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Canada Recovery Benefits (CRB) – FAQ
(update: September 15th, 2021)
We will keep a copy of last CRB update from Canada.ca site to keep the government accountable for their announcement.

 

 

Eligibility

Why are the Recovery Benefits replacing the Canada Emergency Response Benefit?

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) was an important and necessary temporary response to support Canadians who stopped working because of COVID-19.

The CERB covered 3 broad circumstances where individuals would have had to stop working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including:

  • their job not being available
  • being sick, quarantined, or in self-isolation, or
  • having to care for a child or other family member requiring supervised care whose normal care facility was closed due to COVID or was sick with COVID-19

As we safely restart Canada’s economy, the Government is transitioning most Canadians who still cannot work to a simplified Employment Insurance program, effective September 27, 2020.

For those who are not eligible to receive EI regular benefits, such as the self-employed, or those experiencing a reduction in income of at least 50% due to COVID-19, the Government has introduced the Canada Recovery Benefit. This temporary benefit provides up to 54 weeks of income support between September 27, 2020 and October 23, 2021. The first 42 weeks are paid at $500 per week (taxable), and the remaining 12 weeks are paid at $300 per week (taxable). All new Canada Recovery Benefit recipients on or after July 18, 2021 will also receive a rate of $300 per week. To be eligible for the Benefit, you must be available and looking for work and must accept work, when it is reasonable to do so.

The Government has also introduced the temporary Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

These 3 Recovery benefits ensure Canadians continue to have access to much needed tailored support similar to the CERB.

Can I receive the Recovery Benefits if I am not a citizen or a permanent resident?

Yes, as long as you are residing and present in Canada during the period for which you are claiming the benefits and meet the other eligibility criteria.

Can I receive the Recovery Benefits if I am a citizen of Canada but living abroad temporarily and couldn’t get home once the pandemic started?

No.

To be eligible for the Recovery Benefits, you must be residing and present in Canada during the period for which you claim the benefits.

Access

When can I access the Recovery Benefits?

Unlike the CERB and CESB, the recovery benefit periods are retroactive. This means that applicants can only apply for a recovery benefit after the period for which they’re applying has ended. In addition, applicants must apply within 60 days after the period for which they are applying has ended.

The CRA launched the application process for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) on October 5, 2020.

Applications for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) started October 12, 2020.

How do I apply for the Recovery Benefits?

The best way to apply for any of the recovery benefits is online, via My Account. However, Canadians who do not have access to the internet can apply using the CRA’s automated bilingual toll-free phone lines: 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041.

To get more information on how to apply for the recovery benefits visit the Transitioning to new benefits web page.

Can I get more than one of the Recovery Benefits for the same period?

No.

You cannot claim more than one of the Recovery Benefits for the same period.

You may also not get the Recovery Benefits if you are getting Employment Insurance benefits, provincial maternity or parental benefits, or any other paid leave for the same period.

Can I get more than one of the Recovery Benefits between September 27, 2020 and October 23, 2021?

Yes, as long as you meet the relevant eligibility criteria.

However, you cannot claim more than one of the Recovery Benefits for the same period.

You may also not get the Recovery Benefits if you are getting Employment Insurance benefits, provincial maternity or parental benefits, or any other paid leave for the same period.

Can I access any EI benefits while receiving the Recovery Benefits?

No.

You cannot get the Recovery Benefits at the same time you are getting any Employment Insurance Benefits, provincial maternity or parental benefits, or any other paid leave.

What happens if I am expecting to exhaust my 50 weeks of the Canada Recovery Benefit by September 11, 2021?

The government has approved increases in the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), extending the maximum duration from 50 weeks to up to 54 weeks. The number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) remains at 42 weeks and the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) remains at 4 weeks.

Payment

When will I start receiving the Recovery Benefits? Will I get it as soon as I exhaust my CERB benefits?

The CRA launched the application process for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) on October 5, 2020. Applications for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) began being accepted starting October 12, 2020.

Similar to Employment Insurance, these benefits will be paid on an arrears basis which mean CERB clients will be switching from being paid in advance of the period where you are unable to work to paying you after the period you could not work. With this switch, you will experience a break in payments. The length of the break will depend on which Benefit is being applied for and for what period.

Why is payment changing to arrears when the CERB was paid in advance for anticipated time unable to work?

The Recovery Benefits will be paid following the period where you were not working, to allow you to attest to the fact that you were unable to work for the time for which you are claiming the Benefit. This is consistent with how the Employment Insurance Benefits are administered. This will help ensure that people are getting the Benefits for a period for which they are entitled, and avoid the need to repay benefits if they apply but then are able to work.

How long do I have to apply for one of the Recovery Benefits after my period of not working?

The Recovery Benefits are available between September 27, 2020 and October 23, 2021.

You must apply within 60 days after the period for which you are applying has ended.

For example, if you couldn’t work due to COVID-19 for the 2-week period between August 15 and August 28, 2021, you could apply for this 2-week period until October 27, 2021.

Once I receive my first payment, can I assume that I will continue to receive my next payments without doing anything?

No, the renewal of payments will not be automatic.

A new application must be submitted for each eligibility period as you need to attest you were unable to work.

Taxation

What does “income tax withheld at source” mean?

“Income tax withheld at source” means that some of the benefit amount will be withheld by the Canada Revenue Agency before you get your payment, which will be credited against any income tax you need to pay for the year.

This helps avoid a large unexpected tax bill at the end of the year.

No such deductions at source were applied to the CERB, to ensure that Canadians who required support received the maximum amount when they needed it. Individuals need to include the CERB payments they received on their 2020 tax returns, and could be subject to tax, depending on their overall income for the year.

How will you decide my taxes?

The Canada Revenue Agency will apply a flat 10% deduction at source for the Recovery Benefits.

What should I expect when I file my taxes?

Both the CERB and the Recovery Benefits are taxable. At the end of the year, the Canada Revenue Agency will calculate the amount of tax you owe based on your total income including both the amounts received for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Recovery Benefit.

With respect to the clawback for the Canada Recovery Benefit, you will be required to repay $0.50 of the Benefit for every dollar in net income you earn above $38,000 (excluding the amount received for the Canada Recovery Benefit) to a maximum repayment of the Canada Recovery Benefit received in the year. Amounts repaid will not be included in your taxable income. This will be reconciled on your T1 tax return and the repayment will be incorporated in your total payable.

International travel

How is eligibility being changed for the 3 recovery benefits?

The 3 Canada Recovery Benefits were created to provide income support to eligible workers who are unable to work for COVID-19 reasons. They were never intended to provide support to Canadians who travel internationally and are then required to quarantine as a result.

The Government of Canada has changed eligibility rules so that international travelers who are required to quarantine upon their return to Canada will not be eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit or the Canada Recovery Benefit during the period of their quarantine. These changes are retroactive to October 2, 2020.

Once they have served the mandatory quarantine period, individuals would be able to claim the recovery benefits for subsequent periods if they meet the eligibility criteria.

How will the Government know I am in a mandatory quarantine period?

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) updated the application process for the 3 recovery benefits on Monday, January 11. For claims covering a period beginning on or after October 2, 2020, applicants will need to indicate whether they were self-isolating or in quarantine due to international travel.

When does this change come into effect?

The legislation to amend the Canada Recovery Benefits Act came into effect retroactively on October 2, 2020.

How do I know if I have to quarantine and am impacted by these changes?

These changes apply to all international travelers who, on or after October 2, 2020, are required to quarantine when they return to Canada.

However, you may be eligible for one of the 3 recovery benefits if:

  • you travelled for medical treatment certified by a medical practitioner
  • you accompanied a person who is incapable of travelling without assistance of an attendant to receive a medical treatment certified by a medical practitioner
  • you are an essential worker who travelled for reasons normally exempt from quarantine when you return to Canada (such as health care workers or truck drivers who need to cross the border for work) but were required to this time

Information on travelers who are required to quarantine and travelers who are exempt can be found here: Mandatory quarantine or isolation.

I am exempt from the mandatory quarantine, but subsequently fell ill with COVID-19 or had to self-isolate. Am I eligible to claim the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit?

If you are exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements, you may be eligible to claim the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit. You would need to meet the other eligibility criteria to receive the benefit.

I am exempt from the mandatory quarantine, but subsequently am unable to work at least 50% of my normally scheduled hours because I have to care for my children who are required by the government to home school. Am I eligible to claim the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit?

If you are exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements, you may be eligible to claim the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit. You would need to meet the other eligibility criteria to receive the benefit.

I returned from international travel and began serving the mandatory quarantine prior to October 2, 2020. Am I eligible for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit?

You are not entitled to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit for the period of your quarantine that falls after October 2, 2020. However, if you meet the other eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to the benefit during the period of your quarantine that falls before October 2, 2020.

If I am unable to work due to a COVID-19 reason after my mandatory quarantine period, will I be able to access the recovery benefits?

The eligibility restrictions for international travelers who need to quarantine only apply for the period during which they have to quarantine.

For example, if a person is unable to work due to COVID-19 after their quarantine period ends and meets the eligibility criteria for one of the 3 recovery benefits, they could be eligible to receive that benefit.

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

Eligibility

Who is eligible for the Canada Recovery Benefit?

The Canada Recovery Benefit will be available to residents who are present in Canada for the 2 weeks in which they are applying for the Benefit and:

  • are at least 15 years of age on the first day of the period which they are applying for the Benefit
  • have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • are not eligible for Employment Insurance
  • are not employed or self-employed due to the COVID-19 pandemic or are working and have had a reduction of at least 50 per cent in their employment/self-employment income for reasons related to COVID-19
  • are available and looking for work and who must accept work where it is reasonable to do so
  • had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020, or in the 12-month period prior to their first application for the Canada Recovery Benefit
    • if your EI claim began on or after September 27, 2020 and you have exhausted your EI benefits, you may include your regular and special benefits in the $5,000 of income
  • have not quit their job voluntarily, unless it was reasonable to do so, and
  • have not rejected a reasonable job offer, rejected a request to resume work or failed to resume work if self-employed where reasonable to do so

You must apply after every 2 week period for which they are seeking income support and attest that you continue to meet the requirements.

To encourage people to work, you can earn income from employment and/or self-employment while receiving the Benefit, as long as you continue to meet the other requirements.

However, to ensure that the Benefit targets those who need it most, you will need to repay through your income tax return $0.50 of Benefit for every dollar of net income earned above an annual net income of $38,000 (excluding the amount received for the Canada Recovery Benefit), up to the total of the Canada Recovery Benefit you received in a calendar year. Amounts repaid will not be included in your taxable income.

How do I know whether to apply for EI benefits or the Canada Recovery Benefit?

If you have paid EI premiums as an employee and have accumulated the required number of hours of insurable employment, you may be eligible for Employment Insurance Benefits and should apply. To determine your EI eligibility, you should make an EI claim before applying for the CRB (See EI regular benefits: Apply).

If you don’t have the minimum number of hours, you may be eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Benefit, if you meet the eligibility criteria.

For how many weeks can I receive the Canada Recovery Benefit?

The Canada Recovery Benefit is available for up to 54 weeks between September 27, 2020 and October 23, 2021.

I am currently employed but I am being asked by my employer to work reduced work hours. Am I eligible for the Canada Recovery Benefit?

You may be eligible for the Canada Recovery Benefit if you have suffered a reduction in income of 50% or more due to COVID-19, and you meet all other eligibility criteria.

Can I get the Canada Recovery Benefit if I quit my job? What if I had a good reason to quit, such as harassment or unsafe working conditions?

If you quit your job or stop working after September 27, 2020 and it was not reasonable to do so, you will no longer be eligible to receive any support through the Canada Recovery Benefit.

What constitutes a reduction in income when compared to pre-COVID times? Does a $1 reduction count?

To be eligible for the Canada Recovery Benefit while still working, you must have suffered a reduction in average weekly income of at least 50% relative to pre-pandemic levels.

A loss of income is defined as a reduction in total average employment and self-employment income for the 2-week benefit period compared to your average employment income for a 2-week period the previous year.

Self-employment income is revenue from the self-employment less expenses incurred to earn that revenue.

Please visit the application page to learn how to calculate the 50% reduction in income: Canada Recovery Benefit Application.

Can I receive the Canada Recovery Benefit if my job is still there but I don’t feel comfortable going to work as a result of risk associated with COVID-19?

No.

You should talk to your employer if you are worried about the safety of your working conditions.

  • If you work in a federally-regulated workplace, you may wish to consult your workplace health and safety committee or health and safety representative as well as the document Right to refuse dangerous work
  • Otherwise, you may wish to consult the website for the department of labour in your province or territory for more information on your rights and the process you should follow
  • The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety is another possible resource

You can’t receive the Canada Recovery Benefit if you have voluntarily quit your job or stopped working after you first applied for the Benefit, unless it was reasonable to do so.

You also cannot get the Benefit if you do not return to work when:

  • it was reasonable to do so if your employer had made a request
  • you declined a reasonable offer to work that would have started in the eligibility period

If you quit your job or stop working after September 27, 2020 and it was not reasonable to do so, you will no longer be eligible to receive any support through the Canada Recovery Benefit.

If you decline to return to work after you first received the Benefit and it was not reasonable to do so, the amount of time you can receive the Benefit will be reduced by 10 weeks. You must also wait 10 weeks before you can re-apply. If you refuse work again, you will face the penalty again.

Is having someone at home with a compromised immune system considered a reasonable reason to not work?

No.

Your employer must provide you with a safe work environment. Therefore, you are encouraged to discuss your concerns with your employer to find an approach that works.

Am I eligible for the CRB if I have exhausted my EI benefits? New

If you have exhausted your EI benefits and are no longer eligible for EI, you may be eligible for the CRB if you meet the eligibility criteria.  (See Who can apply: Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)).  However, if you have worked while on your EI claim, you may be able to establish a new EI claim.  To determine your EI eligibility, you should make an EI claim before applying for the CRB (See EI regular benefits: Apply).

Seasonal worker

I am a seasonal worker but I was not able to work my usual number of hours because of the pandemic, so I do not qualify for EI. Am I eligible for the Canada Recovery Benefit?

If you are not eligible for Employment Insurance and are not employed or self-employed due to the COVID-19 pandemic or are working and have had a reduction of at least 50 per cent in your employment/self-employment income for reasons related to COVID-19, you could be eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Benefit, as long as you meet all the other eligibility criteria.

This includes having earned at least $5,000 from employment or self-employment in the previous calendar year or the 12 months prior to your first application for the Canada Recovery Benefit. You will be required to repay $0.50 for every dollar in net income you earn above $38,000 (excluding the amount received for the Canada Recovery Benefit) until you have repaid the full amount of the Canada Recovery Benefit you received. Amounts repaid will not be included in your taxable income.

Senior

I am a senior collecting a pension but supplementing with part-time work – am I eligible for the Canada Recovery Benefit?

If you are not eligible for Employment Insurance and are not employed or self-employed due to the COVID-19 pandemic or are working and have had a reduction of at least 50 per cent in your employment/self-employment income for reasons related to COVID-19, you could be eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Benefit, as long as you meet all the other eligibility criteria.

This includes having earned at least $5,000 from employment or self-employment in the previous calendar year or the 12 months prior to your first application for the Canada Recovery Benefit. You will be required to repay $0.50 for every dollar in net income you earn above $38,000 (excluding the amount received for the Canada Recovery Benefit) until you have repaid the full amount of the Canada Recovery Benefit you received. Amounts repaid will not be included in your taxable income.

Income

What constitutes the $5,000 in eligible employment/self employment income?

The $5,000 includes all employment and self-employment income. Employment income includes: tips you have declared as income; non-eligible dividends; honoraria (for example, nominal amounts paid to emergency service volunteers); and royalties (for example, paid to artists). Self-employment income is revenue from the self-employment less expenses incurred to earn that revenue.

You may also include maternity and parental benefits you received from the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan. In addition, you may include regular and special benefits you received from the Employment Insurance program if your claim began on or after September 27, 2020 and you have exhausted your EI benefits.

Pensions, student loans and bursaries are not considered employment income and should not be included.

I entered the labour force late in 2019 so was not able to earn $5,000, but I would have been able to earn that much in 2020 if I hadn’t lost my job due to COVID. Do I qualify for the Canada Recovery Benefit?

No.

To be eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Benefit, you must have had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020, or in the 12-month period prior to your first application for the CRB.

If I am in receipt of dividends, am I eligible for the Canada Recovery Benefit?

To be eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Benefit, you must have had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020, or in the 12-month period prior to your first application for the CRB.

The $5,000 includes all employment and self-employment income, including non-eligible dividends.

Non-eligible dividends are generally those paid out of corporate income taxed at the small business rate.

If I am paid income after applying for the Canada Recovery Benefit for work undertaken previously, does it impact my ability to get the Benefit?

You may earn income from employment and/or self-employment while receiving the Canada Recovery Benefit, as long as you continue to meet the other requirements. This includes earning 50% or less of your previous income for a 2-week period due to COVID-19.

However, you will be required to repay $0.50 of the Benefit for every dollar in net income you earn above $38,000 for the year (excluding the amount received for the Canada Recovery Benefit). This would include income earned in the same tax year as the Canada Recovery Benefit is received.

Am I going to be financially impacted twice when I file my 2020 taxes – once for the taxes I owe for the CERB and once for any amount earned over $38,000?

At the end of the year, the Canada Revenue Agency will calculate the amount of tax you owe based on your total income including both the amounts received for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Recovery Benefit.

With respect to the clawback for the Canada Recovery Benefit, you will be required to repay $0.50 of the Benefit for every dollar in net income you earn above $38,000 (excluding the amount received for the Canada Recovery Benefit) to a maximum repayment of the Canada Recovery Benefit received in the year. Amounts repaid will not be included in your taxable income. This will be reconciled on your T1 tax return and the repayment will be incorporated in your total payable.

Benefit amount

How much will I receive on the Canada Recovery Benefit?

The first 42 weeks of benefits is paid at $500 per week (taxable, tax deducted at source) and the remaining 12 weeks will be paid at a rate of $300 per week (taxable, tax deducted at source). All new Canada Recovery Benefit recipients on or after July 18, 2021 will also receive $300 per week.

Seeking work

How do I prove I have been seeking work?

Consistent with the EI Program, you will be required to attest every 2 weeks that you have been actively looking for work and did not decline reasonable work opportunities.

What constitutes “when reasonable”?

The Government recognizes that each individual circumstance is unique.

Requiring that individuals seek and accept work when it is reasonable to do so reflects the expectation that individuals return to work as soon as possible, while allowing them to exercise sound judgement about their personal safety and that of their families, and the extent to which the work opportunity reasonably responds to their circumstances.

If I was working full time but can now only find part-time employment at a lower salary, does that constitute “when reasonable”? Do I have to accept the job?

The Government recognizes that each individual circumstance is unique.

Requiring that individuals seek and accept work when it is reasonable to do so reflects the expectation that individuals return to work as soon as possible, while allowing them to exercise sound judgement about their personal safety and that of their families, and the extent to which the work opportunity reasonably responds to their circumstances.

For example, accepting part-time work may be reasonable if it is with your previous employer at the same or similar pay, with the possibility to work more hours in the future. However, if the part-time work is not related to your skill set and offers a much lower salary, you could have reasonable grounds to refuse it.

The Canada Recovery Benefit is also available to individuals who have had at least a 50% reduction in income due to COVID-19, which means even if you accept a job with a lower salary you may still be eligible for the Benefit.

My employer has promised to hire me back as soon as they are able. Do I have to look for and accept other work, knowing that I have a guaranteed job?

Yes.

To be eligible for the Canada Recovery Benefit, you will be required to attest every 2 weeks that you are actively seeking work and did not decline reasonable work.

However, there could be circumstances where you could have reasonable grounds to turn down work. For example, if your previous employer has made you a firm offer to return to work in the near future (for example, within a few weeks), you may have reasonable grounds to refuse other work offers.

Clawback

What constitutes the $38,000 in net income I am allowed to earn before I become subject to the repayment requirement?

You are allowed to earn up to $38,000 in net income (excluding the amount received for the Canada Recovery Benefit), before becoming subject to the repayment provision.

What do you mean by net income? What does this include?

Net income refers to your income as identified on line 23600 of your income tax and benefit return.

For the purpose of the Canada Recovery Benefit this includes all income earned from any source for which you would pay income tax, with the exception of benefits received for the Canada Recovery Benefit, payments from a registered disability plan, money received for the Canada Child Benefit and GST/HST credit.

