The Benefit is available from March 15, 2020, to October 3, 2020. You can apply no later than December 2, 2020 for payments retroactive to within that period.

Individuals who are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits, or who have recently exhausted Employment Insurance regular or fishing benefits may also be eligible.

Therefore, the Government of Canada is extending the CERB by 8 weeks to a maximum of 24 weeks, at the current benefit rate of $500/week to ensure workers continue to get much needed support as they transition back to work.

While we are seeing positive progress in the number of people returning to the workforce, many Canadians continue to face challenges getting back to work. As well, the restart of the economy is uneven across the country and sectors. Many Canadians may still be out of work and still need temporary income support.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit was put in place by the Government of Canada to ensure Canadians had timely and efficient support when they needed it most for reasons related to COVID-19. The Government of Canada’s priority continues to be to ensure that Canadians can access the support they need.

The Benefit is available from March 15, 2020, to October 3, 2020. Applicants can apply no later than December 2, 2020, for payments retroactive to within that period.

The maximum number of weeks of benefit is being extended by eight weeks, for a total maximum of 24 weeks.

Prior to the extension, a maximum of 16 weeks of temporary income support was available to workers who have stopped working for reasons related to COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits or have exhausted their Employment Insurance regular benefits or Employment Insurance fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020.

If you are receiving the CERB through Service Canada, you have to submit your internet report every 2 weeks if your situation continues.

You would continue to apply as you have for the previous 16 weeks of benefits, either through CRA if you are not EI eligible or through Service Canada if you are EI eligible.

However, employers are encouraged to provide a Record of Employment in the event that any employee should subsequently apply for Employment Insurance benefits.

You may be asked to provide additional documentation to verify your eligibility at a future date.

You will need to provide your personal contact information, your Social Insurance Number and confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements.

Please note that the 24 week count does not restart when you reapply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit after taking a break because you found employment.

The calculation of the 24 weeks begins with the first week for which you are receiving the Benefit. However, the 24 weeks do not have to be taken consecutively. For example, you could receive the Benefit for 4 weeks beginning March 15th and reapply for your second benefit period a few months later based on your personal situation.

Response Benefit and an individual may only receive a maximum of 24 weeks in total within the eligibility period from March 15, 2020 to October 3, 2020. You can either apply for the Benefit through Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency, but not both .

If you became eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits before March 15th, your claim will be processed under the pre-existing Employment Insurance rules. You will not receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

Service Canada is processing all of these claims as quickly as possible.

No. You should not submit another application for the same benefit period.

You cannot be paid Employment Insurance benefits and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit for the same period.

If you are already receiving Employment Insurance regular benefits, you will continue to receive these benefits until the end of your benefit period.

For other Employment Insurance benefits, including maternity, parental, caregiving, fishing and work-sharing, you should continue to apply as you normally would.

For anyone who became eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits on March 15, 2020, or later, your Employment Insurance claim will be automatically processed through the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

A single portal is available to assist you with the application process. You will be asked to answer a few simple questions, which will help direct you to complete the application best suited to your situation.

If you have stopped working because of COVID-19, you should apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

To get the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, you may not earn more than $1,000 for a period of at least 14 consecutive days within the initial four week period of your claim or $1,000 in total for each subsequent claim.

There may be other reasons related to COVID-19 beyond these examples why you may have stopped working. However, you cannot voluntarily quit your job.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit is available to those who stop working for reasons related to COVID-19, for example:

The best way for you to apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit is online . However, if you do not have online access, you can obtain further information on how to apply for the Benefit using the toll free number 1-833-966-2099.

Stopping work does not mean that the employee has severed all ties with their employer. The employer can continue to provide non-cash benefits to the employee and these will not impact their eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

There is no requirement for the employer-employee relationship to be severed and the employee can continue to receive other benefits such as medical benefits from the employer and still be eligible for the Benefit.

In this case, the employee would be considered to have stopped working (unpaid leave) and eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit provided they meet the other eligibility criteria.

