The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) may have ended at the start of October, but the federal government introduced new incentives to help Canadians who continue to be impacted by COVID-19 and require temporary income support. Nearly six million Canadians applied for COVID-19 emergency aid benefits during the height of the pandemic and while Statistics Canada recently reported a slight drop in the unemployment rate during September 2020, many people are still struggling. As a direct result, three new benefits are now available. However, there is a lot of confusion about the application process, eligibility requirements and how much Canadians will receive. Toronto-based personal finance expert, Barry Choi released three guides to help Canadians understand what they’re entitled to:
- How to apply for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
- How to apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
- How to apply for the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
“Millions of Canadians have seen an income drop due to COVID-19 and may need government assistance to ensure they can still pay their bills,” said Barry Choi. “The new incentives introduced by the government are great, but many people are still confused about which one they should apply for and how much they’ll get.”
To ensure Canadians continue to receive the help they need, the Government of Canada introduced three new benefits designed for a variety of life situations: the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), and the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS). The CRB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers who have stopped working or had their employment/self-employment income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for EI. While the CRSB provides $500 per week for up to two weeks, for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19 or have underlying conditions that would make them more susceptible to COVID-19. And for business owners, the CERS will cover up to 65% of rent or mortgage interest payments if a business has seen a decline in revenue by at least 70%.
For more information, visit www.moneywehave.com.
Feature image: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
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