What Is CERB? Understanding the Benefit, Repayment Rules, and What Replaced It in Canada

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was a temporary federal income-support program introduced early in the COVID-19 pandemic. It provided $2,000 per four-week period to Canadians who lost income because of business closures, layoffs, reduced hours, or quarantine requirements.

Even though CERB ended years ago, people still search for:
“What is CERB?”, “What is a CERB?”, “What is CERB for?”, and “What is CERB and who qualifies?” — often because of repayment letters, tax questions, or confusion about the programs that replaced it.

Below is a clear and simple guide.

What Was CERB For?

CERB was designed to provide fast financial relief for people who:

• Lost their job due to the pandemic
• Had their hours cut
• Couldn’t work because they were sick, quarantined, or caring for someone
• Were self-employed and lost income

To qualify, individuals generally needed at least $5,000 in income in the previous year and had to stop working due to COVID-19.

What Is CERB and CRB?

Many Canadians confuse CERB with the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB).

• CERB: The first emergency benefit. Fast, broad, and temporary.
• CRB: A follow-up program with different eligibility rules, payment amounts, and reporting requirements.

Here’s the quick breakdown:

For full CRB details, see the firm’s dedicated CRB page.

What Was the Maximum CERB Payment?

CERB paid up to $14,000 total (seven 4-week periods at $2,000 each), depending on how many periods a person qualified for.

CERB Repayment: Why Canadians Still Receive Letters

The federal government continues to review eligibility. This is why many individuals still receive CERB repayment notices years later.

You may be asked to repay CERB if:

• You earned more income than expected
• You applied for CERB through both EI and CRA channels in the same period
• You didn’t meet the minimum income requirement
• You were later found to be ineligible for certain periods

If you received a repayment request, speak with a legal professional before paying — especially if job loss, misclassification, or severance issues were involved.

What Replaced CERB in Canada?

CERB ended in October 2020. It was replaced by three federal programs:

1. Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) – for workers who lost income.
2. Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) – for workers unable to work due to illness or isolation.
3. Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) – for workers caring for dependents due to school or caregiving closures.

These replaced CERB nationwide, including Ontario.

What Was the Last Day of CERB?

The final CERB period ended on September 26, 2020, with the transition to EI and the CRB-family programs taking effect immediately afterward.

What Happens After CERB Is Done?

Here’s the summary:

• Individuals could transition to Employment Insurance (EI) if eligible.
• Those who did not qualify for EI could apply for CRB, CRSB, or CRCB.
• Any CERB overpayments might be reviewed for repayment.
• Tax reporting was required, as CERB was taxable income.

If your income loss was caused by termination, reduced hours, or a workplace dispute, you may have employment law rights that affect both your severance and government benefits.

When to Speak With an Employment Lawyer

Many people applied for CERB after being laid off, fired, or having their hours reduced — situations where full severance pay may still be owed. Before agreeing to any repayment or signing anything from your employer, it’s vital to understand your rights.

Our employment lawyers at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP have helped thousands of Canadians determine:

• Whether a termination was legal or wrongful dismissal
• Whether they were owed severance
• Whether employer misclassification or contract issues affected their benefits
• How government benefits interact with severance packages

Additional Resources

Learn more about additional benefits available during the pandemic:

• Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
• Canada Emergency Student Benefit
• Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS)
• Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB)