Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) Guide

Understanding the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was a government initiative in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. This program merged the Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit to provide streamlined financial support to Canadians in need.

Program timeline and transition

• Initiation: The CERB was introduced on March 15, 2020, and began accepting applications on April 6, 2020.
• Closure: The program concluded on September 26, 2020, with the last payments covering up to October 3, 2020.
• Transition: Post-CERB, the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) was introduced on September 27, 2020, and ran until October 23, 2021. Following the CRB, the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit commenced on October 24, 2021.

Who was eligible for the CERB?

Eligibility Criteria:

• Individuals who lost their job (terminated, laid off, or temporarily laid off).
• Those under quarantine or ill, especially with COVID-19.
• Individuals caring for someone with COVID-19.
• Parents caring for children at home due to school closures.
• Workers without income despite not being formally laid off.
• Contract workers, contractors, and self-employed individuals without income.

Key Benefits and Application Details

• Benefit Amount: Eligible Canadians received $2,000 per month, initially for up to 16 weeks. This period was later extended to 24 weeks as of June 16, 2020.
• Taxable Income: It is important to note that the CERB was considered taxable income.

The Government of Canada created the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CERB merges the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit. Once it is up and running, the CERB will provide faster and more efficient financial support to Canadians in need.

The CERB program came to an end on Saturday, Sep. 26, 2020, and was replaced by the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) Program. The CRB program was in effect from Sep. 27, 2020, until Oct. 23, 2021. As the CRB program has ended, individuals who are now unable to work due to government-imposed lockdowns will be eligible to receive payments from the new Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit as of Oct. 24, 2021.

Who is covered by the Canada Emergency Response Benefit?

The CERB is available to the following people:

• employees who have lost their job, through a termination, layoff or temporary layoff;
• individuals who have fallen ill or are under quarantine;
• individuals who are caring for someone who is ill with COVID-19
• parents who need to remain at home without pay in order to care for their children;
• workers who no longer have an income but haven’t been laid off;
• contract workers or contractors without income; and
• Self-employed workers.

Application process

• Platforms: Applications could be made through the CRA MyAccount portal or by phone.
• Information Required: Applicants needed to provide personal contact information and their Social Insurance Number.

Application guidelines by birth month

• January, February, March: Mondays
• April, May, June: Tuesdays
• July, August, September: Wednesdays
• October, November, December: Thursdays
• All Months: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays

Additional information

• Employment Insurance (EI): Those already receiving EI continued their benefits and were advised not to apply for the CERB unless their EI ended before October 3, 2020.
• Post-CERB EI Eligibility: Eligibility for regular EI benefits or EI sickness benefits remained after receiving CERB.
• Severance Pay: According to the federal government, a severance payment does not impact an individual’s eligibility for the CERB. You will still be able to apply for and receive the CERB.

Student eligibility and fraudulent applications

• Students: Initially, CERB did not cover students seeking summer employment, leading to the introduction of the Canada Emergency Student Benefit on April 22, 2020.
• Fraud Prevention and Penalties: The government proposed, though did not pass, legislation imposing penalties for fraudulent claims, including fines and possible jail time.

Conclusion

The CERB served as a crucial support system during the initial stages of the pandemic. It evolved into other benefits as the situation developed, addressing ongoing needs and specific circumstances such as lockdowns.

For more information on employment rights during COVID-19, consider reading about COVID-19 and Employment Rights and Long-term disability claims and COVID-19.

Comprehensive services for employees

The employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP have successfully represented thousands of non-unionized individuals in various regions across Ontario, Alberta, and B.C.

In addition to severance package negotiations, we can assist you on a broad range of employment matters, including:

For a comprehensive overview of employment, disability, and personal injury law, explore our Law Essentials page.

If you are a non-unionized employee who needs help with a workplace issue, contact us or call 1-855-821-5900 to get the advice you need and the compensation you deserve.