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This post covers the Manitoba EIA payment dates and benefits for 2024

I will cover everything you need to know about the program ranging from the 2024 payment dates, benefits, eligibility, and how to apply.

By the end of this post, you should be able to know how much EIA payment you’re entitled to in 2024 and other government benefits you may be eligible for.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

Manitoba EIA Payment Dates 2024

The Manitoba EIA payments are administered monthly like the social assistance programs of other provinces.

But unlike other provincial governments, the Manitoba government doesn’t schedule a calendar with payment dates.

Instead, the government issues cheques on the first of very month and makes direct deposits usually between the 3rd to the last business days of the previous month. 

For example, January 2024 payment was made on December 28, 2023, and December 2023 payment was made on November 28, 2023.

Below are the Manitoba EIA payment dates for 2024.

Benefit Month	Payment Date
January 2024	December 28, 2023
February 2024	January 29, 2024
March 2024	February 27, 2024
April 2024	March 27, 2024
May 2024	April 24, 2024
June 2024	May 29, 2024
July 2024	June 26, 2024
August 2024	July 24, 2024
September 2024	August 28, 2024
October 2024	September 25, 2024
November 2024	October 29, 2024
December 2024	November 27, 2024

The EIA payments are deposited directly to the recipient’s bank accounts within 24 hours of the payment date.

Online banks like KOHO, PC Financial and Tangerine often make direct deposits before the official payment dates due to their limited number of clients compared to traditional banks.

That being said, some EIA recipients will receive the payment on different dates other than the ones highlighted above based on their circumstances.

The bottom line is, not all EIA recipients receive the payments on the same dates based on the method of payment and personal circumstances.

In any case, you will be informed on when to expect the payment by an EIA staff upon applying for the program.

Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on the EIA payment dates for 2024.

EIA Disability Payment Dates in Manitoba 2024

Generally, all EIA recipients are paid on the same dates. That’s, the Manitoba EIA disability payment recipients are also paid on the EIA payment dates highlighted above.

For clarity, the following are the direct deposit EIA disability payment dates in Manitoba for 2024:

Benefit Month	Payment Date
January 2024	December 28, 2023
February 2024	January 29, 2024
March 2024	February 27, 2024
April 2024	March 27, 2024
May 2024	April 24, 2024
June 2024	May 29, 2024
July 2024	June 26, 2024
August 2024	July 24, 2024
September 2024	August 28, 2024
October 2024	September 25, 2024
November 2024	October 29, 2024
December 2024	November 27, 2024

That being said, let’s get into the details of the Manitoba EIA program to understand what it entails.

What is Manitoba EIA?

Manitoba EIA stands for Employment and Income Assistance Program (EIA) of the province of Manitoba.

As the name implies, the program provides employment and income assistance to eligible Manitoba residents.

In other words, Manitoba EIA is the equivalent social assistance program of other provinces in Canada such as the:

• BC Income Assistance program 
• Nova Scotia Income Assistance program
• Ontario Works program 

With the EIA program, Manitobans that have no other source of support can get the help they need in varying proportions. 

While the program targets the unemployed and penniless, it also helps those with poor medical conditions and those looking for rent assistance.

So if you fit into any of these situations, keep reading to learn about the EIA benefits and eligibility.

Manitoba EIA Benefits

Basically, the EIA program provides income and employment support. 

However, the program also has a third component known as Single Grants for Medical Equipment and Supplies.

In this section, we’re going to look at these benefits in detail to help you understand your entitlement under the program.

1. Income Support

The EIA program provides income support to Manitobas that are in financial need.

This component of the benefit caters to single parents, persons with disability, and other eligible Manitobans.

Part of the income support is a Rent Assist benefit that helps eligible Manitoba residents with their shelter and utility costs. 

Below we shall be looking at the three major categories under the EIA income support as mentioned earlier.

a. Manitoba EIA for Single Parents

This category of EIA income assistance caters to Manitoba single parents providing income assistance.

