Quick Answer
- The Manitoba Child Benefit provides $420 per child every year to families earning $15,000 or less annually. Those earning more can receive partial benefits, provided that they don’t exceed the program’s maximum family income threshold.
- Eligible families can receive the Manitoba Child Benefit payments at the end of each month. Payments come in cheques unless you complete an MCB direct deposit form.
- Parents must apply for the Manitoba Child Benefit program online or by mailing their application forms.
In addition to the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), eligible families in Manitoba may qualify for monthly tax-free payments under the Manitoba Child Benefit program.
Unlike British Columbia and Ontario’s child benefit programs, the Manitoba Child Benefit is not administered by the Canada Revenue Agency, so payments are received separately from the CCB.
Read on to learn about how the Manitoba Child Benefit works in 2024, how to apply, and how much you can expect to receive.
Manitoba Child Benefit Overview
The Manitoba Child Benefit (MCB) program is designed to help low-income residents of the province with the costs of raising dependent children.
Eligible families receive $420 annually per child (i.e. $35 per month per child) if their household income is $15,000 or less.
Families with an annual household income of up to $25,864 may receive partial benefits depending on how many eligible children they have.
In addition to the Manitoba Child Benefit, residents may also benefit from related family assistance programs, including:
- Children’s Opti-Care Program
- Manitoba Prenatal Benefit
- Manitoba Family Affordability Package
Manitoba Child Benefit Amounts
The maximum amount provided by Manitoba’s child benefit program is $420 per child each year. This is equivalent to $35 per child each month.
To qualify for the maximum benefit, your total household income cannot exceed $15,000.
The table below summarizes MCB amounts based on the number of children and annual family income of $15,000 or less.
| Children under age 18 | Maximum MCB benefits (annual) | Maximum family income (annual) |
| 1 | $420 | $15,000 |
| 2 | $840 | $15,000 |
| 3 | $1,260 | $15,000 |
| 4 | $1,680 | $15,000 |
| 5 | $2,100 | $15,000 |
| 6 | $2,520 | $15,000 |
Source: www.gov.mb.ca
Households with a slightly higher income may qualify for partial benefits, and the amounts they receive are determined following an assessment by Provincial Services.
The income households to receive MCB benefits based on the number of dependent children in your care are:
| Children under age 18 | Income household for partial benefits |
| 1 | $15,001 to $20,435 |
| 2 | $15,001 to $20,435 |
| 3 | $15,001 to $20,435 |
| 4 | $15,001 to $22,242 |
| 5 | $15,001 to 24,052 |
| 6 | $15,001 to $25,864 |
Manitoba Child Benefit Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for MCB benefits, you must meet the following conditions:
- Be a resident of Manitoba
- Qualify for and receive the Canada Child Benefit
- Have children under the age of 18
- Have a total family income within the maximum thresholds stated above (income is based on the previous year)
You are not eligible for the Manitoba Child Benefit if you:
- Are a recipient of the province’s Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) Program (unless you only receive the health benefit portion of EIA)
- Are members of a First Nation who resides on a reserve
- On behalf of children who are wards of the province or in temporary placement under The Child and Family Services Act
For more details about the program, check the Manitoba government’s website.
How To Apply For The Manitoba Child Benefit
You can apply for MCB benefits by completing this form and mailing it to Manitoba Child Benefit Program, 100-114 Garry Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4V4.
You can also drop off the completed form in person from Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 4:30 pm.
You can also send the MCB form to [email protected].
The phone number of the Manitoba Child Benefit office is 204-948-7368 or toll-free at 1-877-587-6224 if you are calling from outside of Winnipeg.
Manitoba Child Benefit Payment Dates
Manitoba Child Benefit payment cheques are sent at the end of each month.
You can also apply to be paid by direct deposit to your bank account by completing an MCB direct deposit form.
Benefits may be paid starting in the month in which your completed application is received.
Canada Child Benefit payments are received earlier in the month, and you should get them before the MCB.
For 2023, the CCB payment dates are on:
- January 20, 2023
- February 20, 2023
- March 20, 2023
- April 20, 2023
- May 19, 2023
- June 20, 2023
- July 20, 2023
- August 18, 2023
- September 20, 2023
- October 20, 2023
- November 20, 2023
- December 13, 2023
Other Manitoba Family Benefits
Eligible Manitoba families can access these benefits:
Children’s Opti-Care Program
This benefit is available to families that receive the MCB. It helps them offset some of the costs associated with prescription eyeglasses.
The Children’s Opti-Care Program benefit is about $84 per child per year.
To apply, complete this form and mail it to 100-114 Garry Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4V4.
MCB benefit recipients may not qualify for the Children’s Opti-Care Program if they already have coverage for glasses under another health insurance program.
Manitoba Prenatal Benefit
The Manitoba Prenatal Benefit program helps eligible pregnant Manitobans with access to healthy foods and a connection to early prenatal care.
It provides $10 to $81.41 through monthly cheques, starting in the second trimester of pregnancy until the child is born.
To qualify, your net family annual income must be less than $32,000.
Learn more about it here.
Manitoba Family Affordability Package
The Family Affordability Package was a new one-time benefit introduced in 2022. It provides $250 for the first child and $200 for each additional child under 18.
Only households with a family net income of $175,000 or less in 2021 qualified for this benefit.
FAQs
There’s no indication that Manitoba’s Child Benefits are increasing in 2023.
There is no calculator for the MCB on the government’s website; however, it has a chart you can use for estimates. For federal CCB benefit estimates, you can use the Child and Family Benefits Calculator.
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