The Manitoba Child Benefit (MCB) is a small, tax-free monthly payment from the Manitoba government for lower-income families with children under 18. Unlike most provincial child benefits, it is not paid with your Canada Child Benefit (CCB). You apply to Manitoba yourself, you must reapply every year, and Manitoba pays it into your bank account at the end of each month.
How much you’ll get
The MCB pays up to $35 a month for each child, or $420 a year. These amounts are set in Manitoba’s regulation and are not raised each year.
You get the full amount if your family income is $15,000 or less. Between $15,000 and the upper limit, you get part of it. Manitoba uses the previous year’s family income, the same adjusted family net income the CRA uses for your CCB.
| Number of children under 18 | Maximum per year | Full benefit at or below | Partial benefit with income of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $420 | $15,000 | $15,001 to $20,435 |
| 2 | $840 | $15,000 | $15,001 to $20,435 |
| 3 | $1,260 | $15,000 | $15,001 to $20,435 |
| 4 | $1,680 | $15,000 | $15,001 to $22,242 |
| 5 | $2,100 | $15,000 | $15,001 to $24,052 |
| 6 | $2,520 | $15,000 | $15,001 to $25,864 |
Above $15,000, the yearly benefit goes down by a set share of each dollar over $15,000: 7.73% with one child, 15.46% with two, and 23.18% with three or more. If the result is under $2 a month, nothing is paid. Amounts between $2 and $10 a month may be paid as one or more lump sums instead.
Examples
- A single parent with two children and a family income of $14,000 gets the full $70 a month.
- A single parent with one child and a family income of $18,000 gets about $15.68 a month. That’s $420, minus 7.73% of the $3,000 over $15,000, divided by 12.
- A couple with three children and a family income of $19,000 gets about $27.73 a month.
Who qualifies
You may be eligible if:
- You live in Manitoba.
- You have children under 18 in your care.
- You get the Canada Child Benefit for those children.
- Your family income for the previous year is below the limit in the table above.
- You are not getting income assistance from Manitoba’s Employment and Income Assistance (EIA), the Government of Canada or a First Nation. If you only get EIA health benefits, you can still apply.
Members of a First Nation can qualify, except those living on a reserve. Children who are wards of the province or in a temporary placement under The Child and Family Services Act are not eligible.
If you share your child’s care about equally with another person, the MCB may be split between you.
How to apply
The MCB is not automatic. Filing your taxes and getting the CCB is not enough.
- Download the MCB application and the guidelines for completing it.
- Fill it in. Attach a copy of your current CCB notice, or tick the box asking the program to get it from the CRA.
- Both you and your spouse or common-law partner must sign, including the CRA authorization page.
- Mail it to Provincial Services, 100-114 Garry Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4V4.
- Sign up for direct deposit with the direct deposit form. Your bank fills it out, then you give it to Provincial Services.
You can apply any time of year. If you qualify, benefits can start from the month Manitoba receives your signed, complete application, and you will get a letter about your eligibility. Payments can be backdated, but by no more than one year.
Reapply every year. Manitoba’s rules say you must send a new application by the first day of the month you were born. If you don’t, your payments stop.
Help with children’s glasses
If you get the MCB, the Children’s Opti-Care Program can pay back 80% of the cost of your child’s prescription eyeglasses, up to $84. It’s usually once every three years, unless the prescription changes or your child outgrows the glasses. You can’t use it if you have private optical coverage.
Payment late, missing or different?
Manitoba doesn’t publish exact payment dates for the MCB. It is paid at the end of each month. If it hasn’t arrived by the end of the month, check with your bank, then call Provincial Services at 204-948-7368 or toll-free 1-877-587-6224 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday), or email [email protected].
Common reasons for a missing payment:
- You didn’t send your yearly reapplication in time.
- You started getting EIA income assistance.
- You moved and didn’t tell Provincial Services. Manitoba asks for at least three weeks’ notice before the end of the month you move.
- You are still getting paper cheques. Manitoba warns cheques can be delayed and asks everyone to switch to direct deposit.
You must report changes within 30 days, such as a new partner, a child moving out or in, or being out of the province for more than a month.
Watch out for scams. Manitoba and the CRA will never ask you to pay a fee, buy gift cards or give your password by text or email to receive a benefit. Call Provincial Services yourself if a message seems off.
Other help you might be missing
- Canada Child Benefit: the main federal payment, and a condition for getting the MCB.
- Manitoba Employment and Income Assistance: monthly help if your family has little or no income. You can’t get both the MCB and EIA income assistance.
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: the renamed GST/HST credit, paid every three months.
- Canada Workers Benefit: a federal tax credit for low-income workers.
- 55 PLUS: a Manitoba supplement for lower-income people aged 55 and over, run by the same office.
- Our benefits checkup can point you to others.
Common questions
Is the Manitoba Child Benefit paid with the Canada Child Benefit?
No. The CRA doesn’t run any benefit for Manitoba. The province pays the MCB itself, at the end of each month, separate from your CCB deposit.
Do I have to reapply for the Manitoba Child Benefit every year?
Yes. Send a new application by the first day of your birth month, or your payments will stop.
What is the income limit for the Manitoba Child Benefit?
For one to three children, the limit is $20,435 of family income. It’s higher for four or more children, up to $25,864 for six.
Can I get the Manitoba Child Benefit while on EIA?
Only if you get just the health benefits part of EIA. If you get EIA income assistance, you can’t get the MCB.
Is the Manitoba Child Benefit taxable?
No. Manitoba describes it as tax-free.