Families

Disability Income Support Program 


Background | What We Know | News and Updates 

News and Updates


November 2022

We are excited to announce that the disability income support program will launch very soon for people already receiving EIA!  Here’s what clients will get as soon as they are enrolled:

  • Benefits will increase.
  • Laundry and telephone allowances will be added automatically to everyone’s budget.
  • Clients won’t be required to work, but will be able to earn up to $12,000 each year ($18,000 for a family) from employment before it impacts benefits.
  • Clients will still have access to all the same financial, health, and other benefits you had on EIA.
  • Anyone who leaves the program for any reason can continue to receive health benefits for up to two years, if they do not have any other coverage.

Later in 2023, we will make further improvements to the new program.  We will provide more information on what that includes in the new year.

Timelines

The program will launch in two phases beginning in the new year.

Phase 1: January 2023

The program will open to current EIA Disability recipients in the following groups:

  • People who receive services from Community Living disABILITY Services (CLDS).
  • People who live in personal care homes.
  • People who are receiving the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) Disability benefit.

Everyone in these groups will receive a letter in December 2022 with more details about their file.

Phase 2: April 2023

  • All other EIA clients can apply, and will need to participate in a disability impact assessment.
  • All Manitobans can apply, and will need to provide financial information as well as complete a medical form and functional assessment.

Refer to What We Know for more information for clients.

Contact Us:

We Want to Hear from You!

We are hosting public engagement sessions across the province!  If you would like to join us in person or virtually to share your feedback on the new program, please contact disabilitysupport@gov.mb.ca or 204-945-1040 for more details.

  • Virtual (Microsoft Teams) – December 9, 10:30 a.m.
  • Winnipeg – December 16, 2022 (this session will focus on how the new program can support people impacted by mental health disabilities.)
  • Steinbach – January/February (details to be determined)
  • Selkirk – January/February (details to be determined)
  • Brandon – January/February (details to be determined)
  • Dauphin – January/February (details to be determined)
  • Morden – January/February (details to be determined)
  • Thompson – January/February (details to be determined)

Regulatory Consultation:

The proposed Disability Support Regulation and Amendments to the Assistance Regulation were posted online in August 2022 for 45 days of public consultation.  We are now working to develop a What We Heard report that will be shared online in the near future.

While the official regulatory consultation period has ended, feedback about the proposed regulations, and other features of program development, can still be submitted at any time to disabilitysupport@gov.mb.ca.

 

August 2022

The Manitoba government has released a draft of the new Disability Support Regulation, which defines key features of a new income support program for persons with severe and prolonged disabilities.  Changes to the Assistance Regulation have also been shared.  The draft regulations together support the transformation of income assistance in order to provide services that are better tailored to the specific needs of clients.
You can view the draft regulations and provide your feedback on the Manitoba Regulatory Consultation Portal at https://reg.gov.mb.ca.  Feedback will be invited until October 3, 2022.  The department will have an opportunity to make changes based on the feedback we receive before the program launches later this year.
The department has also developed accessible guides to explain the regulations in plain language.  You can view them here:

 

If you would like to ask questions, request the regulations or guides in an alternative format, or provide your feedback in a different way, please email disabilitysupport@gov.mb.ca or call 204-940-1040.

June 2022

Registration for engagement sessions is now open!

  • Improving accessibility of services and supports
  • Naming the new program
  • Income and assets
  • Supports for Indigenous persons
  • Supporting people with mental health
  • Supports for people in rural and Northern locations
  • Community Navigation services
  • Overall service delivery model

You can also propose a different topic if there is something you’d like to provide feedback on. Engagement sessions will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams or Zoom as well as in person.

 

How to Register:

There are two registration options available:

 

Thank you for your interest! Once we receive your registration, we will follow up with you at the email provided with more information about the sessions!

Previous engagements occurred prior to the legislation in November 2019, and a second phase in February 2021. To review the reports of community feedback from these sessions, visit https://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/eia/disp.html

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