During the beginning of COVID-19, the Liberal government took the initiative to help Canadians through a time when working was either limited or completely unavailable by providing a financial benefit for everyone who was eligible.
The Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), provided financial support to employed and self-employed Canadians who were directly affected by COVID-19. If you were eligible, you were able to receive $2,000 for each four-week period.
CERB paid out $81.6 billion to about 8.9 million people during its eligibility period between March and October.
After the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit ended in October, the federal government created new financial benefits to help Canadians who continue to be impacted by COVID-19 and require temporary income support. The three new benefits implemented are the Canada Response Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB).
The response benefit as well as the recovery caregiving benefit provide Canadians with $500 per week for up to 26-weeks when eligible for the requested benefit.
The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) is provided for those who are not employed or self-employed due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) or had their employment/self-employment income reduced by at least 50 per cent due to COVID-19.
The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit is available for caregivers who are unable to work for at least 50 per cent of the week, because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or a 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, as well as being high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.
The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is will provide $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who are unable to work for at least 50 per cent of the week because they contracted COVID-19, self-isolating for reasons related to COVID-19, or have other health conditions, are undergoing treatments, or have contracted other illnesses that would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
This program is expected to provide coverage for the many self-employed and gig economy workers who do not meet the requirements to collect EI benefits and who remain affected by the economic fallout resulting from COVID-19. Â