Employers can choose to ask their employees to take a furlough to help meet their business requirements.

The income of at least $5,000 may be from employment and/or self-employment. For those who are not eligible for Employment Insurance you may also include maternity and parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan as part of the calculation for income.

While having filed income tax for 2019 is not an eligibility requirement, you will need to confirm when applying for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit that you had at least $5,000 in employment or self-employment income in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of your application. You will also need to confirm that you have not earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income in a period of at least 14 consecutive days within the first benefit period and for the entire four-week benefit period of any subsequent claim. If you are deemed ineligible for the Benefit at a later date, you will be required to pay it back.

If you are not eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits and lost your job prior to March 15th you may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit delivered by the Canada Revenue Agency. However, the Benefit is only available for periods between March 15 and October 3, 2020.

If you became eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits prior to March 15th, your claim will be processed under the pre-existing Employment Insurance rules.

reasons related to COVID-19, even if you maintain your attachment with your employer.

Yes. You are eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit if you are laid off as a result of

If you are concerned about the safety of your working conditions, you should discuss the situation with your employer.

There may be other reasons related to COVID-19 beyond these examples why you may have stopped working. However, you cannot voluntarily quit your job .

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit is available to those who stop working for reasons related to COVID-19, for example:

Yes if you meet the eligibility requirements, which includes residing in Canada and having a valid Social Insurance Number.

Workers who remain attached to their company can receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit if they meet the eligibility requirements.

As the economy gradually opens, the Government of Canada encourages workers who are able to return to work to do so, provided it is reasonable based on their individual circumstances. Workers who are able to work are also encouraged to consult the tools available through Job Bank, Canada’s national employment service, to help with their job search.

Eligibility for the CERB is unchanged. CERB continues to support workers by providing $500 a week to eligible workers, including the self-employed, who have stopped working and lost income due to COVID-19. The CERB responds to a broad range of situations that may require a person to stop working. However, a person is not eligible if they quit their job voluntarily.

Provided it is allowed in your province or territory, you may also receive provincial or territorial support payments at the same time you receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

When submitting subsequent claims, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for the entire four-week benefit period of your new claim.

When submitting 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 four-week benefit period of your claim.

Yes, in some cases. Artists’ royalties would be considered payments received as self-employment income if they were received as compensation for using or allowing the use of a copyright, patent, trademark, formula or secret process that is a result of their own work or invention. These royalties count towards the $5,000 income threshold, as well as towards the $1,000 that claimants can earn per month while receiving the Benefit. However, royalty payments received from work that took place before the period for which a person applies for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit do not count as income during that specific benefit period. Other royalties (i.e., from investment activities) do not count with respect to the Benefit.

Non-eligible dividends count towards the minimum $5,000 in income required for eligibility. Non-eligible dividends also count toward the $1,000 income threshold for a benefit period.

Yes as long as the dividends are non-eligible dividends (generally those paid out of corporate income taxed at the small business rate) and you meet the eligibility criteria.

The income does not have to be earned in Canada, but you need to reside in Canada.

Pensions, student loans and bursaries are not considered employment income and should not be included.

The $5,000 includes all employment and self-employment income. This includes among others: tips you have declared as income; non-eligible dividends; honoraria (e.g., nominal amounts paid to emergency service volunteers); and royalties (e.g., paid to artists). If you are not eligible for Employment Insurance, you may also include maternity and parental benefits you received from the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan.

Pensions, student loans and bursaries are not employment income and therefore, should not be included in the $1,000.

However, royalty payments received from work that took place before the period for which a person applies for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit do not count as income during that specific benefit period.

The $1,000 includes employment and/or self-employment income. This includes among others: tips you may earn while working; non-eligible dividends; honoraria (e.g., nominal amounts paid to emergency service volunteers); and royalties (e.g., paid to artists).

If you are receiving your Benefit through Service Canada you must complete your EI Report Card to confirm your eligibility.

