6.4 The Application Process

Forms

Application Renewal (PDF 651 KB)

Application to Add Dependents (PDF 989 KB)

Authorization for Information (PDF 43 KB)

EIA Application - Single Applicants and Single-Parent Applicants (PDF 545 KB)

EIA Application - Households with Two Adults (PDF 546 KB)

Matching Participant Information with Justice (PDF 93 KB)

Tax Release (PDF 29 KB)

6.4.1 The Application Form

Policies

 
The EIA application form is a legal document used by the applicant and the department to enter into a contractual arrangement in which each party has rights and obligations. Before assistance is granted, it is the duty of the departmental representative to explain the significance of the application process as well as the rights and obligations of EIA applicants or participants, as well as their spouses. It is essential that applicants, participants and their spouses be advised of their responsibility to accurately report the details of their circumstances at the time of application and to advise the program promptly of any subsequent changes, such as receiving earned income, or pensions, or changes to family size, marital or family status.
 
Assistance can be provided only after an application form has been properly completed and signed by the applicant and his or her spouse, in accordance with the Intake Forms Instruction Package issued April 1, 1977, and the following provisions:
 
An employee of the Department of Family Services, Employment and Income Assistance must duly witness the signing and legibly indicate his/her name and position under his/her signature.
Under unusual circumstances, with the approval of the director or designate, other persons may witness an application (such as the Public Trustee, or, in remote communities, a responsible community member as outlined in section 6.4.3).
 
NOTE: For renewing applications for some participants, the Application Renewal form should be used instead of the longer application form. Please see section 6.4.12 for a description of when the Application Renewal form should be used.
 

6.4.2 Application Form Completion

For applicants not subject to employment expectations, the complete application consists of:
  • the Employment and Income Assistance Application form; and
  • other supporting documentation as described below.
 
For applicants subject to employment expectations, the complete application package consists of:
  • the Employment and Income Assistance Application form;
  • the Employment History and Personal Job Plan form; and
  • other supporting documentation as described below.
The Employment History and Personal Job Plan form must be completed by the participant, to the furthest extent possible, and brought to the intake appointment.
 
NOTE: All single parents are expected to complete an Employment History and Personal Job Plan at intake, with the employment expectation coming into effect when the youngest dependent child turns six years of age.
 
Application forms will normally be completed and signed jointly by the applicant and the worker at the intake appointment. In this way, technical terms and abbreviations may be explained by the worker, and relevant details on the form may be summarized, such as the applicant's family and financial circumstances or employment history.
 
Every question on the application form must be answered and "N/A" used when the question is not applicable to the applicant's situation. When completing the section entitled "Members of the household for whom assistance is requested", ensure that the applicant's name and that of his/her spouse is included, if applicable, even if only the applicant's name requires entering.
 
Where the applicant is a married female, the space allowed for "Maiden Name and/or AKAN" (i.e. "also known as name") is to be used to provide the woman's maiden name and other married names, where applicable.
 
For immediate assistance, the application form must be completed at the initial contact in order to authorize assistance.
 
Potential applicants are advised to complete the entire application form, including the personal job plan, to the best of their ability before scheduling an intake appointment.  This will ensure that applicants are well prepared for their intake appointments and do not experience needless delays in the assessment of their eligibility.
 
See sections 10.1.1 to 10.1.3 for instructions on how to complete applications for assistance under section 5(1)(f) of The Manitoba Assistance Act.
 

6.4.3 Remote Communities - Intake and Application Form Completion

Remote communities are communities which are not accessible by road or, if accessible, are at such a distance from any other settlement that there are very small caseloads and regular travel to the community is not practical.
 
In remote communities, either of the following two practices may be implemented:
 
  1. The director or designate may arrange with a responsible member of the community to maintain a supply of pre-intake orientation packages and application forms for residents.

    The community person can act as a witness to the application and the Personal Job Plan and mail them to the EIA office. No other responsibility is to be assigned or assumed.
  2. Packages and forms may be sent by mail to residents of remote communities who wish to apply for assistance between the dates of the worker's scheduled trips.

After reviewing the pre-intake orientation information, the resident may mail the completed application form and Employment History and Personal Job Plan to the EIA office.