To qualify for this category, you must meet the following eligibility:

• Live in Manitoba
• Reach the age of 18 or older
• Be in the custody of a dependent child/children or have a 7-9 month-old pregnancy 
• Be unmarried, divorced, separated, or have a spouse in prison 
• Be in a financial need

How much will you get as a single parent?

You will receive up to $1,022 per month as a single parent with no child. This is a combination of provincial and federal benefits.

But if you have a single child, you will receive a combined total of $2,074 You will receive more depending on the number and age of your children.

The following table provides the breakdown of EIA income assistance for different single parents as of July 1, 2023.

b. Manitoba EIA for Persons with Disabilities

If you have a mental or physical disability in Manitoba, you may be eligible for this category of EIA income assistance.

To be eligible for Manitoba EIA for Persons with Disabilities, you must: 

• Live in Manitoba 
• Be of 18 years of age or older.
• Have a mental or physical disability that is likely to exceed 90 days which restricts you from earning income  
• Be in financial need

How much will you get as a person with a disability?

You will get $1,192 as a combined provincial and federal benefit as a single parent without a child. 

If you’re a single parent with up to 3 children aged 12-17, you will get up to $3,665.

You will get more if you are a family of two adults in which one adult is a person with a disability 

The table below shows the breakdown of EIA income assistance for Manitobans with disabilities as of July 1, 2023.

c. Manitoba EIA for General Assistance

The last category of EIA income assistance is known as Manitoba EIA for General Assistance.

This category caters to Manitobans that didn’t qualify for single parents or persons with disability category.

However, general assistance is not for everyone. You must meet the following eligibility to qualify for the benefit:

• Live in Manitoba 
• Be between 18 and 65 years of age
• Don’t have a disability 
• Be a single parent with no dependents/ children; a two-parent family or; a couple without dependents/children 
• Be in financial need

How much will you get under general assistance?

If you’re a single adult with no child, you will get a combined provincial and federal benefit of $887.

But if you are a two-adult family with no child, you will get $1,289 combined benefits.

Like the above benefits, the amount of general assistance you will get depends on your marital status, number, and age of children.

Below is a breakdown of the EIA general assistance benefits as of July 1, 2023.

The total amount of EIA income assistance you get depends on your category, family size, and other income.

2. Healthcare Costs

Regardless of the category you fall under the EIA income assistance, you may be eligible for Single Grants for Medical Equipment and Supplies.

The healthcare costs cater to Manitobans that can afford their basic living costs but can’t afford their personal or family health needs.

This benefit covers the cost of an essential prescription, dental and optical needs. It also covers the cost of some essential health benefits that are not covered by any other program.

How much healthcare benefits you get depends on your health needs. 

Whether you need medical supplies, equipment, or a special diet, you can count on the healthcare cost coverage.

Note that the healthcare benefits don’t apply automatically. You are expected to request the benefit by filing any of the following forms that apply to your situation.

Information Sheet	Request Form
Medical Equipment Information Sheet for EIA participants (PDF)	Medical Equipment Request and Justification Form
Medical Supply Information Sheet for EIA participants (PDF)	Medical Supply Request and Justification Form
Special Diet Information Sheet for EIA participants (PDF)	Therapeutic Diet/Nutritional Supplement Request and Justification Form

When you fill out the request form, you should submit it to the Disability and Health Support Unit in your local EIA office.

3. Employment Support

If you’re unemployed and are capable of working (i.e work expectation), it’s compulsory to look for work while on the EIA program.

The fortunate thing is that the program can help you get a job that suits your qualifications. It can also help with career training and self-employment development.

Once enrolled in the EIA program, you will be assigned a staff that will guide you on how to get a job. The EIA staff will engage you to design an action plan that suits your qualifications and needs.

Failure to look for a job or implement your action plan will directly impact your EIA benefits.

To help you achieve your action plan, EIA may provide extra money to cover the following expenses:

• Work expenses (such as work boots or work clothing)
• Telephone costs
• Child care expenses
• Miscellaneous expenses under an approved training program (up to $25 per month)
• Rewarding Work Allowance per month ($100 if you work full-time or $50 if you’re a part-timer worker)

Bear in mind that you’re expected to ask your EIA staff to change your action plan if your situation changes or if you’re having problems with the plan.

