More than 23,000 workers to receive $200 each
Manitoba is investing $4.6 million in the new Disability Economic Support Program to provide direct and immediate financial support to low-income residents with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID-19 is creating new challenges and causing financial difficulties for some of our province’s most vulnerable people,” said Pallister. “Manitobans living with disabilities may be facing additional costs to adjust to the new realities of daily life during the pandemic. As we respond to these challenges together, our government is making an important investment to help address urgent needs.”
Under the program, more than 23,000 Manitobans will receive a $200 cheque through the mail early in June for one-time support. This will be non-taxable and will not affect any other benefits that they receive.
The Disability Economic Support Program is part of the expanded Manitoba Protection Plan. The province has also recently announced the Seniors Economic Recovery Credit program and plans to provide additional support to Manitoba’s essential workers, also under the Manitoba Protection Plan.
The federal and provincial governments have also announced several support plans for workers amid the pandemic, including the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) and Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
More than 67,000 farmers are now eligible to benefit from the CEBA, up by 36,566 thanks to the expansion of the eligibility rules Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Tuesday last week. Meanwhile, Unifor has called for the federal government to grant workers receiving the CERB to receive the Supplemental Unemployment Benefits (SUB) they would be entitled to under normal layoff circumstances.
Also, Manitoba recently partnered with several organizations to develop and launch an online marketplace that will connect businesses in the province with non-medical grade personal protective equipment (PPE) and other materials needed for businesses to operate safely.
