Employment and Income Assistance
Outstanding Warrants Policy
If you are an adult and have an outstanding warrant for a serious crime under the Criminal Code, you may not be eligible to get Employment and Income (EIA) benefits until you deal with it. This is called the Outstanding Warrants Policy.
A serious crime under the Criminal Code is called a “prescribed offence” and you can get a list of these offences from your local EIA office: Winnipeg Locations or Outside of Winnipeg Locations
Who does the Outstanding Warrants Policy affect?
It affects anybody who applies for EIA benefits and everyone who is already getting EIA benefits.
What if I have an outstanding warrant for a serious offence?
You have to deal with it right away or you may not be able to get EIA benefits.
How do I deal with an outstanding warrant for a serious offence?
When EIA finds out you have one of these warrants:
- Your EIA caseworker or an intake worker will give you an Outstanding Warrant Check form. You have to take the form to the police station.
- At the station, a police officer:
- may fill out the EIA form and give you another form that says you have dealt with your outstanding warrant, OR
- may arrest you and you will need to go to court. If you are released by the court, the court will give you a form that says you have dealt with your outstanding warrant.
- Take the form(s) to your EIA case worker or intake worker.
How does my outstanding warrant for a serious offence affect EIA benefits?
There are four different ways benefits can be affected:
- If you are already getting EIA benefits and you are a single adult, you must show your caseworker the form from the police that says you have dealt with your outstanding warrant. If you do not provide this form within 60 days, your EIA file will be closed and you won’t get any more EIA benefits.
- If you are already getting EIA benefits and there are two or more people in your family, you must show your caseworker the form from the police that says you have dealt with your outstanding warrant. If you do not provide this form within 60 days, your family’s EIA benefits will be reduced.
- If you are applying for EIA benefits and you are single adult, you will not be able to get EIA benefits until you deal with the outstanding warrant.
- If you are applying for EIA benefits and there are two or more people in your family, your family may be able to get benefits, but they will be reduced.
Does the Outstanding Warrant Policy apply in every case?
If you have an outstanding warrant for a serious crime and you are staying in hospital or in a family violence shelter, you may still receive EIA benefits. When you leave the hospital or the shelter, you must deal with your outstanding warrant if you want to keep getting EIA benefits.
What if I don’t agree with the decision to deny or change my EIA benefits?
If EIA denies, lowers or stops your benefits, you will get a letter telling you the reason. If you have questions or disagree with the reasons, talk to your EIA case worker or an intake worker.
You also have the right to appeal the decision to the Social Services Appeal Board. You have 30 days after EIA sends you the letter denying or changing your benefits to file an appeal in writing. You must send your written appeal to:
Social Services Appeal Board
175 Hargrave Street, 7th floor
Winnipeg MB R3C 3R8
Phone: 204-945-3003 (in Winnipeg)
Toll free: 1-800-282-8069
If you have questions about the Outstanding Warrant Policy, call EIA in Winnipeg at 204-948-4000; or toll free 1-855 944-8111.