New Sickness & Caregiver Benefits Now Available; Canada Recovery Benefit Available Oct. 12

New Sickness & Caregiver Benefits Now Available; Canada Recovery Benefit Available Oct. 12
 COVID-19
 
 06 October 2020The COVID-19 Response Measures Act (formerly Bill C-4) creates three new temporary recovery benefits of $500 per week for workers unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19. The new benefits include the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), which will replace the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) for workers not eligible for EI benefits now that the CERB has ended, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefits (CRCB). These benefits will be in place for one year beginning September 27, 2020.

Those who qualify will be able to apply through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) for the following benefits as of Monday, October 5:

• A Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit CRCB) of $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household for workers unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, daycares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19, or because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19; and,

• A Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) of $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19, self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19, have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.

These benefits will be paid on a weekly basis, meaning those who qualify will have to reapply each week they are eligible.

Effective October 12, the CRA will open the applications for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), which will provide eligible workers with $500 per week for up to 26 weeks for those who have stopped working and who are not eligible for EI (including self-employed, contract workers or those working in the gig economy), or had their employment/self-employment income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19. This benefit will be paid in two-week periods.  

To support the delivery of these new recovery benefits, the CRA will provide a simple and efficient attestation-based application process similar to the one used to access CERB payments. Eligible individuals will be able to apply for recovery benefits online through the CRA's My Account portal or by phone through the CRA's automated phone lines: 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041.

The CRA is taking steps to implement additional verification and security measures up front, to help ensure that it delivers benefit payments only to individuals who are entitled to receive them. In some cases, individuals will be asked to provide additional information so that their eligibility can be verified before their application is processed.

More information on how Canadians can get ready to apply can be found on the new Canada Recovery Benefits web pages.