If you’re a Manitoban who has to pay housing costs and you get Employment and Income Assistance (EIA), you could be eligible to receive a financial benefit from the government called “rent assist”.
This amount will be included in your monthly EIA payments.
This rent assist is meant to help you with the costs associated with housing, such as rent, mortgage payments, property taxes, and other fees related to owning or renting a home.
The amount you can receive will depend on a number of factors, including how many people live with you, whether you are renting from Manitoba Housing or living in subsidized or unsubsidized housing, and whether utility costs such as water, electricity and heat are included in your rent.
Even if you don’t currently get EIA, you could still be eligible to receive rent assistance.
Rent Assistance Eligibility
Wondering if you’re eligible to receive rent assistance?
Here are the eligibility requirements if you don’t currently receive EIA benefits:
- You pay rent or room and board in some form of unsubsidized housing
- You are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
In addition, here are some annual income requirements based on the amount of people in your family household:
| Single person under 55 years old | Single person aged 55 years or older, or who qualifies for the Disability Tax Credit or receiving CPPD benefits | Two adults | Three or four people (or one adult and one child) | Five or more people | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net annual income of less than | $25,60 | $29,280 | $32,960 | $42,400 | $54,360 |
Now, there are some cases where you may not be eligible for rent assist in Manitoba.
Here are a few examples of those cases:
- You already rent your home from Manitoba Housing
- You’re already receiving some other type of housing assistance or subsidy for your particular unit
- You live on a First Nations reserve
- You live in a residential care facility, hospital, nursing home, or in student housing
Still confused about whether or not you qualify for rent assist? Check out this fact sheet or this rent assist benefit calculator.
How Much is Rent Assist?
The amount you can receive for rent assistance will cover up to 80% of the median market rent.
This payment amount will also vary from person to person depending on your circumstances, such as:
- How many people live in your household
- Your net annual household income in the tax year used to determine your eligibility
- Your age (over or under the age of 55)
- Whether you qualify for the Disability Tax Credit or received the CPPD in the tax year used to determine your eligibility
The tax year used to determine your eligibility will depend on when you decide to apply for rent assistance.
If you apply between January and June, eligibility will be dependent on your tax return from 2 years before (i.e. if you apply in February 2023, your 2021 tax return would be used).
If you apply between July and December, eligibility will be dependent on your tax return from the year before i.e. if you apply in November 2023, your 2022 tax return would be used).
To get an estimate of your rent assist benefit, use this handy calculator provided by the official Manitoba government site.
Important:
Benefits are paid once a year by direct deposit after your annual tax return has been filed and your annual income has been reassessed.
How to Apply for Rent Assist in Manitoba
Applying for rent assistance is simple and straightforward.
You can download the application form or contact Provincial Services to have a paper version mailed to you.
Here is the contact information for Provincial Services:
100 – 114 Garry Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4V4
Phone: 204-948-7368
Toll free: 1-877-587-6224
Email: provservic@gov.mb.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is eligible for rent assistance in Manitoba?
- How much rent assistance will I receive?
- What is the cost of rent in Manitoba?
Tara Al-Khudairihas worked in the financial services industry since 2017. She graduated from McMaster University with a degree in Finance and is pursuing her CFA.
She has worked at a major Canadian financial institution in various client-facing advisory roles, starting as a bank teller and working up to a Client Services Associate within the Asset Management division. She specializes in simplifying concepts of personal finance for people of various financial backgrounds.
When she’s not examining the markets looking for the next SHOP.TO, she’s either practicing yoga, planning her next vacation, or has her nose buried deep in a book.
