Province of Manitoba | fs - Common-law Unions

Common-law Unions

People who live as common-law partners and receive EIA are treated as married couples; both their income and assets are considered when working out benefit amounts.

You are considered married or living common-law, if you:

tell EIA that you are married
tell EIA that you have a common-law partner
live with the mother or father of your children
live with someone who must support you or your children because of a court order or private agreement
have lived with someone for at least three months and staff see that you are in a common-law relationship because you share family life, a social life or money together

In all cases, you are responsible for telling EIA staff of any changes to the people living in your home.

Married or Common-law?

Your living situation makes a difference

If you receive Employment and Income Assistance (EIA) or you are applying for it, you must tell EIA staff about your living situation and about any changes to it.

If you live with another adult

Your relationship with other adults living in your home will affect how EIA is paid to you – as a single person, as a single parent or as a couple.

What you may get from EIA

If you are married or in a common-law relationship, EIA staff will look at your living situation and the money that you both have. This information is used to see if you will be able to get any benefits from EIA.

If you live with another adult who is not your husband or wife or common-law partner, then only your information is used to see if you will be able to get any benefits from EIA.

You are considered married or living common-law, if you:

tell EIA that you are married
tell EIA that you have a common-law partner
live with the mother or father of your children
live with someone who must support you or your children because of a court order or private agreement
have lived with someone for at least three months and EIA determines that you are in a common-law relationship

Assessing your relationship

EIA staff use the answers you provide on the Relationship Assessment Form to see what kind of relationship you have with any adults who live in your home. Copies of this form are available by downloading the Relationship Assessment Form.

EIA policy says you are in a common-law relationship if you have lived with another adult for three months and you share family or a social life or money together. The Relationship Assessment Form will ask you about these things.

Shared family means that you have children together, or your family and friends see and treat you as a couple.
Shared social life means your employer, school, community group, doctor, etc. see and treat you as a couple.
Shared money means you share bank accounts, property, loans or credit cards and you list each other as common-law partners on income taxes, insurance, wills, etc.