The cost of living is increasing at its fastest pace in decades, with Manitoba experiencing the second highest inflation rate among the provinces.
Whether it's buying groceries or paying the bills, the new Family Affordability Package will provide benefits to help ease the burden of rising costs and high inflation.
The new package will help families with children, seniors living on a fixed income and vulnerable Manitobans.
As part of the new Family Affordability Package, every Manitoba family with children under 18 years of age will receive a $250 cheque for the first child plus an additional $200 for each additional child under 18. Households with a family net income of under $175,000 in 2021 will be eligible.
This is a refundable tax credit and not taxable income.
It is estimated that approximately 145,000 payments will be sent out to families with children for a total of $63.6 million, with an average payment of $438.
As part of the Family Affordability Package, Manitoba seniors with 2021 family net income of less than $40,000, who rent or own their own homes and claimed the Seniors Education Property Tax Credit as reported on their 2021 tax return, will receive a $300 payment.
This is a refundable tax credit and not taxable income.
It is estimated that approximately 52,500 senior households will receive a $300 payment, for a total of $16 million.
Manitobans receiving Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) will benefit from a long overdue increase to the basic needs rate, starting in October 2022 for the month of November. EIA General Assistance clients without dependent children will receive an extra $50 per adult each month, while EIA disability clients will receive an additional $25 per household each month.
Historic tax relief and measures were also part of Budget 2022 with the $2,020 Tax Rollback Guarantee, which has now exceeded to $2,400 or $4,800 for a two income family.
Some of those initiatives include: