Canada Recovery Benefit, Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit

The next steps in the government’s plan to support Canadians through this pandemic includes a seamless transition to EI coupled with the creation of 3 new benefits to ensure that no Canadian worker is left behind.

• As of October 5^th, Canadians have been able to apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit (CRCB). As of October 12^th, Canadians who are not eligible for Employment Insurance have been able to apply for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB).

The CRB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks for workers who;

• have stopped working or,
• had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19,
• and who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).
• You can apply here.

The CRSB provides $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who:

• Are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
• Are self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
• have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
• You can apply here.

The CRCB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household for workers:

• unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19
• because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.
• You can apply here.

Our goal during this transition from emergency to recovery is to provide Canadian workers with the certainty and comfort they can count on over the longer term.

Canada Emergency Businesses Account (CEBA) Expansion

• CEBA has helped ensure that over 765,000 Canadian small businesses have the cash flow they need to stay afloat through this pandemic.
• For businesses that continue to be seriously impacted by the pandemic, we are expanding CEBA to include a second loan of $20,000 - half of which would be forgivable.
• Combined, businesses that continue to face hardship will have access to $60,000 in financing, $20,000 of which would be forgiven if repaid by the end of 2022.
• Businesses will need to attest to losses in revenue due to the pandemic.
• By making CEBA even stronger, we will build on the support already delivered to small businesses and not-for-profits through the program.
• More information available soon 

Improving Employment Insurance (EI) program

We made temporary changes to the EI program to better support Canadians looking for work.

As of September 27, you may be eligible for EI if you:

• were employed for at least 120 insurable hours in the past 52 weeks
• received the CERB, the 52 week period to accumulate insured hours will be extended
• stopped working through no fault of your own
• have not quit your job voluntarily
• are ready, willing and capable of working each day (EI regular benefits)
• are temporarily unable to work while you care for someone else or yourself (EI maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care, and family caregiver benefits)
• You can apply here.

If you are eligible for EI benefits, you will receive a minimum taxable benefit at a rate of $500 per week, or $300 per week for extended parental benefits.