Pre-intake orientation packages for remote communities will include additional guidelines for completing the Personal Job Plan that take into account the employment situation in that community.
 
In remote communities, the requirement that all applications be duly witnessed by an employee of the Department before assistance can be issued may be temporarily waived.
 
Immediate assistance may be granted on the basis of such an application being requested and/or received. See section 6.4.13 for "Effective Date of Assistance".
 
At the earliest possible date, the worker will review the application form and the Employment History and Personal Job Plan with the applicant to ensure they are reasonable, complete and accurate.
 
If the worker is satisfied with the accuracy of the application and the job plan is reasonable, the worker will witness the forms, either in the witness section or under the signature of the witness (if already completed by a person in the community), and date the document. See section 6.4.2 for "Application Form Completion".
 
If the worker has concerns about the information on the forms, new forms may be completed. If an inaccuracy resulted in assistance being granted for which the applicant was not eligible, a full report will be prepared for review by the director or designate and a decision as to appropriate action.
 

6.4.4 Applications that may Require Additional Information or Additional Steps in the Application Process

Policy

EIA Supports for Victims of Human Trafficking (PDF 153 KB)

 

Applicants with disabilities and applicants with potential disabilities

 

Immigrants

 

Treaty Indians

 

Students

EIA may approve short-term education or training for applicants unable to finance basic living costs through student loans and bursaries. Applicants' participation must be integral to their self-sufficiency and form part of their action plan. (For more on the action plan, see section 6.5.2. For more on educational assistance, see section 6.11).
 

Indigent priests and members of religious order

 

6.4.5 Circumstances that may Alter the Usual Application Process

Aged and applicants with a disability

Aged and applicants with a disability (and the second adult, if applicable) are not subject to employment expectations (for more on who is subject to employment expectations, see section 6.3.5). No information is recorded regarding their employment history, skills or employment barriers, unless the applicant or second adult voluntarily chooses to take advantage of EIA's employment services (see section 6.5.1).
 

Applicants under section 5(1)(f) of The Act

 

Minors (other than children eligible under section 5(1)(f) of the Act)

A specialized intake worker at the centralized intake office is assigned to perform all intakes involving minor applicants. For a more detailed description of the process for assessing minor applicants, see section 9.2.1.
 

Care and caution applicants

When a prior contact check reveals that a potential re-applicant may require care and caution on the basis of past behaviour, they will not be invited to attend a pre-intake orientation. An intake appointment will be scheduled, following the care and caution protocol.
 

Participants appealing EIA decisions

When a participant has been assessed as being ineligible for EIA benefits, but requests assistance pending the outcome of an appeal, no assistance is to be authorized unless the Notice of Appeal has been filed and the request has been approved by the Program Specialist in accordance with subsection 5(2) of the Assistance Regulation. The request and the approval must be documented and any approval must be time-limited. The director must follow-up to ensure that the appeal is provided in a timely manner.
 

Reapplications

Some reapplications by former participants occur at the centralized intake office, including reapplications when:
  • a new adult has joined the reapplicant's household; or
  • the reapplicant's case has been closed for longer than 6 months.
 
In such circumstances, the reapplicant may be required to attend a pre-intake orientation. (For more on who attends a pre-intake orientation, see section 6.2.2).
 
When the reapplicant's case has been closed for less than 6 months and a new adult has not joined the reapplicant's household, the case coordinator may reopen the reapplicant's case. In all cases, a new application is printed to reflect any changes in the reapplicant's circumstances, for the reapplicant to review and sign in the presence of the case coordinator. (For more on printing and signing the EIA application, see sections 6.9.1 and 6.9.2).
 
When, on the basis of discussions with the reapplicant, the case coordinator concludes that there have been significant changes in the reapplicant's circumstances, the case coordinator may choose to refer the reapplicant to the centralized intake office for a new intake appointment. 
 

Spouse and/or Dependent Children out of Manitoba

EIA can only enroll members of a household that reside in Manitoba.  It is outside the authority granted to the Program, under Section 2 of The Manitoba Assistance Act, to enroll individuals not residing in Manitoba on EIA.  For particularly complicated intakes, please contact a Program Specialist for further direction.

