Manitoba Family Services and Housing

Employment and Income Assistance

The program provides financial assistance to those who require help to meet basic personal and family needs.  The program aims to assist participants to find and sustain employment, and increase self sufficiency.  

For more detailed information see:
Employment and Income Assistance Facts
Basic Assistance - Rate Information
Shelter Assistance
Health Needs
Other Assistance
Employment
General Information

Basic personal and family needs may include food, shelter, clothing, utilities, and transportation to medical appointments, as well as certain health related costs.  For persons with disabilities an additional Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities benefit is provided to assist with the additional cost of disability.

Under the Building Independence initiative the program also promotes job opportunities and enhances the employability of EIA participants through employment enhancement measures, employment related partnerships, wage subsidies and supports the development of new community initiatives:

• Employment Enhancement Measures include the Job Centre which assists single, job ready individuals to find work prior to applying for EIA, as well as assistance for immediate needs and single grants to first pay. Pre-employment support is also available for participants with multiple barriers to employment. Measures also include paid work experiences through the Community Home Services Program.
• Employment Related Partnerships are developed with community programs which provide short term skill training as well as long term support and assistance to gain employment.
• Wage subsidies are provided in cooperation with the Department of Competitiveness, Training and Trade through the Manitoba Works program. 
• New initiatives aimed at providing participants with skills training and access to employment is also supported.

• The application includes a test of need that compares the household’s financial resources to the total cost of basic necessities as defined by the Employment and Income Assistance Act and Regulation. 

• After-hours emergency support may be available to a person who has a critical need that should not wait until regular business hours to be addressed. 

• If you can pay for your basic living costs, but cannot afford to pay for your health related costs, you may apply for financial help just to cover health care costs.