Other EIA Employment Support

To ensure your successful transition from EIA to work, the EIA program provides the following benefits: 

• Get Ready! Policy: This policy ensures that you keep receiving the EIA benefits while attending a training or educational program for up to 4 years. 
• Earnings Exemption: This benefit helps reduce your EIA income threshold by exempting your first $200 monthly net income and 30% of any monthly income you earn over $200.
• Leaving EIA: As you move to work or training and no longer receive EIA, you may be eligible for some benefits such as the Rewarding Work Health Plan that provides prescription drug, optical, and dental benefits for up to 2 years for eligible single parents and their children.

Manitoba EIA Increase 2024

Like other provincial social assistance programs, the Manitoba EIA program is adjusted annually based on Consumer Price Index (CPI).

In addition, the Manitoba EIA payments have increased over the few years to reflect inflationary pressure.

In July 2021, the Rent Assist benefit amount was increased up to 11% for some families.

Moreso, the Manitoba government in August 2022 announced a $50 monthly increase per adult for each EIA general assistance recipient. 

There was also a $25 monthly increase per household for each EIA disability recipient. The increase took effect in October 2022.

In July 2023, the Manitoba government increased the EIA benefits for all the three components of the program as discussed above.

You can subscribe to our newsletter or comment below to stay updated about any future increases.

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Is Manitoba EIA Taxable?

All the components of the Manitoba EIA payments are tax-free. This is not surprising since the program aims to help those with financial, health, or employment need.

What this means is that you don’t need to include the EIA payment when filing your annual tax return.

Moreso, you have 100% freedom to decide how to use the EIA benefits. This provides maximum flexibility compared to other government benefits.

Who is Eligible for EIA in Manitoba?

From the above discussion, you can see that the eligibility for EIA varies depending on the program category. 

Notwithstanding, the following are the general eligibility you must meet to qualify for the EIA program in Manitoba.

a. Residency

Like other provincial-funded social assistance programs, the EIA program is strictly for the residents of Manitoba.

As a result, you must be a resident of Manitoba to qualify for the EIA program.

Unlike other provincial social assistance programs, the EIA program doesn’t specify the time you need to reside in Manitoba to qualify for the program. 

This makes the program open to many people as both new and old residents can apply.

b. Age

To qualify for any of the components of the EIA program, you must reach the minimum age of 18 which is Manitoba’s age of majority.

But if you’re applying for the Manitoba EIA General Assistance category, you must be between 18 to 65 years old to qualify. 

c. Financial Need

All the EIA benefits require you to be in financial need. What does it mean to be in financial need?  

Being in financial need means when your total financial resources are below the total costs of your monthly basic needs and shelter costs.

Note that your financial resources include both your income and assets.

That said, the EIA program determines the costs of your basic needs by looking at: 

• your family EIA basic allowance and the number, age, and relationship of people in your family;
• some of your ongoing medical needs cost 

d. Income

Since the EIA program targets those in need, your income must fall within a given threshold to qualify for the program.

The more income you have, the less eligible you become for the program.

When you earn money through the following activities, it’s considered income by EIA:

• Working
• Pensions
• Self-employment
• Allowances
• Sponsorship payments
• Business or farm profits
• Rent or room and board income 
• Dividends
• Interest
• Insurance benefits
• Inheritances
• Child or spousal support payments
• Financial settlements from an injury or lawsuit
• Income in-kind
• Windfalls (winnings) 

However, the program doesn’t consider the following income when calculating your financial resources:

• Exempted working earnings 
• Exempted amount from rent or room and board income 
• Occasional gifts (maxed at $100/person)
• Foster home maintenance payments
• Tax credit refunds
• Canada Child Benefit
• Manitoba Prenatal Benefit Program benefits
• Income of full-time children who are in school or an EIA-approved program
• Etc.

e. Financial Assets

This is last but not least eligibility for the EIA program. As with income eligibility, the higher assets you have, the less eligible you’re for the program.

