The federal government recently announced extensions to the CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) and CECRA (Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance) programs.
CERB
The CERB has been extended by 8 weeks and is now available for 24 weeks total (previously 16 weeks). The maximum amount a claimant can receive through CERB is $12,000 (previously $8,000). Claimants should continue to complete bi-weekly reports to demonstrate their continued eligibility for the CERB and to keep their file active though the CERB extension.
CERB gives financial support to employed and self-employed Canadians who are directly affected by COVID-19. This benefit is available for people who stopped working due to COVID-19, are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits, or have exhausted their Employment Insurance regular or fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020. Eligible workers must reside in Canada, be at least 15 years of age, had employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or the 12-month period before their application, and have not quit their job voluntarily.
CERB applications are available here.
CECRA
Previously available for April, May, and June 2020, the CECRA has now been extended to include rent relief for July 2020.
Only those tenants approved in the April, May and June application are available for the July extension. These businesses are deemed eligible for the additional month of rent relief, without having to demonstrate a decrease in revenue for July 2020. Not all tenants in the original application for CECRA need to be included for the July extension.
Applications for the CECRA will remain open until August 31, 2020. Applications for the July extension will be available until September 14, 2020. Applications are available here.
HGA will continue to update our COVID-19 resource centre with information about government benefits and programs and more information is released.
You can find our resource centre here. If you have any questions, please contact your HGA Advisor or info@hgacpa.com.