EIA recognizes that under The Family Maintenance Act spouses have a legal obligation to financially support one another.  Applicants whose spouse lives outside of Manitoba may be enrolled where financial eligibility is established after taking into account the financial resources that could be made available to them from their spouse.  The file should be reviewed every three months for any change in circumstances.

In all circumstances, the applicant is required to provide proof of income and assets from the spouse outside of Manitoba to determine their own financial eligibility.

If an applicant has dependent children that live outside of Manitoba they should be enrolled under the general assistance category or the persons with disabilities category, where applicable.  If the dependent children are living in Manitoba with the applicant then the applicant should be enrolled under the single parent category or the persons with disabilities category, where applicable. 
 

6.4.6 Applications that may not Occur at the Centralized Intake Office in Winnipeg

Form

Crisis Facility Invoice

Crisis Shelter/Safe Home Facility/Crisis Office Emergency Assistance Request (PDF 132 KB)

 

Applications to meet emergency need

Immediate intake appointments may be scheduled for potential applicants when EIA staff at any Winnipeg service location conclude that:
  • immediate need exists (for more on immediate need, see section 6.1.7);
  • the potential applicant meets categorical and financial eligibility criteria (for more on categorical and financial eligibility criteria, see sections 6.1.4 and 6.1.5); and
  • if the potential applicant is in the general assistance category and is childless, that he or she has not unreasonably terminated or refused a job (see section 6.5.4).
 
If the potential applicant's need is urgent and it is not possible or convenient for the potential applicant to attend the centralized intake office, the intake appointment may occur at any of EIA's Winnipeg service locations.
 

Mobile applications

Applicants may be unable to attend the centralized intake office because they are hospitalized, institutionalized or bedridden, or because their mobility is severely impaired. In circumstances such as these, the intake interview may occur somewhere other than an EIA office, such as a hospital, personal care home or other residential institution, or in the applicant's home.
 

Applicants residing in crisis intervention facilities

 

After hours applications

When applicants require assistance after hours, this service is provided by the Department's After Hours Unit. The Salvation Army may also provide after hours accommodation and services to EIA applicants, when required. When the Salvation Army provides such assistance, the short form application for applicants residing in crisis intervention facilities is used to assess applicants' EIA eligibility.
 

6.4.7 Review of Application form and any Tasks Assigned at the Pre-Intake Orientation

When potential applicants arrive for their intake appointments, the worker checks to confirm that there is an appointment scheduled for the potential applicant on that date and at that time. Potential applicants who arrive too late to be accommodated at their intake appointment may be rescheduled to the next available intake appointment.
 
If the potential applicant attended a pre-intake orientation (for more on who attends a pre-intake orientation, see section 6.2.2, the worker reviews the materials the potential applicant has brought to the intake interview to confirm:
  • that the potential applicant made a good faith effort to complete the EIA application form to the best of his or her ability (see ); and
  • that the potential applicant has brought any documentation necessary to establish EIA eligibility, such as appropriate identification to verify the identity of all household members for whom assistance is sought (see section 6.4.10) and a Record of Employment (see section 6.5.1 and section 6.5.4); and
  • that the potential applicant has completed any tasks assigned by the facilitator at the pre-intake orientation. (For more on tasks assigned at pre-intake orientations, see section 6.2.7).
Potential applicants who are not prepared for their intake appointment may be rescheduled to a later intake appointment.
 

6.4.8 The On-Line Application in Winnipeg

Intake workers conduct intake interviews, during which information provided by applicants (and the second adult, if applicable) is recorded in the on-line application system.
 

Categorical and financial eligibility

For all applicants, the application process involves an assessment of categorical and financial eligibility. The on-line application form is structured to do this by seeking information regarding the applicant's:
  • family status, including acceptable proof of the identity of all household members for whom assistance is sought (for more on acceptable proof of identity, see section 6.4.10);
  • current shelter arrangements, including their cost;
  • financial resources, including the assets, debts and income of all household members.
See section 6.1.4 for more information on categorical and financial eligibility.
 

6.4.9 Applications That May Result in Denying Assistance

Policies

Banking Information (PDF 92 KB)

Oustanding Warrants (PDF 208 KB)

Form

Authorization for Information (PDF 546 KB)

 

Transients

Under section 2 of the Act, EIA is responsible to ensure that no resident of Manitoba lacks basic necessities. While there is no minimum residency period for applicants seeking to become a resident in a Manitoba community, EIA does not usually assist applicants who are merely passing through Manitoba.
 
