Manitoba Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) is the province’s last-resort income program for people who can’t cover food, clothing and housing on their own. Manitobans with a severe and prolonged disability can move to a separate program, Manitoba Supports for Persons with Disabilities (MSPD), which pays more. Both are paid just before the 1st of the month the money is for, on the dates in the calendar at the top of this page.
How much you’ll get
Your cheque has two main parts: a basic needs amount for food, clothing and personal items, and a Rent Assist (shelter) amount. The amounts below come from Manitoba’s regulations in force since July 1, 2026. They are for one adult under 65 who rents a place where water, heat and electricity are included in the rent.
| Program (single adult) | Basic needs | Rent Assist (up to) | Monthly total (up to) |
|---|---|---|---|
| EIA general assistance | $245.00 | $701 | $946.00 |
| EIA for persons with disabilities | $461.40 | $816 | $1,277.40 |
| MSPD | $647.17 | $816 | $1,463.17 |
The EIA disability figure is $274.80 plus that category’s supplements ($48.80, $7.80, $105 and $25). The MSPD figure is $598.37 plus the $48.80 supplement. People 65 or older get slightly more.
If utilities are not included in your rent, the shelter maximum is $625 (general assistance) or $719 (disability and MSPD) for a single person, plus an amount for reasonable utility costs.
Larger households get more. MSPD basic needs are $812.97 for two adults, and Rent Assist tops out at $932 for two adults and $1,209 for three or four people (utilities included).
Example: Dana lives alone in Winnipeg, gets MSPD and pays rent that includes utilities. She can get up to about $1,463 a month from the province. She also keeps her federal tax credits and, if she’s approved, the full Canada Disability Benefit on top.
The rate tables on gov.mb.ca still show July 2025 totals, which are lower. Your own amount can differ: other income is subtracted, and special needs such as a prescribed diet add to it.
What you can earn and keep
- EIA: once you’ve been enrolled for a month, you keep the first $500 of net monthly earnings, plus 30% of anything above $500. In your first month the exemption is $200.
- MSPD: you keep up to $12,000 a year of net earnings per person, up to $18,000 per household.
- Gifts: up to $100 per person a month (maximum $400 per household) on general and single-parent EIA. The limit is $500 a month on EIA disability and MSPD.
- Savings: up to $4,000 per person, to a maximum of $16,000 per family, is not counted. Your home, an essential vehicle and RESPs are also exempt, and RDSP contributions are exempt up to $200,000.
Pensions work differently. CPP, CPP disability, Old Age Security and GIS are counted as income, so they reduce your EIA payment.
Who qualifies
- You live in Manitoba and are 18 or older (general assistance is for ages 18 to 65).
- Your household’s monthly basic needs and shelter costs are more than your income and resources.
- EIA disability category: your disability is expected to last more than a year and keeps you from earning enough to meet your basic needs.
- MSPD: you have a severe and prolonged disability that challenges daily living, and you are financially eligible. People on EIA disability who also get CPP disability benefits or Community Living disABILITY Services, or who live in a personal care home, qualify automatically.
How to apply
- Call to start an application: 204-948-4000 in Winnipeg, or 1-855-944-8111 toll-free elsewhere (TTY 1-800-855-0511). In Winnipeg you can also go in person to 111 Rorie Street, or to 128 Market Avenue if you have children or need accessibility services.
- Bring the documents on the EIA intake checklist, such as ID, proof of income, bank statements and your lease.
- Ask for direct deposit. It arrives before mailed cheques, and gov.mb.ca warns that cheques may be delayed while its computer systems are being upgraded.
- For MSPD: if you’re already on EIA disability, don’t reapply. Ask your EIA worker about moving over. Others use the same phone numbers and complete a financial assessment and a disability impact assessment.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- Higher earnings exemption (August 1, 2025): the amount EIA recipients keep went from $200 to $500 a month, plus 30% above that.
- Canada Disability Benefit exempt: Manitoba doesn’t count the federal Canada Disability Benefit as income for EIA or MSPD, so it doesn’t lower your provincial payment.
- July 2026 increases: MSPD basic needs rose with inflation (single adult from $580.94 to $598.37), and Rent Assist maximums went up.
- Dental (September 1, 2026): EIA and MSPD now cover only emergency dental work unless you show you’re not eligible for the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). Apply for the CDCP to keep regular dental care. People with private insurance aren’t affected.
Payment late, missing or different?
Direct deposits land a few business days before the 1st, and mailed cheques go out 1 to 3 days after that. If the money isn’t in your account on the date shown at the top of this page, wait until the end of that business day, then call.
- Questions about your payment: 204-948-2888 in Winnipeg, or 1-855-944-8111 toll-free.
- After-hours emergencies: 204-945-0183 or 1-866-559-6778 (TTY 1-800-855-0511).
Common reasons for a missing or smaller payment:
- A changed bank account or address that wasn’t reported.
- Earnings or a new pension, such as CPP or OAS, that was reported and deducted.
- Paperwork your worker asked for that hasn’t been sent in. You can upload documents on gov.mb.ca.
Watch for scams. EIA will never ask you to pay a fee, buy gift cards or share a password by text or email to get or “unlock” a payment. Don’t reply to messages like that. Call the numbers above yourself.
Other help you might be missing
- Canada Disability Benefit: up to $204.20 a month from July 2026 for people aged 18 to 64 who have the Disability Tax Credit. Manitoba doesn’t claw it back.
- Rent Assist if you’re not on EIA: low-income renters can get help. A single person 55 or older, or anyone with the Disability Tax Credit or CPP disability, qualifies with net income under $33,920 and can get up to $848 a month.
- 55 PLUS: a quarterly top-up for lower-income Manitobans 55 and older. It’s automatic if you get OAS. People on EIA can’t get it.
- Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement: EIA rules require you to apply for other benefits you’re entitled to, so apply for these as you near 65. EIA counts them as income.
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit and the Canada Child Benefit: EIA doesn’t count either one, but you must file your taxes every year to get them.
Common questions
Why does EIA pay before the 1st of the month?
The payment is for the coming month, so it arrives early to cover rent due on the 1st. The late-December deposit is January’s money, so budget for a longer gap.
Does the Canada Disability Benefit reduce my EIA or MSPD?
No. Manitoba exempts it for both programs, so you keep the full federal amount on top of your provincial payment.
How much can I earn on EIA in Manitoba?
After your first month, you keep $500 of net monthly earnings plus 30% of anything above that. On MSPD, you keep up to $12,000 a year.
What’s the difference between EIA and MSPD?
MSPD is a separate program for severe and prolonged disabilities. Its basic needs rate is higher, rises with inflation every July, and comes with a larger earnings exemption.
Do I lose dental coverage on EIA?
Not if you join the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Since September 1, 2026, EIA pays only for emergency dental work unless you show you aren’t eligible for the CDCP.
