Supports to Empower

Becoming financially independent offers lots of benefits. These include:

• earning your own money
• increasing your family income
• giving your children new opportunities
• finding success both personally and at work

To help Manitobans realize these benefits, the Manitoba government is committed to providing you with supports - many without a financial commitment - on your journey towards independence.

Benefits of Training or Working

The Benefits of Training or Working Chart shows a comparison of how much more money you will make as you move off Employment and Income Assistance (EIA).

For example, as you start a training or education program, you may be eligible for financial supplements that will provide you with more than you would be receiving on EIA alone. It is also important to know that you will keep many of your current benefits. Best of all, your earnings could be $8,000 to $17,000 more per year.

Here’s the bottom line: You will ALWAYS make more money if you are working than if you stay on EIA. Let us help you to get started on your pathway to employment, or continue on that path if you have previously accessed support/training.

Overview of Supports/Services Available

Once you begin your transition from EIA to training or education, many of your current EIA benefits such as RentAssist, health and child benefits will continue.

There are also additional supports and services to further assist you with the transition:

Training Support Supplements and Student Loans

Training support supplements are funds that you can access while attending programming or training. These supplements assist you with the costs associated with tuition, books, transportation, child care etc. Training support supplements do not have to be paid back. The amount of the support provided is based on financial need.

Student loans are government-subsidized loans to cover tuition, books and living expenses. Unlike training support supplements, they must be paid back; however, they are a good choice because you don’t make payments or pay interest on the loan while you are a full-time student. Your loan amount is based on an assessment of your financial need, which takes into account educational and living costs, as well as expected resources available to you (such as earnings, savings and assets).

The amount of funding available will also depend on the type and length of your program/course. To confirm where funding support can be obtained for your program/course, contact your EIA counselor.

Free Counselling & Career Services

Training and Employment Services (TES) offers free employment and career counselling and referrals to community agencies for additional help to support your career goal. This includes Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) advisory services, Essentials Skills training/upgrading, information about training, career options/opportunities, educational institutions as well as assistance with job search strategies including resume writing and interview supports.

EIA Get Ready Benefits

While you attend a training or education program, a specific benefit plan will be developed based on the help or training you need to find a job that will support you and your family. This may include:

• Earnings Exemption - Allows you to keep the first $200 of your net monthly earnings. It also allows you to keep 30 per cent of any amount you earn over $200, before your EIA benefits are reduced.
• Health Plan Benefit - If your EIA case file is closed because you become employed, you may be able to access prescription drug, dental and optical benefits for up to two years through the Rewarding Work Health Plan (RWHP).

For more information, visit the Employment and Income Assistance.

Apprenticeship Training & Certification

Apprenticeship is a form of post-secondary education like university or college. But there’s a big difference. Apprenticeship training begins on the job where you receive a wage for your work as you learn. When you are ready to attend the classroom portion of your training, the majority of your tuition costs are covered by the Manitoba government and Employment Insurance becomes available to you, too.

As you successfully progress through each year or level of your apprenticeship program, your wage for on-the-job training continues to increase. When you graduate, you are eligible to earn journeyperson wages. A variety of financial grants and incentives are also available.

Apprenticeship Manitoba offers training in over 55 skilled trades.