All potential single-parent and general assistance (GA) applicants are usually expected to attend a pre-intake orientation. If immediate need exists and the applicant is eligible for EIA, his or her immediate need will be met. If the applicant is required to attend a pre-intake orientation, he or she must do so before receiving further assistance.
 
(For more on who attends pre-intake orientations, see section 6.2.2. For more on immediate need, see section 6.1.7).
 

Applicants who have terminated work unreasonably or refused reasonable work

Under the Regulation, sections 10(1)(e) and (f), applicants and participants must be able to confirm that they have not terminated employment, caused the termination of employment, or refused employment that they might reasonably have held or obtained. For more details see section 6.5.4.
 

Financial Ineligibility

Applicants are not eligible for EIA if the value of their non-exempted financial resources is greater than the cost of their basic necessities (see section 6.1.4). It may become clear during the intake interview that the applicant is not financially eligible for EIA. If so, the intake worker may advise the applicant, dispense with assessing the applicant's employability (see section 6.3.3) and service needs (see section 6.16.7), and print the EIA application for the applicant's review and signature (see section 6.7.2). If there is any question about the applicant's financial eligibility, the intake worker continues with the intake interview.
 
Under section 9(3)(b) of the Act, applicants who are denied assistance are to be notified of that decision in writing, stating the reasons and advising the applicant of his or her right to appeal to the Social Services Appeal Board. If an applicant is denied assistance, the intake worker will produce a letter to that effect to give to the applicant at the conclusion of the intake interview.
 

Outstanding Warrants

Applicants are asked if they have an outstanding warrant when they apply for EIA benefits.
 
Under section 16(8) of the Regulation, EIA must deny the application of any single applicants who have an outstanding warrant for an offence prescribed under Schedule C of the Regulation (a "prescribed offence"). Additionally, under section 16(6) of the Regulation, if both an applicant and their spouse have outstanding warrants under Schedule C, and have no dependents, their application must be denied.
 
Subject to section 16(8) of the EIA Regulation, applicants who have dependents can receive EIA benefits, but at a reduced amount if an adult in the household has an outstanding warrant for a prescribed offence. In the case of a two-parent family where one adult has an outstanding warrant for a prescribed offence, the adult without the warrant needs to be the applicant. An application can still be approved for a single parent with an outstanding warrant for a prescribed offence, or from either adult in a household where there are dependent children and both adults have an outstanding warrant for a prescribed offence.
 
Subject to section 16(4) of the Regulation, benefits must be manually reduced by $160.00 per month (per person with an outstanding warrant). Additionally, the following benefits cannot be provided to the adult with the outstanding warrant:
  • any special needs as per section 9 of Schedule A of the Regulation,
  • volunteer activities as per section 9 of Schedule A of the Regulation, and/or
  • special diets as per section 4 of Schedule A of the Regulation
 
Adults with an outstanding warrant for a prescribed offence must go to their local police station to have their warrant executed and provide EIA with documentation confirming the warrant has been executed before full benefits can be provided.
 
Under section 16(8) of the Regulation, EIA must enrol applicants residing in hospital or family violence crisis facility despite an outstanding warrant for a prescribed offence. Additionally, the Director has the authority to enrol and provide full benefits in exceptional circumstances, on the basis that a benefit reduction or denial of benefits would cause significant hardship to the household.
 

6.4.10 Verifying the Identity of Household Members

Policies

Revisions to Process for Enrolling Newborns (PDF 115 KB)

Social Insurance Numbers (SIN's) (PDF 176 KB)

 

Legislative Authority

Section 3 of the Regulation requires applicants and their spouses to provide sufficient information and supporting evidence to determine eligibility.
 
Applicants must provide identification to establish the identity of all household members for whom assistance is sought. EIA staff review this identification at the time of application or reapplication, or when new members are added to the household.
 
The applicant must provide at least two identification documents on his/her own behalf and at least one for each remaining family unit member for whom assistance is being requested. Verification that the identification documents have been reviewed, or that copies have been placed in a participant's file, is required for each member of the applicant's household.
 

