For employees with insurable employment, EI is available for job loss, lay off, or reduced hours.

FOR WHOM?

• Those who were employed in insurable employment
• Have lost their job through no fault of their own
• Have been without work and without pay for at least seven consecutive days in the last 52 weeks
• Have worked for the required number of insurable employment hours in the last 52 weeks
• Are ready, willing and capable of working each day
• Are actively looking for work (must keep a written record of employers contacted, including when they were contacted).

BENEFITS

The basic rate for calculating EI benefits is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount. As of January 1, 2020, the maximum insurable earnings amount is $573 per week or $54,2000 per year.

IMPLEMENTATION

The one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits will be waived for new claimants who are quarantined so they can be paid for the first week of their claim. People claiming EI sickness benefits due to quarantine will not have to provide a medical certificate.

HOW TO APPLY

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-sickness.html


REFERENCES

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-regular-benefit/eligibility.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-self-employed-workers.html

If you are not eligible for EI, CERB intended to be simpler and more accessible combination of, the previously announced Emergency Care Benefit and Emergency Support Benefit (replaced by CERB). If you are eligible for EI and for the CERB, you can only choose ONE program.

FOR WHOM?

• Wage earners, self-employed individuals, contract workers who do not qualify for Employment Insurance.
• Those still employed but are not being paid due to insufficient work or employer requested them not to come to work.
• Those who must stop working due to COVID-19 without access to paid leave or other income support.
• Those who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone with COVID-19.
• Working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children due to school closures.
• Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
• Extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their usual seasonal work as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Extend the CERB to workers who recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job or return to work because of COVID-19

BENEFITS

$2,000 a month for up to four months. This amount is taxable until September 2020.

IMPLEMENTATION

• CERB will be paid every four weeks, with the first payment delivered within 3-5 business days of receipt of application for direct deposit or 10 business days by mail.
• Those who are still unemployed will be  migrated to the Employment Insurance (EI) program after September 26, 2020.

HOW TO APPLY

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/apply-for-cerb-with-cra.html

REFERENCE

https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html

Increase in the tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children.

FOR WHOM?

• Parents or individuals who take care of, or have, children under the age of 18
• Parents or individuals who’s child starts to live with, or returns to live with, after a temporary period with someone else
• A person who begins, ends, or changes a shared custody arrangement and gets custody of a child
• You, or your spouse or common-law partner

BENEFITS

The federal government is providing an extra $300 per child through the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for 2019-20. This will mean approximately $550 more for the average family.

IMPLEMENTATION

This benefit will be delivered as part of the scheduled CCB payment in May.

HOW TO APPLY
Those who receive it already do not need to re-apply.

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview/canada-child-benefit-apply.html


REFERENCE

https://www.canada/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/canada-child-benefit-overview/canada-child-benefit-before-you-apply.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/covid19-individuals.html#increasing_canada_child_benefit

A one-time special payment by early May through the Goods and Services Tax (GSTC) credit for low- and modest-income families.

FOR WHOM?

You are generally eligible for the GST/HST credit if you are considered a Canadian resident for income tax purposes the month before and at the beginning of the month in which the Canada Revenue Agency makes a payment. You also need to meet one of the following criteria:

• You are at least 19 years old
• You have (or had) a spouse or common-law partner
• You are (or were) a parent and live (or lived) with your child

BENEFITS

The average additional benefit will be close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples.

IMPLEMENTATION

This benefit will be delivered as part of the scheduled CCB payment in May.

HOW TO APPLY
There is no need to apply for this payment. If you are eligible, you will get it automatically.

REFERENCE

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/gsthstc-eligibility.html

Mortgage payment deferrals can help you during times of financial hardship — like unemployment or reduced employment due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. 

FOR WHOM?

• All customers who are currently in good standing and have been impacted by COVID-19 can apply for mortgage relief from their bank.
• COVID-related mortgage deferral is available for an indefinite period and customers do not face a deadline for having to seek relief.

BENEFITS
A mortgage deferral helps you when you are struggling to make your payments by allowing you to skip your mortgage payment for a specified amount of time.

IMPLEMENTATION
The mortgage deferral agreement does not cancel, erase or eliminate the amount owed on your mortgage. At the end of the agreement, you will have to resume payment according to your regular payment schedule.

HOW TO APPLY
Your lender — your bank or your mortgage professional — can tell you if you are eligible for a mortgage payment deferral.

REFERENCES
https://cba.ca/mortgage-deferral-to-help-canadians-experiencing-financial-hardship-due-to-covid-19

https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/finance-and-investing/mortgage-loan-insurance/the-resource/dealing-with-mortgage-payment-difficulties

Mortgage payment deferrals can help you during times of financial hardship — like unemployment or reduced employment due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. 

FOR WHOM?

• All customers who are currently in good standing and have been impacted by COVID-19 can apply for mortgage relief from their bank.
• COVID-related mortgage deferral is available for an indefinite period and customers do not face a deadline for having to seek relief.

