Manitoba

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MANITOBA (MB)

Poverty Reduction Strategy announced in 2009
Most generous liquid asset exemptions levels for 3 of our 4 household types: $4,000 per person, maximum of $16,000 per household
Implemented the Manitoba Child Benefit in 2008, but it is not paid to welfare families with children

CURRENT SITUATION

	Single employable person	Single person with a disability	Lone parent with a 2-year-old child	Couple with two children aged 10 & 15
*MB 2009 WI*	*$6,815*	*$9,423*	*$14,829*	*$21,476*
**Rank among provinces***	8	7	10	7
% of MBM	49%	68%	83%	78%
% of After-tax LICO	37%	51%	66%	62%
% of After-tax median income	29%	41%	44%	27%
Highest 2009 WI	$9,593 (NL)	$12,905 (ON)	$19,297 (NL)	$24,045 (PE)
Lowest 2009 WI	$3,773 (NB)	$8,665 (NB)	$14,829 (MB)	$19,775 (NB)

* #1 rank is the highest

CHANGES IN WELFARE INCOMES FROM 1986 TO 2009

MB had its peak year (highest over time) in 1992 for all household types.
All low years have been in this decade for all family types.
There have been substantial losses since peak year for all household types:
- Single employable just over $2,800 (30% loss)
- A person with a disability nearly $2,800 (23% loss);
- A lone parent with one child nearly $1,900 (11% loss);
- A couple with two children experienced the most severe loss in dollar terms, over $6,200 (23%).

LIQUID ASSET EXEMPTION POLICY

	Single employable person	Single person with a disability	Lone parent with a 2-year-old child	Couple with two children aged 10 & 15
*2009 exemption*	*$4,000*	*$4,000*	*$8,000*	*$16,000*
1989 exemption adjusted to 2009 for inflation	$0	$612	$1,223	$0

In January 2009, MB increased its asset exemption level to a flat rate of $4,000 per person in a household (to a maximum of $16,000), regardless of the reason for assistance.
These levels are now the highest across the country, except for the single person with a disability.

EARNINGS EXEMPTION POLICY

	Single employable person	Single person with a disability	Lone parent with a 2-year-old child	Couple with two children aged 10 & 15
Applicants	$200 (Couples: for each earner)
Recipients	after one month, $200 plus 30% of remainder (Couples: for each earner)

EXAMPLE (recipient on welfare 3 months)

Treatment of monthly earnings of $400
	Single Person	Lone Parent
Amount exempted	$260	$260

Remainder of income is deducted from welfare cheque.

MB uses the federal WITB model.
A single employable welfare recipient with $400 earnings/month would have been eligible to receive $360 in WITB in 2009 ($30/month).