COVID-19 – Update – Canada Emergency Response Benefit

The Government of Canada has introduced a temporary income support for workers who stopped working because of COVID-19, called the Canada Emergency Response Benefit ("CERB"). The CERB provides a payment of $2,000 for a 4-week period, for up to 16 weeks. Eligibility periods are 4 weeks long. A worker may re-apply for the CERB for multiple 4-week periods, to a maximum of 16 weeks (4 periods).

CERB is available to workers who:

• did not apply for, nor receive, CERB or EI benefits from Service Canada for the same eligibility period;
• did not quit their job voluntarily;
• reside in Canada;
• are 15 years old or more when they apply;
• earned a minimum of $5,000 (before taxes) income in the last 12 months or in 2019 from one or more of the following sources:
  • employment income