November 2019 - Government announces consultation process for a new income benefit for Manitobans with long-term and severe disabilities.
October 2019 - the Portable Housing Benefit is cut for many recipients. Prior, the PHB provided a $200 supplement for people with a mental health disability, on top of regular EIA Rent Assist. The change now provide up to $200 based on the difference between Rent Assist and actual rent – so for example someone has rent of $700 and gets $603 in Rent Assist, their PHB will be cut from $200 to $97.
July 1, 2019 - froze Rent Assist for individuals without disabilities on Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) and for individuals under the age of 55, not on EIA. Other Rent Assist recipients will receive a regularly scheduled annual increase in benefits to keep up with rental inflation, as mandated under legislation. Those impacted will not receive the additional $27 per month that individuals over 55 and those on disability will receive on July 1.
April 2019 - Cut to a $25 a month job-seeking allowance for single EIA recipients to assist them in their job search, impacting over 11,000 households.
July 1, 2018 - The deductible for non-EIA Rent Assist was again increased from 28 percent to 30 percent. The impact on different categories on different demographics is below:
Single minimum wage worker part-time | -$66.46 | per month | |
Single minimum wage worker full-time | -$112.92 | per month | |
Single parent; 2 children, at MBM poverty line | -$151.92 | per month | |
2 parents; 3 children, at MBM | -$190.30 | per month |
July 1, 2017 - The deductible for non-EIA Rent Assist was increased from 25 to 28 percent.
July 1, 2017 - Cancelled the Getting Started Benefit. Impact on different demographics below:
Individuals | -$175.00 | one time | |
Parents with dependent children | -$250.00 | one time | |
Persons with disabilities | -$325.00 | one time |