The Federal Government recently announced changes to the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit (CERB). The CERB provides for a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months payable every 4 weeks from March 15, 2020 until October 3, 2020.
New Updates to Who is Eligible:
Wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who either:
- Only make up to $1000 per month;
- Are seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their usual seasonal work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak; or
- Recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19.
These changes are in addition to the previous announced eligibility criteria for workers who either:
- Stopped working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support;
- Are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19;
- Are working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures; or
- Still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.
Payment processing will be through the Canada Revenue portal and payments are expected to be made within 10 days of application.
The government is also working to create a temporary top-up program for essential workers who make $2500 or less a month. Further details for this have not yet been released.
As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to speak with an e2r® Advisor.