provincial · New Brunswick

Extended Benefits (designated)

New Brunswick's Extended Benefits Program pays the province's highest social-assistance rate to people the Medical Advisory Board certifies as blind, deaf, or disabled. Your disability is expected to continue indefinitely and to severely limit daily living. A single person gets $955/month (April 2026), plus a disability supplement and a health card.

Check if I qualify

Verified Aug 22, 2026
provincial program · New Brunswick

MonthlyMonthly money

At a glance

Worth:: $955/mo
Who:: You are certified by the Medical Advisory Board as blind, deaf, or disabled.
Apply:: Official program page

What it could be worth

Amount

$955/mo

Monthly maximum (April 1, 2026, NB Reg 2026-20): $955 for a single person; $1,290 for two people with one under 19; $1,314 for two adults; $1,357 for three people (+$78 for each extra person).
Liquid assets: up to $10,000 for certified single or family households. Further exemptions: RDSP $290,000, RRSP $50,000, trust funds $200,000.
Wage exemption: you keep $500/month in net employment income plus 50% of the excess. It applies once you are on assistance, not during the application.
Trust or RDSP income exemption: up to $800/month (EBP only).

Example: A single New Brunswicker certified as disabled gets $955/month plus the disability supplement and SD health card. She keeps her $450/month part-time wage untouched, because it is within the $500 exemption. She also draws $300/month from her RDSP, which is within the $800 EBP trust or RDSP exemption.

How it benefits you

It is the highest income-assistance tier in New Brunswick: $955/month for one person, compared with $687–$737 under Transitional Assistance.
Certified households get an SD health card (which covers drugs), medical transportation, and emergency benefits along with their income help.
You can hold more in assets: $10,000 in liquid assets (cash and things you can quickly turn into cash) for certified single or family households. That compares with $1,000 on TAP (Transitional Assistance Program).
Also not counted: RDSP funds up to $290,000, RRSPs up to $50,000, and trust funds up to $200,000.
Income exemptions that apply to EBP only: up to $800/month from a documented trust or an RDSP is ignored (not counted).
The wage exemption lets you keep up to $500/month in net earnings, plus 50% of anything above that. This makes it easier to take a job.

What you need to qualify or apply

Eligibility

You are certified by the Medical Advisory Board as blind, deaf, or disabled.
The disability is likely to continue indefinitely without major improvement, and it severely limits activities of daily living.
You are in financial need (your income and assets are within the limits — $10,000 in liquid assets for certified households).
People who are not certified for EBP receive Transitional Assistance instead. That program covers some designated single clients with long-term health needs.

How to apply

Call the provincial screening and intake line at 1-833-733-7835. An agent reviews your situation and books an appointment to complete the application.
Gather your address and your rent or mortgage costs. For each person in your household, gather their name, birthdate, Medicare number, SIN (Social Insurance Number), income, and assets.
Medical documents support your certification request. The Medical Advisory Board decides on certification. You cannot appeal its decisions, but you may apply again later.
Once you are certified and financially eligible, your payments and SD health card begin.

Documents you may need

Medical documents about blindness, deafness, or disability for the Medical Advisory Board certification.
Household information: names, birthdates, Medicare numbers, SINs, income, and assets.
Information about your rent or mortgage and shelter costs.