Manitoba Foster Care Rates

The October 2025 Rate Increase

Manitoba ended a nearly 13-year freeze on daily foster care maintenance rates with a 10% increase beginning in October 2025. The increase applies to basic maintenance per diems — the minimum daily amount for a child's basic needs, such as food and clothing.

Rates vary by the child's age and where the child lives. Ask the CFS agency whether additional support is available for a child with higher medical, behavioural, or developmental needs.

The rate increase also extends to kinship foster care providers — relatives who have gone through formal Child and Family Services (CFS) licensing to care for a related child under agency supervision.

Foster Care Rates vs Kinship Care Payments

This is the distinction that generates the most confusion. Manitoba has two entirely separate financial systems for relatives raising children:

Foster care maintenance (through CFS): The caregiver is a licensed foster parent operating under a CFS agency's direction. The agency holds legal care and custody of the child. The caregiver receives daily maintenance rates set by the CFS system. The Canada Child Benefit stops and is replaced by Children's Special Allowances paid to the agency. The caregiver is supervised, must meet licensing standards, and undergoes regular reviews.

Informal kinship care (through EIA Section 5(1)(f)): The caregiver is an independent family member — not licensed, not supervised by CFS. Financial support comes through the EIA program as a child-only grant covering basic needs and shelter. The caregiver retains the Canada Child Benefit directly. There's no daily per diem; instead, monthly allowances are calculated by the child's age band.

The financial comparison depends on the specific maintenance rate and which benefits apply to the household. Compare the written CFS rate with the EIA, CCB, and other benefits available under an informal arrangement. Entering the foster care system also means CFS involvement, licensing requirements, agency supervision, and the CCB is replaced by Children's Special Allowances paid to the agency.

Why Most Kinship Caregivers Stay Outside the Foster System

Many grandparents and relatives raising children actively avoid the foster care route. The reasons are practical:

• Autonomy — informal kinship caregivers make their own decisions about the child's daily life without agency approval
• CCB retention — the Canada Child Benefit can be worth $6,883–$8,157 per year per child, paid directly to the caregiver
• No licensing requirements — no home studies, no mandatory training hours, no regular agency visits
• Family preservation — staying outside CFS keeps the arrangement as a family matter rather than a child welfare case

The financial comparison is not the same for every household. The foster maintenance rate, CCB eligibility, and other supports differ by arrangement, so compare the amounts and conditions for the specific child before deciding.

When the Foster Route Makes Sense

Some situations push toward formal licensing:

• Children with additional care needs — the placing agency decides whether to approve special rate/needs funding based on the child's assessed needs, existing supports, and the foster parent's skills and experience
• CFS is already involved — if the child entered care through a child protection investigation, the agency may place them with a relative as a kinship foster placement
• The caregiver wants formal CFS support and is willing to accept agency supervision and licensing conditions

If CFS contacts you about caring for a relative's child as a foster placement, ask them to explain the specific daily rate, what supervision looks like, and how it compares to the informal kinship care path. You're allowed to ask before deciding.

Informal Kinship Financial Support

Relatives who stay outside the foster system can still access substantial financial support through Manitoba's provincial programs:

• EIA Section 5(1)(f) — monthly basic needs and shelter allowances for the child
• Canada Child Benefit — up to $679.75/month for children under 6, $573.58/month for ages 6–17
• Manitoba Child Benefit — up to $35/month per child (if not on full EIA)
• Rent Assist — shelter cost support for low-income households
• Child Care Subsidy — reduced daycare fees for licensed providers

The Manitoba Kinship Financial Help Guide covers the complete informal kinship support package — every benefit, the application process, and the documents needed at each step.

See more Manitoba guides →