BENEFITS
A mortgage deferral helps you when you are struggling to make your payments by allowing you to skip your mortgage payment for a specified amount of time.

IMPLEMENTATION
The mortgage deferral agreement does not cancel, erase or eliminate the amount owed on your mortgage. At the end of the agreement, you will have to resume payment according to your regular payment schedule.

HOW TO APPLY
Your lender — your bank or your mortgage professional — can tell you if you are eligible for a mortgage payment deferral.

REFERENCES
https://cba.ca/mortgage-deferral-to-help-canadians-experiencing-financial-hardship-due-to-covid-19

https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/finance-and-investing/mortgage-loan-insurance/the-resource/dealing-with-mortgage-payment-difficulties

Effective  September 27, 2020, to provide income support to those who remain unable to work and are eligible, and introducing a new suite of temporary and taxable recovery benefits to further support workers. While the Government prepares for this transition, and to ensure support continues for Canadians whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic, the CERB will be extended by an additional four weeks, providing a new maximum of up to 28 weeks of benefits.

ELIGIBILIY

• 120 hours of work required to qualify

To help Individuals with a minimum of 120 hours of work, EI claimants will receive a one-time insurable hours credit of:

• 300 insurable hours for claims for regular benefits (job loss)
• 480 insurable hours for claims for special benefits (sickness, maternity/parental, compassionate care or family caregiver)

The hours credit will also be made retroactive to March 15, 2020 for claimants who were looking to transition early from the CERB to EI maternity, parental, compassionate care, family caregiver or work-sharing benefits but could not establish their EI claim due to insufficient hours. For these claimants, the qualifying period will also be extended.

BENEFIT

• Minimum benefit rate of $400 per week
• At least 26 weeks of regular benefit

REFERENCE

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/08/supporting-canadians-through-the-next-phase-of-the-economy-re-opening-increased-access-to-ei-and-recovery-benefits.html

Effective  September 27, 2020, to provide income support to those who remain unable to work and are eligible, and introducing a new suite of temporary and taxable recovery benefits to further support workers. While the Government prepares for this transition, and to ensure support continues for Canadians whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic, the CERB will be extended by an additional four weeks, providing a new maximum of up to 28 weeks of benefits.

ELIGIBILIY

• 120 hours of work required to qualify

To help Individuals with a minimum of 120 hours of work, EI claimants will receive a one-time insurable hours credit of:

• 300 insurable hours for claims for regular benefits (job loss)
• 480 insurable hours for claims for special benefits (sickness, maternity/parental, compassionate care or family caregiver)

The hours credit will also be made retroactive to March 15, 2020 for claimants who were looking to transition early from the CERB to EI maternity, parental, compassionate care, family caregiver or work-sharing benefits but could not establish their EI claim due to insufficient hours. For these claimants, the qualifying period will also be extended.

BENEFIT

• Minimum benefit rate of $400 per week
• At least 26 weeks of regular benefit

REFERENCE

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/08/supporting-canadians-through-the-next-phase-of-the-economy-re-opening-increased-access-to-ei-and-recovery-benefits.html

Effective  September 27, 2020, to provide income support to those who remain unable to work and are eligible, and introducing a new suite of temporary and taxable recovery benefits to further support workers. While the Government prepares for this transition, and to ensure support continues for Canadians whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic, the CERB will be extended by an additional four weeks, providing a new maximum of up to 28 weeks of benefits.

ELIGIBILIY

• 120 hours of work required to qualify

To help Individuals with a minimum of 120 hours of work, EI claimants will receive a one-time insurable hours credit of:

• 300 insurable hours for claims for regular benefits (job loss)
• 480 insurable hours for claims for special benefits (sickness, maternity/parental, compassionate care or family caregiver)

The hours credit will also be made retroactive to March 15, 2020 for claimants who were looking to transition early from the CERB to EI maternity, parental, compassionate care, family caregiver or work-sharing benefits but could not establish their EI claim due to insufficient hours. For these claimants, the qualifying period will also be extended.

BENEFIT

• Minimum benefit rate of $400 per week
• At least 26 weeks of regular benefit

REFERENCE

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/08/supporting-canadians-through-the-next-phase-of-the-economy-re-opening-increased-access-to-ei-and-recovery-benefits.html

Effective  September 27, 2020, to provide income support to those who remain unable to work and are eligible, and introducing a new suite of temporary and taxable recovery benefits to further support workers. While the Government prepares for this transition, and to ensure support continues for Canadians whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic, the CERB will be extended by an additional four weeks, providing a new maximum of up to 28 weeks of benefits.