Acceptable ID

The following identification documents may be presented as acceptable proof of identity for each adult in the household for whom assistance is sought:
  • birth certificate
  • social insurance card (except metal type)
  • driver's license (Manitoba or other jurisdiction)
  • passport
  • immigration documents (such as Record of Landing, Acknowledgment of Convention Refugee Claim, Minister's Permit, Employment Authorization)
  • Commemoration or Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
  • Treaty Indian card
  • Liquor Control Commission photo ID card
  • Manitoba Identification Card
  • Manitoba Enhanced Identification Card
  • other photo ID card
  • a letter from a responsible community member familiar with the applicant, describing them and vouching for their identity.
 
If an identification document presented by the applicant is issued by an authoritative source and shows both the applicant's signature and a recognizable photo, one such document is sufficient to establish identity. In all other cases, at least two identification documents must be presented for each adult in the household for whom assistance is sought.
 
The Manitoba Health Insured Benefits card and the Personal Health Identification Number (PHIN) card are not to be accepted as identification documents for the applicant, but may be used to confirm other family unit members when no other identification documents are available.
 
Photocopies of identification documents supplied by the applicant or participant are not to be accepted under any circumstances.
 
When the applicant is unable to supply the appropriate identification documents, the director or designate may authorize assistance pending receipt of the documents.
 

Dependent children

At least one piece of identification must be presented for each dependent child for whom assistance is sought. Although the Manitoba Health registration certificate is not acceptable proof of an adult's identity, it may be used to establish the identity of a dependent child if no other documents are available.
 
Photocopies of these documents are not acceptable unless notarized.
 
The intake worker records on-line the documents reviewed to verify the identity of each household member.
 

Meeting immediate need

If applicants cannot produce identification sufficient to establish their identity and the intake worker concludes that immediate need exists (for more on immediate need, see section 6.1.7), the intake worker may continue with the intake interview and, if an applicant is eligible, issue assistance to meet immediate need. Because such applicants lack sufficient ID to cash a cheque, assistance provided in such circumstances will normally take the form of a voucher for goods or services to meet immediate need.
 
In exceptional circumstances, the director or designate may authorize the enrolment of applicants unable to produce acceptable identification. The reasons for enrolment are recorded in case notes. If participants are expected to produce or acquire identification after enrolment, this is recorded in their action plan. (For more information on the action plan, see section 6.5.2).
 

Other names

For all household members, all other names by which they are or have been known are recorded in the on-line application system. Such names include the maiden name of a married applicant (if different from the current name) and the names of previous spouses or common-law spouses if these names were assumed by adults or children.
 

6.4.11 Choice Of Applicant in Two-Adult Households

Policy

Head of Household (Two Adult Families) (PDF 35 KB)

 

New Applicants

When a household seeking EIA includes two adults, they have the opportunity to decide which adult will be the applicant. In households where neither adult meets or potentially meets the eligibility criteria for enrolment in the persons with disabilities category, this decision has no practical consequences for either the applicant or EIA.
 

Applicants with a disability, or who potentially have a disability

When one of the two adults meets or potentially meets the eligibility criteria for enrolment in the persons with disabilities category, EIA staff counsels the household to choose this adult as the applicant. This is because the applicant's status determines the household's case category, and Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (IAPD) can only be paid to households enrolled in the persons with disabilities category.
 
(For more on eligibility in the persons with disabilities category, see sections 7.1.1 to 7.1.8. For more on IAPD, see section 18.2.1).
 

Employment Expectations - Spouse of a Person with a Disability

Although an employable spouse of a person with a disability may be encouraged to seek employment, there is no employment expectation for either the spouse or children of the person with the disability.
 

Change of Applicant

Staff should advise existing two-adult cases of the choice of applicant policy during the normal course of contact with participants.
 
To change the applicant, the case must be closed, a new Employment and Income Assistance application form completed and a new case opened.
 
When the case category changes to persons with disabilities, the increase in assistance is effective from the date of the new application
 
Cheques are to be issued to the applicant unless otherwise specified.
 

6.4.12 Application Renewal Form

The Application Renewal Form is a shorter application form designed to streamline reapplication for re-enrolling participants. The Application Renewal Form is to be used in the following cases:
  • cases closed for less than six months
  • cases closed in the same office as the participant is re-applying;
  • cases where there has been no major changes; and
  • cases which request assistance under the same category as previously.
 
Prior to the completion of the Application Renewal Form, the participant must review the previous Employment and Income Assistance application form to confirm that all the information provided on that form is still valid except for the changes documented on the Application Renewal Form. 
 

6.4.13 Effective Date of Assistance

Assistance is usually issued from the date on which the applicant signs the EIA application form. Where extenuating circumstances prevent an application from being completed at the time the applicant contacts EIA to request assistance, the date of initial contact may be used as the case effective date rather than the date on which the application was signed. The date and nature of the contact should be documented on the file, but the application form must be dated the same day it is signed. When an intake worker issues assistance retroactive to a date before the EIA application, the reasons are documented in case notes.
 
If some or all of the applicant's shelter or shelter-related costs remain unpaid at the date of application, the director or designate may authorize issuing shelter or shelter-related assistance for any period including the month in which the EIA application is signed.
 
Assistance will not be granted retroactively where:
  • the applicant is receiving adequate income from another source, including assistance from another program or jurisdiction; or
  • in the opinion of the director or designate, a need for assistance does not exist between the date of application and the date on which eligibility was established.
 
See section 9.3.1 for cases where assistance is requested for accommodation in an approved crisis intervention facility for victims of family violence.
 

6.4.14 Issuing Assistance

Policy

New Direct Deposit (PDF 199 KB)

Form

 
Assistance is issued to the applicant by direct deposit unless otherwise specified.
Payment methods
 
Once EIA staff determines an applicant's eligibility for EIA, payment of benefits is to be issued through direct deposit to the participant’s bank or credit union account unless the applicant:
  • is subject to garnishment enforcement circumstances where EIA benefits issued are debited, causing undue hardship;
  • is unable to manage a bank account due to a disability;
  • lacks access to financial institutions due to living in a remote area; or
  • is refused a bank account.
 
In cases where an applicant is in the process of setting up direct deposit or the applicant is not able to establish direct deposit for one of the reasons stated above, the applicant may receive his/her benefits by cheques or vouchers.
 
Vouchers are usually only used where:
  • immediate need exists (for more on immediate need, see section 6.1.7 but the applicant's eligibility for EIA has not been verified;
  • the applicant does not have appropriate identification to cash a cheque (for more on identification, see section 6.4.10;
  • the applicant has a history of difficulty managing funds;
  • a voucher is the most convenient payment method under the circumstances; or
  • a voucher is the applicant’s preferred payment method.
 

Third-party payments

EIA usually issues assistance to participants, rather than making payments directly to third parties (such as landlords or utility companies) on a participant's behalf.
 
Third-party payments may be made when participants have:
  • a history of difficulty managing funds; or
  • no other income (or income that is a stable proportion of their assistance budget) and expressly request EIA to make third-party payments on their behalf.
 
(For more information on the circumstances in which participants' rent may be paid directly to landlords, see section 19.1.6).
 
Third-party payments are also usually made by Health Services to health professionals who meet participants' drug, dental and optical needs. (For more on the provision Health Services, see section 22.1.1).
 

Monthly and flexible budget cycles

Participants enrolled under section 5(1) of the Act (for more on enrolment categories, see section 6.1.5) receive their assistance on a monthly budget cycle.
 
General assistance (GA) participants receive their assistance on a flexible benefit cycle. Flexible assistance is usually issued every two weeks to simulate employment earnings.
 

Duration of benefits issued at intake

EIA staff issues short-term benefits to childless GA participants who are assessed as ready for employment. Participants' action plans reflect one or more employment-related tasks, to be completed before their first appointment with their worker within approximately one week. (For more on participant service needs assessments, see section 6.16). The worker reviews and updates the participant's action plan at that time, and establishes the participant on a flexible budget cycle.
 
EIA staff issues longer-term benefits to all other participants. It is the case coordinator's responsibility to establish contact with these participants during their first budget cycle.
 

6.4.15 Minimum Amount of Assistance

Where the applicant is eligible for assistance of an amount between one cent and two dollars, the amount issued is two dollars.