Most Winnipeggers I talk to want the same thing as they get older: to stay in their own home. The good news is that a handful of Manitoba and federal programs in 2026 are built around exactly that — making a home safer to move through, easier to live in, and able to fit an extra generation under one roof.
After more than a decade in construction and renovations, I've installed and seen a lot of these adaptations up close — grab bars that actually hold, showers you can roll into, doorways widened so a walker fits. With that contractor's eye, here's a straight-talking map of the money on the table for senior home safety, what each is worth, and who qualifies. I'm a real estate agent, not the program administrator, so always confirm the current details with each provider before you spend.
The Manitoba grant: Safe & Healthy Home for Seniors
This is the one most people miss, and it's the most directly useful. The Safe & Healthy Home for Seniors Program is provincial funding, administered by March of Dimes Canada, for basic, essential adaptations that let seniors age in place.
- Up to $5,000 every three years for most applicants
- Up to $6,500 for rural and remote Manitoba
- Lifetime maximum of $15,000
It funds the practical stuff: grab bars, bathtub and shower safety rails, walk-in tubs, zero-threshold showers, widened doorways, and improved lighting — the modifications that prevent falls and keep daily routines manageable.
Who qualifies: a permanent Manitoba resident, aged 65 or older, with a combined net household income under $60,000, and a condition that impedes mobility or safe home access. Intake is prioritized by assessed need rather than first-come, so don't assume the door is closed if budgets look tight.
To apply, contact March of Dimes Canada at 1-866-906-6006.
The federal tax credits
Where the provincial grant stops, the federal tax system picks up — especially for bigger renovations.
Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC)
The HATC is a non-refundable federal credit worth the lowest federal tax rate (14% in 2026, 14.5% in 2025) on up to $20,000 of eligible renovation expenses per year — a maximum of about $2,800 back in 2026 ($2,900 in 2025). It covers permanent changes that improve mobility and safety or reduce the risk of harm: grab bars, walk-in tubs, ramps, widened doorways, stair lifts, and similar work.
Who qualifies: a senior aged 65+, or anyone eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. It can also be claimed by a spouse or a supporting relative. (Where two qualifying people share a home, the combined limit for that home is still $20,000 — it's shared, not doubled.)
One important change: as of Budget 2025 (effective for the 2026 and later tax years), you can no longer claim the same expense under both the HATC and the Medical Expense Tax Credit. That "stacking" used to be allowed; for 2026 onward it isn't, so plan which credit to apply each expense to.
Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit (MHRTC)
If the plan is to bring a parent — or an adult relative with a disability — to live with family, the MHRTC is the big one. It's a refundable credit at the lowest federal tax rate (14% in 2026) on up to $50,000 of eligible costs to build a self-contained secondary suite — a maximum of about $7,000 back in 2026 ($7,250 in 2025), even if you owe no tax.
The suite has to be genuinely self-contained: its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping area. The qualifying person must be a related senior aged 65+ by the end of the renovation, or a relative eligible for the Disability Tax Credit. It's one claim per qualifying individual, per lifetime.
A quick word from the trades side: a true secondary suite is a real build, not a finished-basement weekend project — permits, egress, separate systems. I don't build these myself, but I can tell you it pays to price it properly before you bank on the credit.
The Disability Tax Credit: the gateway
Here's the piece that ties it together for people under 65. The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is a federal credit for a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions, certified by a medical practitioner on Form T2201.
On its own the DTC reduces your federal tax (the 2026 base amount is roughly $10,341, about a $1,448 reduction at the 14% rate, with a supplement for claimants under 18). But its bigger role here is as a gateway: DTC approval is what makes the HATC and the MHRTC available to non-seniors. It can also be claimed retroactively up to 10 years, which surprises a lot of families.
Manitoba's Primary Caregiver Tax Credit
Aging in place often depends on an unpaid caregiver. Manitoba recognizes that with the Primary Caregiver Tax Credit — a refundable, non-income-tested flat credit of $1,400 per year for someone providing unpaid care that keeps a person living at home instead of in a facility.
The care recipient must be assessed at Home Care Level 2, 3, or 4 and the care provided for more than 90 days. The caregiver can be a spouse, relative, neighbour, or friend. Registration is valid for up to three years and renewable.
At-a-glance
| Program | What you can get | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Safe & Healthy Home for Seniors | Up to $5,000 / 3 yrs ($6,500 rural), $15,000 lifetime | MB residents 65+, net household income under $60,000 |
| Home Accessibility Tax Credit | ~14% on up to $20,000/yr = up to ~$2,800 (2026) | Seniors 65+ or DTC-eligible |
| Multigenerational Reno Tax Credit | Refundable ~14% on up to $50,000 = up to ~$7,000 (2026) | Self-contained suite for a senior 65+ or DTC-eligible relative |
| Disability Tax Credit | ~$1,448 federal reduction (2026); unlocks HATC & MHRTC | Severe, prolonged impairment (Form T2201) |
| Primary Caregiver Tax Credit | $1,400/yr refundable | Unpaid caregiver; recipient at Home Care Level 2–4 |
How to put it together
- Start with the grant. If you're 65+ and under the income limit, the Safe & Healthy Home for Seniors Program is direct funding — call March of Dimes Canada first.
- Get the DTC if it applies. For anyone under 65 with a qualifying impairment, Form T2201 approval unlocks the federal credits.
- Match the right credit to the right expense. Remember that for 2026 onward the HATC and Medical Expense Tax Credit no longer stack on the same cost.
- Plan a secondary suite properly if multigenerational living is the goal — the MHRTC is generous, but the build has to meet the self-contained standard.
- Register a caregiver if someone is providing ongoing unpaid care at home.
This is general information, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Program amounts, eligibility, and deadlines change often and may have been updated since this was published. Always confirm current details directly with the program provider — March of Dimes Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency, or the Manitoba Tax Assistance Office — before you spend or file.
Thinking about staying put — or right-sizing?
Sometimes the smartest move is adapting the home you love so you can stay in it for years. Sometimes it's finding a single-level home that's safer from day one, or one with room for a suite. With a contractor's eye, I can help you weigh what's worth renovating against what's better solved by the right home — honest answers, no pressure.
Reach out for a free, no-obligation chat or home evaluation — from a local agent who knows Winnipeg homes inside and out. — Pavel Streltsov, Real Broker Manitoba Ltd.