No, the renewal of payments will not be automatic. You must confirm your eligibility for each period for which you apply either online or by phone (1-833-966-2099).

Specifically, if you have received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit twice for the same benefit period, you are requested to return one of the payments to the Canada Revenue Agency using the following procedure:

While there will not be any penalty for Canadians if you have received a payment in error, you will have to repay the CERB benefits for which you are not entitled and will receive a letter from the CRA providing you with further information about the repayment process.

Canadians should only apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit from either Service Canada OR the Canada Revenue Agency, not both. If you have already applied for Employment Insurance benefits but haven’t received your benefits yet, you should not submit another application.

You will receive $500 per week, regardless of what you may have been eligible to receive through Employment Insurance.

However, once you are finished receiving the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, you will still be eligible to receive Employment Insurance at the higher rate provided you cannot find a job. Getting the Canada Emergency Response Benefit does not affect your EI entitlement.

You will receive $500 per week, regardless of what you may have been eligible to receive through Employment Insurance.

Your payments will be retroactive to the date you became eligible.

Payments will be made through direct deposit or by cheque; however direct deposit is faster.

There is no waiting period so you will receive your Benefit within 10 days of applying.

The Benefit is taxable -- you will be expected to report it as income when you file your income tax for the 2020 tax year.

If you meet the eligibility requirements, you would receive $500 per week to a maximum of 24 weeks.

No, but you could be eligible to continue receiving your Employment Insurance benefits.

The income of at least $5,000 may be from employment and/or self-employment. For those who are not eligible for Employment Insurance you may also include maternity and parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan as part of the calculation for income.

No. Student loans and bursaries do not count toward the $5,000 in income.

Yes, provided you stopped working for reasons related to COVID-19 and meet the other eligibility criteria.

Yes, provided you lost your job as a result of reasons related to COVID-19 and meet the other eligibility criteria.

If you cannot return to work due to COVID-19 following your maternity/parental leave, you would be considered to have stopped working due to COVID-19. If you meet the other eligibility requirements you may receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

You cannot receive maternity or parental benefits at the same time as the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.

The income of at least $5,000 may be from employment and/or self-employment. For those who are not eligible for Employment Insurance you may also include maternity and parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan as part of the calculation for income.

Yes, provided you stopped working for reasons related to COVID-19 and meet the other eligibility criteria.

The income of at least $5,000 may be from employment and/or self-employment. For those who are not eligible for Employment Insurance you may also include maternity and parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan as part of the calculation for income.

No. Funding received through disability benefits does not count toward the $5,000 in income.

Yes, provided you stopped working for reasons related to COVID-19 and meet the other eligibility criteria.

When submitting subsequent claims, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for the entire four-week benefit period of your new claim.

When submitting your first claim, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for a period of at least 14 or more consecutive days within the four-week benefit period of your claim.

You may be eligible if you have stopped working because of COVID-19.

You cannot be in receipt of Employment Insurance benefits (including fishing benefits) and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit for the same period.

If a self-employed fisher does not meet the criteria to establish a new EI fishing benefits claim, or if they have exhausted their EI fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020, and are unable to work due to COVID-19, they may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

Yes. To be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, you must have stopped working as a result of reasons related to COVID-19 and receive less than $1,000 in employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days within the initial four-week period for which you apply. For subsequent periods, you cannot receive more than $1,000 in employment or self-employment income for the entire four-week period.

Small Business owners can receive income from their business in different ways, including as salary, business income or dividends. In determining their eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit:

Yes provided they meet the eligibility criteria including that they stopped working due to COVID-19 and do not earn more than $1,000 in a period of at least 14 consecutive days in the first benefit period and for the entire four-week benefit period of any subsequent claim.

Employment Insurance

Do I need to complete my bi-weekly EI reports? Yes. While you are receiving the CERB through Service Canada and the Employment Insurance program, you must complete reports to show that you are eligible and to continue to be paid. You can complete your reports online using the Internet Reporting Service or by telephone at 1-800-531-7555. You will need your 4-digit Access Code from Service Canada and your Social Insurance Number (SIN). Continue completing reports when they’re due to continue to be paid for the duration of your claim.

