Temporary COVID-19 Recovery Benefits

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if their school, regular program or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they are sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. If you are eligible for the CRCB, your household can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for each 1-week period.

The Federal government is extending the CRCB until November 20, 2021. The government is also proposing a further extension of this benefit until May 7, 2022 with an increase to the maximum number of weeks. The CRCB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

If your situation continues, you will need to apply again. Each household may apply for up to a total of 42 weeks between September 27, 2020 and November 20, 2021. For more information about eligibility and how to apply, visit here.

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. If you are eligible for the CRSB, you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for a 1-week period. 

The CRSB is extending until November 20, 2021. The government is also proposing a further extension of this benefit until May 7, 2022, with an increase to the maximum number of weeks. The CRSB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). 

If your situation continues, you will need to apply again. You may apply for up to a total of 4 weeks between September 27, 2020 and November 20, 2021. To learn more about how to apply and eligibility, visit here.

The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

Depending on when you start applying for the CRB, you can either receive $1,000 ($900 after taxes withheld) or $600 ($540 after taxes withheld) for a 2-week period.

If your situation continues, you will need to apply again. You may apply for up to a total of 27 eligibility periods (54 weeks) between September 27, 2020, and October 23, 2021. Please note, if you are eligible, you can only apply for open CRB periods, up to 60 days after each period has ended. The last period for the CRB is period 28 (October 10 to 23, 2021) which will be open for application until December 22, 2021.

This benefit will be paid in two-week periods. 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 line: 1-800-959-8281. For more information about the application process, visit here.

Please note, the Government of Canada is proposing to introduce legislation for the new Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, which would provide income support to workers whose employment is interrupted by specific government-imposed public health lockdown scenarios and who are unable to work due to such restrictions.

The new benefit would be:

• $300 a week.
• Strictly available to workers whose work interruption is a direct result of a government-imposed public health lockdown.
• Available until May 7, 2022, with retroactive application to October 24, 2021 should the situation warrant it.
• Accessible for the entire duration of a government-imposed public health lockdown (up until May 7, 2022).
• Available to workers who are ineligible for Employment Insurance (EI) and those who are eligible for EI, as long as they are not paid benefits through EI for the same period.

Individuals whose loss of income or employment is due to their refusal to adhere to a vaccine mandate would not be able to access the benefit. Learn more about this proposed legislation here.