Monday, April 6, 2020

The Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is a federal program that provides any worker who is unable to make a living due to the COVID-19 epidemic with a $500 per week temporary income support.

The government intends this benefit to support as many Canadians as possible – including self-employed workers. Being declared an essential service won’t impact your eligibility.

Eligibility requirements

You’re eligible if you:

  • are residing in Canada and are at least 15 years old;
  • have stopped working because of COVID-19 and haven’t voluntarily quit your job;
  • did not apply for, nor receive, CERB or EI benefits from Service Canada for the same eligibility period;
  • had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to your application date; 
  • will not receive income from employment, self-employment, or provincial or federal benefits related to maternity or paternity leave for at least 14 days in a row for the period you’re applying for.

You may be asked for supporting documents later in the application process.

What can I expect when I apply?

To prevent the application system from being overwhelmed, the government set up specific days you can apply based on your birthdate.

If you were born in the month of  Apply for the CERB on 
January, February, or March Mondays
April, May, or June Tuesdays
July, August, or September Wednesdays
October, November, or December  Thursdays
Any month Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

Eligibility is for four-week periods. Your first application covers March 15, 2020 to April 11, 2020. Following this period, you’ll need to reapply every four weeks if you’re still not receiving any income.

You can receive CERB for a maximum of 16 weeks.

Keep in mind that if you receive income during a four-week period, you’ll no longer be eligible for CERB.

How to apply

There are two ways to apply:

Online: You can log in to your CRA My Account on your assigned day to start the process. Your benefit will be paid out through your CRA My Account settings – make sure your information is up to date.

If you don’t have a CRA My Account, register for one.

Phone: You can call 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041. Make sure to have your Social Insurance Number and postal code ready. These payments will be made by direct deposit or cheque, based on the payment method they have on file for you. 

Click here for more information on applying for CERB.