Manitoba Prenatal Benefit Regulation

Manitoba Prenatal Benefit Regulation, M.R. 89/2001 The Social Services Administration Act , C.C.S.M. c. S165 Regulation 89/2001 Registered June 22, 2001 bilingual version (HTML) Table of Contents Section 1 Definitions PART 1 PRENATAL BENEFIT 1.1 Application of Part 1 2 Application form 3 Eligibility 4 Financial eligibility based on net family income for base taxation year 5 Repealed 6 If relationship status changes 7 If net family income decreases 8 Amount payable as prenatal benefit PART 2 PRENATAL BENEFIT (INCOME ASSISTANCE) 8.1 Application of Part 2 8.2 Eligibility 8.3 Amount payable as prenatal benefit PART 3 ADMINISTRATION 9 Payment of prenatal benefit 10 When payment of prenatal benefits ends 11 Obligation to report change 12 Notice of decision 13 Appeal to appeal board 14 Recovery of payments PART 4 COMING INTO FORCE 15 Coming into force Definitions 1 In this regulation, "appeal board" means the Social Services Appeal Board under The Social Services Appeal Board Act ; (« Commission d'appel ») "applicant" means a person who applies for a prenatal benefit under Part 1 of this regulation; (« demanderesse ») "base taxation year" , in relation to an applicant, means (a) if the date of application is in the first six months of a year, the taxation year that ended on December 31 of the second preceding calendar year, and (b) if the date of application is in the last six months of a year, the taxation year that ended on December 31 of the preceding calendar year; (« année de base ») "common-law partner" means, in relation to an applicant or participant, the person who not being married to the applicant or participant is in a conjugal relationship with her; (« conjoint de fait ») "director" has the same meaning as in The Manitoba Assistance Act ; (« directeur ») "income assistance" means (a) benefits provided to an applicant under The Manitoba Assistance Act or The Disability Support Act , or (b) income assistance provided by the federal government or a band as defined in the Indian Act (Canada); (« aide au revenu ») "net family income" means the net income of an applicant or participant and, if she has a spouse or common-law partner, includes the net income of that person; (« revenu familial net ») "net income " means (a) in relation to a base taxation year, a person's net income for that base taxation year as confirmed by the Canada Revenue Agency, less any shelter assistance received under Part 3 of the Assistance Regulation , Manitoba Regulation 404/88 R, and (b) in relation to a current year, a person's estimated net income for the current year calculated in a manner approved by the director; (« revenu net ») "participant" means a person to whom a prenatal benefit is or was paid; (« participante ») "spouse" means, in relation to an applicant or participant, the person who is married to her and cohabiting with her. (« conjoint ») M.R. 23/2002 ; 97/2023 ; 59/2024 ; 36/2026 PART 1 PRENATAL BENEFIT Application of Part 1 1.1 This Part applies to a person who is not receiving income assistance. M.R. 36/2026 Application form 2(1) A person applies for a prenatal benefit by completing the application form approved by the director and providing (a) confirmation of the pregnancy in a manner approved by the director; (b) information as to her net family income or, a consent for the release of financial information, to determine her financial eligibility for a prenatal benefit; and (c) any other information required by the director to determine her eligibility for a prenatal benefit. 2(2) The application must be signed by the applicant and, if she has a spouse or common-law partner, by that person. 2(3) A separate application is required with respect to each pregnancy. M.R. 59/2024 ; 36/2026 Eligibility 3(1) Subject to subsection (2), a prenatal benefit may be paid to a person who (a) lives in Manitoba at the time of application and while receiving prenatal benefits; (b) in the month that payment of the first prenatal benefit is made, will be at least 14 weeks pregnant; (c) provides the information required with the application under section 2; and (d) meets the financial eligibility criteria set out in this regulation. 3(2) A prenatal benefit shall not be paid to a person who is in custody in a provincial correctional institution, a penitentiary or a youth custody facility. M.R. 148/2005 Financial eligibility based on net family income for base taxation year 4 Subject to sections 6 and 7, an applicant's financial eligibility for a prenatal benefit is based on her net family income for the base taxation year applicable at the date of application. M.R. 36/2026 5 [Repealed] M.R. 59/2024 ; 36/2026 If relationship status changes 6(1) If an applicant's marital or common-law relationship status at the date of application differs from her status during the applicable base taxation year because of separation, divorce or death, she may apply for a prenatal benefit indicating her status and her financial eligibility will be calculated on the basis of her estimated net family income alone for the applicable base taxation year. 6(2) If a participant's marital or common-law relationship status changes because of separation, divorce or death while receiving prenatal benefits, she (a) may request, in writing, that her financial eligibility for the remaining period during which prenatal benefits are payable be reassessed based on her net income alone for the applicable base taxation year; and (b) must provide evidence of the change satisfactory to the director. If net family income decreases 7(1) If an applicant's estimated net family income for the year in which she applies is at least 10% less than her net family income for the applicable base taxation year, other than as a result of a change referred to in section 6, the applicant (a) may request that her financial eligibility be calculated on the basis of her estimated net family income for the current year; and (b) must submit income information for the current year satisfactory to the director. 