Where can I find my Access Code to allow me to apply for EI online through Service Canada? You do not need an access code to apply for EI. The EI Access Code is required for you to complete your biweekly reporting required once you have submitted your EI application. Shortly after you submit your EI application, an EI benefit statement will be mailed to you. This does not mean that your application has been approved. Your Benefit statement will provide the information you need to complete your reports with our Internet reporting service or our Telephone reporting service. Your access code is the four-digit code printed in the shaded area of your benefit statement and is also available through your My Service Canada Account, which can be found by selecting the View/Change tab, under the Employment Insurance (EI) drop-down menu. Your access code is used to identify you and ensure confidentiality of the information you provide. Store your access code in a safe place, separately from your Social Insurance Number.

Do I get a choice between collecting the EI CERB and collecting EI regular Benefits? There are three possible scenarios in terms of which benefit you may receive: If you became eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits prior to March 15th, you will receive the Employment Insurance benefits. You do not get to choose to receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. If you became eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits March 15th onward, you will receive the Canada Emergency Response Benefit. You do not get to choose. The only case where you get a choice is if you started a new EI claim within the last 52 weeks and there are still weeks payable on that claim. If you are in this situation, you can choose to: Automatically reactive (renew) your existing claim at the existing benefit rate; or

Request that Service Canada end your existing claim and open a new claim for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, provided you meet the eligibility criteria. If you choose to end your existing claim, any remaining weeks payable on that existing claim will be lost and your decision is irreversible and not subject to reconsideration. You cannot get Employment Insurance benefits and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit for the same period.

I am a seasonal worker who received EI regular benefits over the off-season and I have just exhausted my benefit entitlement, but I am unable to find work due to COVID-19—am I eligible for the CERB? Yes. You are eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit if you are a former Employment Insurance claimant who used up your entitlement to your Employment Insurance regular benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020, and are unable to find work due to COVID-19. The date for which you would potentially become eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit would be the week following your last Employment Insurance benefit payment or March 15, 2020, whichever is most recent. You may not receive EI benefits and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit for the same period.

I was laid-off from my work prior to March 15, 2020 for reasons not related to COVID-19 and I have exhausted my EI regular benefits, but I am unable to find work due to COVID-19—am I eligible for the CERB? Yes. You are eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit if you are a former Employment Insurance claimant who used up your entitlement to your Employment Insurance regular benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020, and are unable to find work due to COVID-19. The date for which you would potentially become eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit would be the week following your last Employment Insurance benefit payment or March 15, 2020, whichever is most recent. You may not receive EI benefits and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit for the same period.

Are individuals who are part of work-sharing agreements eligible for the CERB? No. Individuals who are part of work-sharing agreements are not eligible as you cannot be getting Employment Insurance Benefits and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit at the same time. Employers and workers can continue to enter into Work-Sharing agreements. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit has no impact on claims subject to Work-Sharing agreements. These claims continue to be processed using the standard rules for calculating Work-Sharing benefits.

Are individuals who are working while on claim eligible for the CERB if they lose their jobs for reasons related to COVID-19? You cannot be paid Employment Insurance benefits as part of working while on claim and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit for the same period. However, if you lose your job for reasons related to COVID-19 you will no longer be eligible for working while on claim. You may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit provided you meet the eligibility criteria.

I am a fisher who received Employment Insurance fishing benefits over the off-season and I have just exhausted my benefit entitlement, but I am unable to find work due to COVID-19—am I eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit? If a self-employed fisher does not meet the criteria to establish a new EI fishing benefits claim, or if they have exhausted their EI fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020, and are unable to work due to COVID-19, they may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. You may not receive Employment Insurance benefits (including fishing benefits) and the Canada Emergency Response Benefit for the same period.