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Employment and Income Assistance Facts

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Maintenance and Child Support

Child support is money that the law says your children's other parent, who is not living with you, has to pay to cover your children's needs. If you were legally married to the other parent, you may also be able to get spousal support, also called "maintenance," from that other parent. Child support and maintenance payments are usually paid monthly.

Do I have to get child support and maintenance?

Everyone who gets help from Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) must try to get income from all other sources, including child support and maintenance from the other parent.

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Why should I try to get child support and maintenance?

  • Your children have the right to be financially supported by both parents.
  • When you no longer need EIA, you will still have a regular source of income.
  • If you have a job, your work pay, together with your maintenance, may be enough to meet your needs without the help of EIA.

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How do I get child support?

You can get two types of child support agreements:

  1. Court Ordered Support Agreements:
    • are legal agreements approved by the courts
    • set out how much child support must be paid and when
    • can be enforced by the courts
  2. Private agreements are plans for child support made between you and the other parent.

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What is the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP)?

MEP makes sure that parents who are supposed to pay child support and maintenance are actually paying. If you have a court order or a private enforceable agreement, MEP can help you to get your support payments. The other parent sends payments to MEP, which then forwards them to you. If you would like more information, or to apply for help from MEP, you may ask your worker or you may contact the program at:

Maintenance Enforcement Program
2nd Floor - 405 Broadway
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3L6
Telephone: (204) 945-7133
Toll-free: 1-866-479-2717

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What happens to my assistance if I get child support or maintenance?

EIA still helps you if your child support and/or maintenance are not enough, by paying the difference between your EIA budget and your child support and maintenance payments.

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What is an Assignment of Support to Family Services?

When your payments are not being made or are always late, you may choose to have your court-ordered child support and maintenance payments sent to Manitoba Family Services and Housing instead of to you. This way, you will receive your full benefits from EIA on time each month.

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How does child support affect custody and visitation?

The courts see child support and custody as two separate legal issues. The parent who has to pay child support does not automatically have custody or visitation rights.

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Who can I contact for legal advice?

Legal Aid Manitoba has a drop-in centre in Winnipeg, where you may get free legal advice and apply for legal aid, if necessary. You will need to bring all the information and documents related to your child support and maintenance situation to:

Legal Aid Manitoba Drop-In Centre
Room 416 - 294 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Telephone: (204) 985-8500
Toll-free: 1-800-261-2961

Drop-in centre hours:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Return to the Employment and Income Assistance Facts main page.

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