EIA considers the following as assets when calculating your financial resources: 

• Cash
• Money in bank accounts
• Vehicles
• Insurance policies
• Collections 
• Valuables
• Investments
• Bonds
• Property/real estate
• Trust funds 

However, the program doesn’t consider the following when determining assets in your financial resources:

• Liquid assets (or any money) up to $4,000 per person or $16,000 per family
• Automobiles
• Your primary residence (your main home)
• Children’s trust funds (maximum of $40,000)
• Approved Individual Development Accounts
• Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs) 
• Etc. 

How to Apply for EIA in Manitoba 

Before you can apply for EIA in Manitoba, you must make a pre-intake orientation appointment with an EIA staff in your local office.

During your meeting with the EIA staff, you will be oriented about the program. 

You will be taught about your rights and responsibilities under the program and the information and documents you need to get started.

Following the end of your meeting with the EIA staff, you will be scheduled for an intake appointment where you will fill out the EIA application form and submit the required documents and proof of financial resources.

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• Downloaded the application checklist here to get the complete information and documents required for the application. 
• Contact your local EIA office in Winnipeg and outside Winnipeg for additional information on the application process 
• Call 204-948-4000 in Winnipeg or 1-877-812-0014 (Toll-free) if you prefer to seek assistance on the phone 

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Recently, the Manitoba government introduced a new Central Intake office at 111 Rorie Street to accept EIA applications from those living in the City of Winnipeg.

So if you live in Winnipeg, you can apply for the Manitoba EIA program through any of the following options: 

• Book an intake appointment. Call 204-948-4000 or 1-800-855-0511 if you are deaf or hard of hearing;
• Fill out the EIA Intake Appointment Request form; or
• Visit 111 Rorie Street office to book an appointment in-person or 128 Market Avenue if you require accessibility services or have children 

Additional Financial Assistance for Low-Income Manitobans

The EIA program is just one of many government benefits you may be eligible for as a low-income earner in Manitoba.

There are provincial and federal government benefits that can help offset some of your monthly expenses and eventually help you regain your feet. 

Other provincial programs that cater to low-income earners in Manitoba include: 

• Early Learning and Child Care Program
• Manitoba Child Benefit
• Rent Assist for persons not receiving EIA
• 55PLUS
• Pharmacare program 

On the other hand, below are the federal programs you may be eligible for as a low-income earner in Manitoba.

Federal Programs

• Employment Insurance (EI) program 
• Working Income Tax Benefit
• Goods and Services Tax Credit (GST/HST)
• Carbon Tax Rebate (CAIP) Payment Dates and Benefits
• Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP)
• Old Age Security / Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS/GIS)
• VAC Disability Benefit Payment Dates

• Wondering what is Canada Fed deposit in your bank account? Check this out
• Wondering what the Canada GSL deposit in your bank account is? Here’s everything you need to know

FAQs on EIA Manitoba Payment Dates 2024

How much does EIA pay for rent in Manitoba?

It depends on household size and utilities. A single person with no utilities can receive up to $612 for private rent. Whereas a single person with utilities can receive a maximum pay for rent of $540.

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

A single person with no child can get $$887 per month and up to $1,192 for a single person a with disability with no child.

How much money can you make while on EIA?

You can get up to $3,665 per month if you are a two-adult family with 3 children between 0 to 6 years of age. 

Who is eligible for rent assistance in Manitoba?

To be eligible for rent assistance in Manitoba, you must meet the following conditions:

• Be a citizen or a permanent resident of Canada
• Be a tenant in unsubsidized housing
• Have eligible net annual income (below $25,600 for singles; $29,280 for singles aged 55 or older; $32,960 for 2 people; $42,400 for 3-4 people; $54,360 for 5 and above people)
• Have less than $42,400 net annual income if you’re a family of 2-4 or $54,360 if you’re more than 5
• Have dependent children in your home