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COVID-19: Canada Emergency Response Benefit
Prepared by: Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic
(Current as of: June 30, 2020)

Overview

• The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is a taxable benefit of $2,000 per month for up to 24 weeks (up from 16 weeks)
• Successful claimants begin to receive their CERB payments within 3 (direct deposit) or 10 business days (cheque by mail)
• The CERB is available from March 15, 2020 until October 3, 2020
  • For fixed 4-week benefit periods, see chart

Extension of CERB (*NEW*)

On June 16, the Government of Canada announced that, to assist with transitions back to work as the economy reopens, the CERB would be extended by an additional 8 weeks for workers who:

• stopped working due to COVID-19;
• are eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) regular or sickness benefits; or
• have exhausted their EI regular or fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020

Eligibility

• CERB is available to workers who:
  • reside in Canada and have a social insurance number (SIN)
  • are at least 15 years old
  • fall under one of the following categories:
    • have stopped working because of reasons related to COVID-19
      • e. lost your job, in quarantine or sick, taking care of someone who is in quarantine or sick, or taking care of dependents because childcare facilities are closed
    • are eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits
    • have exhausted their EI regular or fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020+

• • had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000* in 2019, or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application
  • have not earned more than $1,000** in employment and/or self-employment income per benefit period while collecting the CERB
  • have not quit their job voluntarily

+    Includes seasonal workers

*     Includes EI maternity/parental benefits; does not need to be earned in Canada

**  Includes tips, non-eligible dividends (generally those paid out of corporate income taxed at the small business rate), and royalties for work done during benefit period; excludes student loans and bursaries

• Current income:
  • For your first claim, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days within the initial 4-week benefit period
  • For subsequent claims, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for the entire 4-week benefit period.
• While receiving CERB, you can also receive the following if you meet other criteria:
  • Canadian Pension Plan (CPP)
  • Old Age Security (OAS)

Relationship with EI

• You cannot receive both CERB and EI benefits (e.g. regular, sickness, maternity/parental)
• If you were eligible for EI benefits before March 15, 2020
  • You should apply for EI benefits. If they run out before October 3, 2020, you should apply for CERB if you are unable to return to work due to COVID-19

• If you were eligible for EI benefits on or after March 15, 2020
  • You should apply for CERB, then apply for EI regular or sickness benefits if still unemployed after the 24-week period covered by CERB

• If you are receiving maternity/parental EI benefits, but they will run out before October 3, 2020, you may be eligible for CERB if you are unable to return to work due to COVID-19
  • You can apply in advance to minimize disruption of payment

Relationship with Social Assistance (ON)

• On April 20, 2020, the Government of Ontario announced the following with respect to those receiving OW and ODSP payments:
  • Recipients of OW/ODSP as of March 1, 2020: CERB payments will be treated as partially exempt, as if they were employment income
    • $200 flat rate exemption + 50% for each additional dollar
  • New OW applicants granted on or after 1 March 2020: CERB payments will not be exempt for purposes of determining eligibility
    • However, no overpayments should be created for people retroactively reassessed as ineligible

How to Apply

• Applications opened on April 6, 2020

Ways to apply:*

1. Online Portal via Government of Canada webpage
2. Automated toll-free number:
   1. For applicants who have previously filed income tax returns with CRA: 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041
   2. For all other applicants: 1-833-966-2099

*  Both services open 21 hours/day, 7 days/week (closed from 3:00   a.m. to 6:00 a.m. EST)

Return or Repayment

If you have received CERB in error, you can find more information on how to return or repay the benefit here.

Reporting

• If you are receiving CERB through Service Canada and the EI program, you must complete biweekly reports to show continued eligibility
  • Online using the Internet Reporting Service or by telephone at 1-800-531-7555
• If you are receiving CERB through the Canada Revenue Agency, you must re-apply every 4 weeks (either online or via telephone)

For most updated information, please see our website: https://csalc.ca/
For legal advice, please call the clinic at 416-971-9674