determine how much you can receive and any claw back, if applicable.

How much does social assistance pay in Manitoba?

You can receive up to $796 as a single person without a disability or dependents under the main social assistance program in Manitoba. A couple with no kids can also receive up to $1,104.

The amount increase as the number of dependents increase and for those with a disability.

In addition, you may also be eligible for one of the other financial assistance or welfare programs provided by the provincial government such as the Child Care Subsidy, Social Housing Rental Program, 55 PLUS Program and so on.

Check this post to learn more about social assistance programs across Canada, how much you can receive and the benefit payment dates.

Manitoba EIA Increases

In June 2021, the Manitoba government announced an increase to the Rent Assist portion of the EIA program.

With the increase, some families will see up to an 11% increase in their monthly benefits.

The total cost of the increase is about $30 million and part of the annual indexation to inflation.

Some FAQs on Manitoba EIA Payment Dates

Do you have to pay back EIA?

You donโ€™t have to pay back the Manitoba EIA payment because itโ€™s a free taxable benefit.ย 
However, you must pay back any overpaid amount even after you stop receiving the benefit.

How much does a single person get on EIA in Manitoba?

As a single individual with no disability, you will get a total of $948 under the Manitoba EAI program. But if you have a disability and are single, you will get a total of $1,093.

How much does disability pay in Manitoba?

You can receive a total of $1,093 under Manitoba EIA as a single individual with no disability or $1,418 for two adults.

Related Posts:

Simon is a CPA by day and a Personal Finance Blogger by night. With over a decade experience in financial services, he's passionate about personal finance, investing and helping people take control of their financial life.

18 thoughts on “Manitoba EIA Payment Dates and Benefits (2023)”

  1. Not sure if I can get any help??? But I have been trying anyone and anything I can find to ask for help. I need help with going through my taxes 2012 to 2018 and then filling my 2019 and 2020 taxes. I am going through a messy separation and I have learnt so much and my taxes I do not agree with something I can see online. We share custody of our two boys somehow my ex now is getting full child tax and I owe $3000.00 back to childs tax and I have not received any help. I’m struggling and need help.

    Reply
    • Hi Rose-Anna,

      I’m sorry to hear about what you’re going through. You can start by checking with one of the Free Tax Clinic in partnership with CRA. If they can’t help with your specific situation, they should be able to point you in the right direction.

      Here are some links to get you started: The General Information Page and Directory of clinics

      The link to the directory is also on the general information page.

      Hope that helps.

      Reply
      • Hi thanks for the suggestion but I have tried everything, I wil just need to find someone to help my file my 2019 and 2020 with what i know. I know for a fact my ex has been lying but thats not my problem. Also how can my taxes change so much without me ever calling in to make these changes or ever making any changes to my own taxes? I think i know but rather not say so everyone can see, i think maybe I need to get the IRS involved? See this is where iam stuck,i need to talk with someone that i can i explain what has happened show my documents then if they feel I should go to the IRS then I will but as of right now I wouldn’t even know how to or what to say to the irs and i don’t want to say the wrong thimg and waist their time. Am I making any sense? I know its a lot and i am just tired of this i need help and i want to get this done. I probably will end up doing this myself, I can’t find help. I would like to start filling right away but i don’t know the first thing on doing my own taxes? Also i tried logging in my online account with CRA and i have misspelled my password, now I am locked out and I’ve called each day almost 2 weeks now but the wait times is always 5 hours or longer and i need to get in my account to do all this. Please if you can help let me know. Is there anyway we can talk through email?

        Reply
  2. I always get my EIA payment direct deposit with my CPPD deposit it was put in on friday night sometime or friday. but i still haven’t got my EIA direct deposit for the 29th and when it usually falls on a weekend it goes in on that friday after midnight sometime. has anyone else not received there EIA direct deposit for April the payment set for Mar 29th, usually comes in the weekday before? I have never seen this happen before not getting it before the actual date of deposit and it won’t go in Sunday as banks are closed therefore my other years I looked back and sure enough in same situation got it that friday/saterday around 2am 4-am

    thank you.

    Reply
    • oh my gosh rob, I never got mine too and thanks to you, i’ll sleep well tonight, knowing i’m not the only one!! I am going to check my mailbox and see if I’ve forgotten to fill in paperwork for a review that we have to do a few times a year. I doubt it though. I am checking at midnight. this has NEVER happened to me either. I thought I would’ve gotten it perhaps on Saturday too like you early in the morning. so, I’ve come to the conclusion that our funds got deposited on Friday but the “system” got full and slowed down or something and we’ll be getting it Tuesday after midnight. if not I am fu&^ed because I have bills to pay and need the cash ASAP. again, thanks for posting because I was getting panicky!!

      Reply
  3. I talked to my worker today and it turns out that I hadn’t filled out my ANNUAL REVIEW. I am going there in the morning and he’ll release the funds, to be received in 2 business days. now I can sleep well as I was left panicking ALL NIGHT!! my mother agreed to help me out for a few days so I can BREATHE now!! I sincerely hope everyone receives their payment!! good luck.

    Reply
  4. Iโ€™m just wondering bc I just recently started a new job and Iโ€™m just wondering if I make over $200 a month when I fill out the declaration form how much would EIA take off my check every month

    Reply
    • Hi Cora,
      You’ll be able to keep 30% of any amount above $200. For example, if you earned $500 in a month – The first $200 will be exempt. Also, $90 which is 30% of $300 ($500 – $200) is also exempt for a total exemption of $290. That means, your cheque will be reduced by $210.

      Reply
  5. I just found out that its not my workers responsibility to inform me of my responsibilities when I ask, its in fact my responsibility to know. I’ll explain how we got here if you want to know.
    I am on disability. I’ve finally resolved to get everything I’m told by EIA staff, said on record but EIA employees are’nt comfortable with that, going so far as to inform me of a falsehood, that its illegal withoit their permission.
    I’m tired of fighting, passive aggressive sparring, having to finally resolve to recording everything to have civil employees try to tell me that its illegal. Its not. Look it up.
    Is it my responsibility to just know what ti do? Is it not my workers job to tell me when I exercise the initiative to ask?
    If its my job to just know then being left with no money on the first after a huge catastrophe which left me homeless, with no direction offered by my worker toward filling out a rent form after giving her my address and requesting further instruction in a voice mail-I’m sick. Remember?-if its my job to know, I’ll forget this happened.
    If its my workers job to tell me what I need ti know in order to prevent something like….not being able to pay my rent or eat by complete surprise, following a personal disaster, as a disabled citizen, then I want a new fxxkin worker.
    I’m sick of this crap. Your guys operating contrary to Canadian Law. If I’m wrong, again, I would live to hace all the answers I’ve been given so far on the record. Funny! Know ones game! They’re all gangsters until people are watching.

    Reply
  6. Whoโ€™s responsibility is it to report to EIA that I am living with my boyfriend – heโ€™s on EIA. Mine or his? If he doesnโ€™t report it, can I personally get into legal trouble?

    Reply
  7. Hello you stated that everyone with kids received the extra benefits for children in 2021?
    I actually didn’t recieve any at all as well as in 2021 I didnt receive any childtax benefits for half a year from July to December 2021.
    If I didnt get that extra one time benefits in 2021 does that mean I lost out on receiving any at all??

    Reply

Leave a Comment