On June 16, 2020, the federal government announced they are extending the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) by eight weeks. This extension will make the benefit available for up to a total of 24 weeks.
CERB is a taxable benefit of $2,000 over a four week period, for workers who have stopped working or whose work hours have been reduced, due to COVID-19. It was originally available for a maximum of 16 weeks.
CERB is available for workers who:
- Live in Canada and are at least 15 years old
- Have stopped working because of reasons related to COVID-19, or are eligible for EI regular or sickness benefits, or have exhausted their EI regular or fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020
- Had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019, or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application
- Have not earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income per benefit period while collecting CERB
- Have not quit their job voluntarily
When submitting a first claim for CERB, people cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days within the four-week benefit period of their claim.
When submitting subsequent claims, people cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for the entire four-week benefit period of their new claim.
Individuals can only receive a maximum of 24 weeks in total within the eligibility period from March 15 to October 3, 2020. However, the 24 weeks do not have to be taken consecutively. People can apply either through Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency, but not both.
More information can be found here.
People living with HIV can call HALCO for legal advice regarding CERB or other issues. People not living with HIV can call their local community legal clinic.