COVID-19 EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT & WORK UPDATES

*Updated Oct 8 2020

The headlines:

With the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) scheduled to end on October 3, the Federal government has created three new benefits effective September 27 as well some changes to make EI accessible to a greater number of workers also effective September 27. Information on all of these changes can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html.

The eligibility criteria for Employment Insurance (EI) with the changes are:

were employed for at least 120 insurable hours in the past 52 weeks
received the CERB, the 52 week period to accumulate insured hours will be extended
stopped working through no fault of your own
have not quit your job voluntarily
are ready, willing and capable of working each day (EI regular benefits)
are temporarily unable to work while you care for someone else or yourself (EI maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care, and family caregiver benefits)

You can apply for EI online. To access EI services on the phone call 1-833-381-2725 (toll-free).

The details:

Employment Insurance (EI) Changes and Three New Post-CERB benefits Expected to Take Effect September 27 2020. The three new benefits are:

The Canada Response Benefit (CRB), which provides $400 per week for up to 26 weeks for self-employed individuals needing income support, or to workers who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI). The eligibility criteria are:

are not eligible for EI
reside in Canada
are at least 15 years old and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
have stopped working due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are available and looking for work; or are working and have had a reduction in their employment/self-employment income for reasons related to COVID-19
had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020
have not quit your job voluntarily

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), which provides $500 per week for up to two weeks for workers who cannot work because they are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19. The eligibility criteria are:

reside in Canada
are at least 15 years old and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020
have been unable to work for at least 60% of their normally scheduled work within a given week because of being sick or required to self-isolate for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
are not in receipt of paid leave from an employer in respect of the same week
are not in receipt of the CERB, the EI Emergency Response Benefit (ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits in respect of the same week.

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), which provides $500 per week, for up to 26 weeks per household to eligible workers who cannot work because they must provide care to children or family members due to the closure of schools, day cares, or care facilities. The eligibility criteria are:

reside in Canada
are at least 15 years of age and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN);
have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020
have been unable to work for at least 60% of their normally scheduled work within a given week because of one of the following conditions:
- must take care of a child who is under 12 years of age on the first day of the period for which the benefit is claimed:
  - because their school or daycare is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  - who cannot attend school or daycare under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19
  - because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- must provide care to a family member with a disability or a dependent:
  - because their day program or care facility is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to COVID-19
  - who cannot attend their day program or care facility under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19; or
  - because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- are not in receipt of paid leave from an employer in respect of the same week
- are not in in receipt of the CERB, the EI Emergency Response Benefit (ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits in respect of the same week

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) Ending. Last Day to Apply For Retro December 2nd 2020
The CERB was an assistance program launched by Canada’s federal government to assist workers who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19. While the last day for which workers could get CERB was October 3, 2020, it is still possible to apply for retroactive CERB payments until December 2, 2020.

Under the CERB, people can receive up to $500 per week/ $2000 per month for a maximum of 28 weeks. CERB is scheduled to end on October 3, 2020. This program is designed to be easy to access through the Canada Revenue Agency or Service Canada.
If you are on OW and ODSP, you may be eligible to receive the CERB if:

you earned $5000 in income from work, self-employment, or federal or provincial benefits from maternity or parental leave in 2019, or in the twelve months before you applied for the CERB
you stopped working because of COVID-19
you did not apply for EI for the same period you are applying for CERB
you did not quit your job voluntarily
when submitting your first claim, for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week payment period, you do not expect to receive more than $1,000 (before taxes) from employment and self-employment income
you received EI for at least one week since December 29, 2019 and your EI has run out.