COVID 19 -Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
This is a taxable benefit that would provide up to $2,000 a month for up to four months for workers who lose their income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) combines the previously announced “Emergency Care Benefit” and the “Emergency Support Benefits” described in my blog on Tuesday, March 24th, 2020. The CERB will be administered by CRA through a different system than the EI system.
Qualification criteria
- Workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for E.I. sickness benefits.
- Workers, including the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, such as an elderly parent, but do not quality for E.I. sickness benefits.
- Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school closures, and are unable to earn employment income, irrespective of whether they qualify for E.I. or not.
- Workers who are still employed, but are not receiving income because of disruptions to their work situation due to COVID-19, would also qualify for the CERB
- At least 15 years of age
- A resident in Canada
- . Have a total income of at least $5,000 from either employment; self-employment and certain EI benefits in 2019 or in the 12-month period preceding the day on which they make an application.
The application process has not yet been announced but will be made available in the first week of April 2020. As soon as it is available I will post the link.
In Addition
If you are already receiving EI regular and sickness benefits, you would continue to receive these benefits & should not apply to the CERB. If your EI benefits end before October 3, 2020, you could apply for the CERB once the EI benefits cease, if you are still unable to return to work due to COVID-19. If you have already applied for EI & your application has not yet been processed, there is no need to reapply.