Today, the federal government announced expanded access to the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and support for essential workers. The government will be changing the eligibility rules to:
- Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while also collecting the CERB;
- Extend the CERB to 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; and
- Extend the CERB to workers who recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19.
These changes are retroactive to March 15, 2020. More details will be posted here when available.
HGA Recommends:
If you have experienced reduced working hours and compensation due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for the CERB benefit.
If you have applied for the CERB application and have not yet returned to work, you will need to re-apply this week for the next 4-week period (April 12-May 9, 2020). To apply online, sign into your CRA My Account.
Additional wage support is coming
The government is also creating a temporary top-up to the salaries of workers deemed essential in the fight against COVID-19, who make less than $2,500 a month. Details as to the application and delivery will be released following further work with provinces and territories. Details as to the application and delivery will be released in the coming weeks.
As your trusted advisors, we are happy to assist with navigating these and other financial aid measures, as we know this is a complex time and these programs are constantly changing. Our resource centre will be regularly updated for any changes that are announced. You can find our resource centre here.
If you have any questions, please contact your HGA Advisor, or info@hgacpa.com.