ELIGIBILIY

• 120 hours of work required to qualify

To help Individuals with a minimum of 120 hours of work, EI claimants will receive a one-time insurable hours credit of:

• 300 insurable hours for claims for regular benefits (job loss)
• 480 insurable hours for claims for special benefits (sickness, maternity/parental, compassionate care or family caregiver)

The hours credit will also be made retroactive to March 15, 2020 for claimants who were looking to transition early from the CERB to EI maternity, parental, compassionate care, family caregiver or work-sharing benefits but could not establish their EI claim due to insufficient hours. For these claimants, the qualifying period will also be extended.

BENEFIT

• Minimum benefit rate of $400 per week
• At least 26 weeks of regular benefit

REFERENCE

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/08/supporting-canadians-through-the-next-phase-of-the-economy-re-opening-increased-access-to-ei-and-recovery-benefits.html

Effective  September 27, 2020, to provide income support to those who remain unable to work and are eligible, and introducing a new suite of temporary and taxable recovery benefits to further support workers. While the Government prepares for this transition, and to ensure support continues for Canadians whose employment has been impacted by the pandemic, the CERB will be extended by an additional four weeks, providing a new maximum of up to 28 weeks of benefits.

ELIGIBILIY

• 120 hours of work required to qualify

To help Individuals with a minimum of 120 hours of work, EI claimants will receive a one-time insurable hours credit of:

• 300 insurable hours for claims for regular benefits (job loss)
• 480 insurable hours for claims for special benefits (sickness, maternity/parental, compassionate care or family caregiver)

The hours credit will also be made retroactive to March 15, 2020 for claimants who were looking to transition early from the CERB to EI maternity, parental, compassionate care, family caregiver or work-sharing benefits but could not establish their EI claim due to insufficient hours. For these claimants, the qualifying period will also be extended.

BENEFIT

• Minimum benefit rate of $400 per week
• At least 26 weeks of regular benefit

REFERENCE

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2020/08/supporting-canadians-through-the-next-phase-of-the-economy-re-opening-increased-access-to-ei-and-recovery-benefits.html

The Emergency Community Support Fund is worth $350 million to support communities and non-profit organizations providing COVID-19 assistance.

FOR WHOM?

Organizations providing the following services:

• Increasing volunteer-based home deliveries of groceries and medications.
• Providing transportation services, like accompanying or driving seniors or persons with disabilities to appointments.
• Scaling up help lines that provide information and support.
• Helping vulnerable Canadians access government benefits.
• Providing training, supplies, and other required supports to volunteers so they can continue to make their invaluable contributions to the COVID-19 response.
• Replacing in-person, one-on-one contact and social gatherings with virtual contact through phone calls, texts, teleconferences, or the Internet.

BENEFITS
Details to be announced shortly. 

IMPLEMENTATION
Details to be announced shortly.

HOW TO APPLY
Details to be announced shortly.

REFERENCES
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid19-trudeau-vulnerable-people-supports-1.5538577

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/new-funds-for-covid-19-community-programs-coming-wage-subsidy-launching-april-27-pm-1.4904944

The Emergency Community Support Fund is worth $350 million to support communities and non-profit organizations providing COVID-19 assistance.

FOR WHOM?

Organizations providing the following services:

• Increasing volunteer-based home deliveries of groceries and medications.
• Providing transportation services, like accompanying or driving seniors or persons with disabilities to appointments.
• Scaling up help lines that provide information and support.
• Helping vulnerable Canadians access government benefits.
• Providing training, supplies, and other required supports to volunteers so they can continue to make their invaluable contributions to the COVID-19 response.
• Replacing in-person, one-on-one contact and social gatherings with virtual contact through phone calls, texts, teleconferences, or the Internet.

BENEFITS
Details to be announced shortly. 

IMPLEMENTATION
Details to be announced shortly.

HOW TO APPLY
Details to be announced shortly.

REFERENCES
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid19-trudeau-vulnerable-people-supports-1.5538577

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/new-funds-for-covid-19-community-programs-coming-wage-subsidy-launching-april-27-pm-1.4904944

The Emergency Community Support Fund is worth $350 million to support communities and non-profit organizations providing COVID-19 assistance.

FOR WHOM?

Organizations providing the following services:

• Increasing volunteer-based home deliveries of groceries and medications.
• Providing transportation services, like accompanying or driving seniors or persons with disabilities to appointments.
• Scaling up help lines that provide information and support.
• Helping vulnerable Canadians access government benefits.
• Providing training, supplies, and other required supports to volunteers so they can continue to make their invaluable contributions to the COVID-19 response.
• Replacing in-person, one-on-one contact and social gatherings with virtual contact through phone calls, texts, teleconferences, or the Internet.

BENEFITS
Details to be announced shortly. 

IMPLEMENTATION
Details to be announced shortly.

HOW TO APPLY
Details to be announced shortly.

REFERENCES
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid19-trudeau-vulnerable-people-supports-1.5538577

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/new-funds-for-covid-19-community-programs-coming-wage-subsidy-launching-april-27-pm-1.4904944