October 2, 2008

NEW CAREGIVER TAX CREDIT NOW IN EFFECT– – –
Credit Delivers More Support For Manitoba Families: Ministers


Manitobans who are the primary caregivers for family members or other loved ones are now eligible for a $1,020 tax credit that recognizes the vital support they provide to someone in need of care, Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross, minister responsible for seniors, and Finance Minister Greg Selinger announced today.

“Our government is committed to expanding care and housing options for older Manitobans,” Irvin‑Ross said. “This tax credit provides new supports for families to help a loved one in need of care live with dignity and as much independence as possible.”

Manitoba’s new Primary Caregiver Tax Credit will provide up to $1,020 a year to individuals who are primary caregivers for spouses, relatives, neighbours or friends who are Manitoba Home Care clients. To be eligible, the primary caregiver must not receive money for their help and must be identified by the client.

Caregivers eligible for the credit provide assistance to a loved one with tasks such as bathing and dressing, preparing and eating meals, transportation, obtaining medical care, and providing support and supervision in accessing community resources due to their loved one’s cognitive, behavioural or physical challenges.

The province will invest over $5.4 million annually in the new credit.

“This tax credit benefits Manitobans who are dedicated to helping other Manitobans,” Selinger said. “The province’s new fully refundable Primary Caregiver Tax Credit recognizes the invaluable role caregivers play in helping those closest to them receive the assistance they need.”

The tax credit will help to cover the out-of-pocket expenses a caregiver might incur by providing support to another person. This could include items such as costs of taking a family member or friend to medical appointments or on recreational outings.

“This new tax credit is an important step forward for Manitoba’s caregivers,” said Norma Drosdowech, chair of the Manitoba Council on Aging. “We often think that seniors will be the clients receiving care, but it’s just as likely that they will be providing care to a spouse, a family member or friend. This tax credit reflects the goal of the Age-Friendly initiative to help Manitoba's seniors continue to give and get they support they need.”

For the caregiver to be eligible, the person they are supporting must be a Manitoba Home Care client requiring a certain level of care while living at home (equivalent to Care Level 2, 3 or 4). This might include individuals with a disability, people with life-threatening illnesses or those needing care or supervision for more than three months.

Manitoba Home Care clients are assessed in six areas, based on the level of care and assistance required for tasks like bathing and dressing, eating meals, mobility, medical care and support supervision. Level 1 requires minimal care in most areas and Level 4 requires maximum daily support in most areas.

The new credit becomes effective Jan. 1, following a three-month qualifying period. This means that any eligible individual providing care to a Manitoba Home Care client as of today can receive the refundable tax credit, to a maximum of $1,020 per year. A caregiver may not earn the credit for more than three people in a given month.

More information about the Primary Caregiver Tax Credit is available online at www.gov.mb.ca/finance/, by calling Manitoba Government Inquiry at 1-866-626-4862 or emailing Manitoba Health and Healthy Living at RssAffairs@gov.mb.ca. Program details for caregivers and their clients will be distributed through Manitoba Health and Healthy Living and regional health authorities. For information on claiming this tax credit through the income tax system, contact the Manitoba Tax Assistance Office at 204-948-2115 or 1-800-782-0771 (toll-free) or by email at TAO@gov.mb.ca.

- 30 -