Rent Assist is a monthly Manitoba benefit that helps low-income renters pay their rent. This page covers Rent Assist for people who don’t get Employment and Income Assistance (EIA), including working people, seniors and people on pensions. If you are on EIA, Rent Assist is already included in your monthly EIA payment. See our Manitoba EIA payment dates instead.
How much you’ll get
Your benefit depends on your household size and your net household income. Manitoba’s regulation works it out like this:
- Start with 80% of the median market rent for your household size.
- Subtract 30% of your yearly net household income, divided by 12.
- The result is your monthly benefit, up to the maximum below. If it works out to $2 or less, nothing is paid.
| Household | Maximum a month from July 1, 2026 | Net income must be under |
|---|---|---|
| Single, under 55 | $728 | $29,120 |
| Single, 55 or older, or with the Disability Tax Credit or CPP Disability | $848 | $33,920 |
| Two adults | $968 | $38,720 |
| Two people including a child, or 3 or 4 people | $1,256 | $50,240 |
| 5 or more people | $1,519 | $60,768 |
Example: a single person aged 58 with a net income of $20,000 a year. 30% of $20,000 is $6,000, or $500 a month. Using the $848 figure that Manitoba’s online estimator uses for this household, the benefit works out to about $348 a month.
Example: two adults with a net income of $30,000. 30% of $30,000 is $9,000, or $750 a month. Using the $968 figure, the benefit is about $218 a month.
For your own figure, use Manitoba’s Rent Assist estimator.
If you get OAS or GIS: Manitoba counts benefits under the Old Age Security Act at the amount you would have been paid on April 1, 2011, so increases since then don’t count against you.
Which tax year counts: if you apply between January and June, Manitoba uses your tax return from two years before. If you apply between July and December, it uses last year’s return.
Who qualifies
You may qualify if all of these apply:
- You are 18 or older, and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- You rent, or pay room and board, in housing that isn’t subsidized.
- Your net household income is under the limit in the table above.
- You claim your rent on your income tax return every year.
You can’t get non-EIA Rent Assist if you:
- get EIA benefits
- rent from Manitoba Housing, or you or your unit get any other housing subsidy
- own your home
- live in a First Nations community
- live in a personal care home, hospital, residential care facility or student housing
- are in Canada on a work or study permit
How to apply
- Get the form. Download the non-EIA Rent Assist application form, or call Provincial Services at 204-948-7368 (toll-free 1-877-587-6224, TTY 204-948-3698) to have one mailed.
- Fill it in completely. Everyone in the household aged 18 or older must sign it, and you must attach all the supporting documents. Missing information delays the application.
- Send it to Provincial Services, 100-114 Garry Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4V4. If you aren’t sure how to send it, call the numbers above.
Your benefit starts on the first day of the month in which Manitoba receives your complete application. If Manitoba writes asking for more information, reply within 30 days to keep that start date. If you don’t reply within 90 days, the application is closed.
You are approved for 12 months at a time. To keep getting paid, apply again each year.
What changed in 2026
On July 1, 2026, Manitoba raised the maximum benefits and the income limits (Manitoba Regulation 51/2026). For example:
- a single person 55 or older went from up to $811 to up to $848 a month
- a single person under 55 went from up to $702 to up to $728
- two adults went from $919 to $968
- families of 3 or 4 went from $1,185 to $1,256
- families of 5 or more went from $1,460 to $1,519
The income limit for a single senior rose from $32,432 to $33,920.
Manitoba also posted a notice that it is updating the computer systems that pay benefits, and that cheques may take longer. It asks people to switch to direct deposit.
Payment late, missing or different?
Rent Assist is paid monthly by direct deposit or cheque, but Manitoba doesn’t publish the payment day. If a payment seems late, check with your bank first. Then call Provincial Services at 204-948-7368 or toll-free 1-877-587-6224, or email [email protected].
Common reasons a payment is missing or different:
- Your 12 months ended and your new application wasn’t received yet.
- You didn’t claim rent on your tax return, or haven’t filed.
- You started EIA. Your Rent Assist then comes through EIA instead.
- A cheque is slow in the mail. To switch to direct deposit, take the direct deposit form to your bank, then give it to Provincial Services.
- Your household or rent changed. If you don’t report changes, you may be overpaid and have to pay it back. Manitoba takes overpayments off future payments.
If you disagree with a decision, you can appeal in writing to the Social Services Appeal Board within 30 days of the decision letter.
Watch for scams. The government never asks for fees, gift cards or passwords by text or email. If you get a message about your Rent Assist, don’t reply. Call Provincial Services yourself.
Other help you might be missing
- Manitoba 55 PLUS: a quarterly income supplement for lower-income people aged 55 and older.
- Guaranteed Income Supplement: the main federal top-up for low-income seniors on OAS.
- Canada Disability Benefit: a federal monthly benefit for working-age adults with the Disability Tax Credit.
- Canada Child Benefit: a monthly federal payment for families with children under 18.
- Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit: the renamed GST/HST credit, paid when you file your taxes.
Common questions
When is Rent Assist paid in Manitoba?
Every month, by direct deposit or cheque. Manitoba doesn’t publish the exact day for people who aren’t on EIA.
How much is Rent Assist for a single person?
From July 1, 2026, the maximum is $728 a month if you are under 55, or $848 if you are 55 or older, or get the Disability Tax Credit or CPP Disability. Most people get less, depending on income.
What is the income limit for Rent Assist?
From July 1, 2026, net household income must be under $29,120 for a single person under 55, and under $33,920 for a single senior or a person with a disability. Larger households have higher limits.
Can I get Rent Assist if I’m working?
Yes. Working people, people in training and people on pensions can all qualify if their income is under the limit.
Do I have to reapply for Rent Assist?
Yes. You are approved for 12 months, so you need to apply again every year.
Can I get Rent Assist if I live in Manitoba Housing?
No. Tenants of Manitoba Housing, and anyone getting another housing subsidy, can’t get non-EIA Rent Assist.