Am I eligible for the IPREW?

To be eligible under the program, you must meet all of the following conditions:

You work part-time or full-time in one of the essential service sectors during the program period.

You earn eligible work income of $550 or less per week (self-employment income is not eligible).

You earn at least $5,000 in eligible employment income for 2020 (self-employment income is not eligible).

You have a total annual income of no more than $28,600 for 2020 (not counting assistance received under the IPREW and your spouse's income).

You are at least 15 years old or turn 15 in at least one week covered by the IPREW (if you turn 15 between March 15 and July 4, 2020, you are eligible for the IPREW only as of the week you turn 15);

You were resident in Québec on December 31, 2019, and plan to reside in Québec throughout 2020.

Changes during the year

If your situation changes during the year and you no longer meet one or more of the eligibility conditions, contact us as soon as possible. We will inform you in writing if we paid you amounts to which you are not entitled.

Salary adjustments, bonuses and assistance that may affect IPREW eligibility

Salary adjustment: Minimum wage increase effective May 1, 2020

The minimum wage increased from $12.50/hour to $13.10/hour, effective May 1, 2020. If your eligible employment income is still $550 or less per week despite the new minimum wage, you remain eligible for the IPREW provided you meet all of the other conditions. However, if the new minimum wage pushes your eligible employment income over $550 for a given week, you are not eligible for the IPREW for that week.

Emergency childcare educators and support staff

You can receive IPREW benefits if you worked in an emergency childcare service that remained open during the stay-at-home order, provided you meet all other eligility requirements. In addition, you can receive IPREW benefits for all weeks in the program period, even for weeks during which the childcare service is no longer considered an emergency service after your region's stay-at-home order is lifted.

However, if you did not work in an emergency childcare service that remained open during the stay-at-home order, you are not covered by the IPREW for work done in an emergency childcare service after your region's stay-at-home order is lifted.

Employer bonuses

If you receive a bonus from your employer and your eligible employment income, including this bonus, is no more than $550 per week, you are still eligible for the IPREW, provided you meet the other conditions.

Bonus for farm workers

If you are a farm worker who receives a bonus of $100 per week from the Québec government, do not include it in your employment income. However, you must include it in your total income.

Programs and assistance

If you receive amounts under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), the temporary aid for workers program or any other federal or provincial program as compensation for lost work hours for a week included in the period from March 15 to July 4, 2020, you are not eligible for the IPREW for that week.

Note that you are still eligible for the IPREW even if your employer receives assistance under the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy.

Retirement income

When you apply for the IPREW, be sure to include your retirement income (if you receive any) when calculating your total annual income.