7(2) If an applicant is not eligible for prenatal benefits based on her net family income for the applicable base taxation year because it was $32,000.00 or more but her estimated net family income for the current year is less than $32,000.00, other than as a result of a change referred to in section 6, the applicant (a) may request that her financial eligibility may be calculated on the basis of her estimated net family income for the current year; and (b) must submit income information for the current year satisfactory to the director. M.R. 59/2024 Amount payable as prenatal benefit 8 Beginning on the day this section comes into force (a) an applicant with a net family income of not more than $21,744.00 for the applicable base taxation year, or the current year if section 7 applies, is eligible to receive a prenatal benefit in the maximum amount of $162.82 each month for the period during which prenatal benefits are payable under this regulation; and (b) an applicant with a net family income between $21,744.00 and $31,999.99 for the applicable base taxation year, or the current year if section 7 applies, is eligible to receive a prenatal benefit based on the maximum benefit of $162.82 each month reduced by 9.525% per year for each dollar of net family income above $21,744.00 but no prenatal benefit is less than $10.00 each month under this clause. M.R. 59/2024 PART 2 PRENATAL BENEFIT (INCOME ASSISTANCE) Application of Part 2 8.1 This Part applies to a person who is receiving income assistance. M.R. 36/2026 Eligibility 8.2(1) Subject to subsection (2), a prenatal benefit may be paid to a person who (a) lives in Manitoba while receiving prenatal benefits; (b) in the month that payment of the first prenatal benefit is made, will be at least 14 weeks pregnant; (c) provides confirmation of the pregnancy in a manner approved by the director; and (d) is receiving income assistance. 8.2(2) A prenatal benefit must not be paid to a person who is in custody in a provincial correctional institution, a penitentiary or a youth custody facility. 8.2(3) A person receiving a prenatal benefit under Part 1 may request that her eligibility be reassessed if she begins receiving income assistance after the date of application for prenatal benefits. On confirmation that the person receives income assistance, the person may receive the prenatal benefits in accordance with this Part if she meets the other eligibility criteria in subsection (1). M.R. 36/2026 Amount payable as prenatal benefit 8.3 A person eligible for prenatal benefits under this Part is eligible for a prenatal benefit in the maximum amount of $162.82 each month. M.R. 36/2026 PART 3 ADMINISTRATION Payment of prenatal benefit 9(1) If a person is eligible to receive a prenatal benefit under Part 1 or 2, the person is to receive a payment for the month in which they are 14 weeks pregnant and for every subsequent month until the prenatal benefit ends under section 10. 9(2) For certainty, subsection (1) applies even if the person becomes eligible to receive a prenatal benefit after the month in which they are 14 weeks pregnant. M.R. 59/2024 ; 36/2026 When payment of prenatal benefits ends 10(1) A prenatal benefit is payable monthly until the participant has received six months of prenatal benefits or an amount that is equal to six months of prenatal benefits. 10(2) Despite subsection (1), if one of the following events occurs before the participant has received six months of prenatal benefits or an amount that is equal to six months of prenatal benefits, payment of benefits will end in the month in which the event occurs: (a) the pregnancy ends prematurely; (b) the participant requests that payment of prenatal benefits be terminated; (c) the participant ceases to live in Manitoba; (d) the participant ceases to be eligible for a prenatal benefit under this regulation; (e) the participant dies. M.R. 59/2024 Obligation to report change 11 An applicant or a participant must immediately notify the director in writing if (a) her address changes; or (b) she ceases to be eligible for a prenatal benefit under this regulation. Notice of decision 12 The director must notify an applicant or participant in writing of any decision to pay, deny, adjust, terminate or withhold a prenatal benefit payment. The notice must state the reason for the decision and advise the person that she has the right to appeal the decision to the appeal board. Appeal to appeal board 13 An applicant or participant may appeal a decision to the appeal board in accordance with The Social Services Appeal Board Act . M.R. 23/2002 Recovery of payments 14 If a prenatal benefit is paid that would not have been paid except for a false statement or a misrepresentation made by the participant, the government may recover from the participant the amount of the benefit as a debt due from the participant to the Crown. PART 4 COMING INTO FORCE Coming into force 15 This regulation comes into force on July 1, 2001.