More information on non-taxable amounts as income can be found online.

What happens if I have net income over $38,000 in the tax year? How will the clawback of Canada Recovery Benefits occur?

Individuals who receive the Canada Recovery Benefit will need to repay some or all of the benefit through their income tax return if their annual net income, excluding the Canada Recovery Benefit payment, is over $38,000. In other words, you would need to repay $0.50 of the Benefit for each dollar of your annual net income above $38,000 in the calendar year to a maximum of the amount of benefit you received.

This will be reconciled when you file your taxes for that calendar year.

How will the clawback be calculated if I collect the Canada Recovery Benefit beginning in 2020 into 2021 (a new calendar year)? Do I get to earn up to $38,000 twice – once per calendar year?

Yes.

You can receive net income up to $38,000 in each calendar year (excluding the amount received for the Canada Recovery Benefit) before you will be subject to repayment of the Canada Recovery Benefit for that same year.

How will the clawback be calculated if I am self-employed and do not draw income from my business but rather rely on dividends?

The Canada Recovery Benefit repayment will kick in when your net income for the year (excluding Canada Recovery Benefit payments) is more than $38,000 for the year in which the benefits were received.

Taxable dividend amounts received in the year will be included in determining if the recipient’s net income exceeds this threshold.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

Eligibility

Who is eligible for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit?

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit will be available to residents in Canada who are present in Canada for the week in which they are applying for the Benefit and:

  • were at least 15 years of age on the first day of the period
  • have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
  • have a total income of at least $5,000 for 2019, 2020, or in the 12-month period preceding the day on which they make their first application for this benefit, from 1 or more of the following sources:
    • employment income
    • self-employment income, or
    • employment Insurance (EI) maternity or parental benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits
  • were unable to work for at least 50% of the time they would have otherwise worked or devoted to their work because:
    • they had or might have had COVID-19
    • they self-isolated on the advice of their employer, a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government, or public health authority for any reason related to COVID-19, or
    • they have an underlying condition 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
  • were not self-isolating or in quarantine due to international travel. Exceptions: This does not apply to you if you were isolating because:
    • you travelled for medical treatment certified by a medical practitioner
    • you accompanied a person who is incapable of travelling without assistance of an attendant to receive a medical treatment certified by a medical practitioner
    • you are an essential worker who travelled for reasons normally exempt from quarantine when you return to Canada (such as health care workers or truck drivers who need to cross the border for work) but were required to this time
  • was not in receipt of paid leave from an employer, and
  • was not in receipt of the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB), short-term disability benefits, any Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits

Individuals are not required to have a medical certificate to qualify for the benefit.

For how many weeks can I receive the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit?

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is available for a maximum of 4 weeks within the period from September 27, 2020 to October 23, 2021.

The Benefit may be taken in 4 one-week periods.

Do I have to use up any other sick leave I have before I can apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit?

No.

You may apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit even if you have access to other paid sick leave through your employer, the Employment Insurance program, private insurance or another source.

However, you may not claim the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit for the same period in which you are receiving any EI benefits or another form of paid leave.

Why is the Sickness benefit restricted only to COVID-related sick leave?

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is available to ensure that eligible workers who are unable to work because they are sick, under quarantine, must self-isolate due to COVID-19 or are more susceptible to COVID-19 due to an underlying condition, have access to up to 4 weeks of income support so that they can take time off from work and avoid putting themselves or others in the community at risk. This delivers on the Government of Canada’s commitment as part of the Safe Restart Agreement with provinces and territories.

In addition to the availability of the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, through temporary changes to the Employment Insurance program, workers will require only 120 hours of insurable employment to qualify for EI sickness benefits between September 27, 2020 and October 23, 2021. If eligible, these benefits can be used for illnesses including but not limited to COVID-19.

People can get infected with COVID more than once – if I have used up my 4 weeks, can I reapply for additional weeks if I get COVID again?

No.

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is available for up to 4 weeks, which may be taken in 4 one-week periods between September 27, 2020 and October 23, 2021.

Am I eligible for the Benefit if I have to self-isolate but am able to work from home?

No.

To be eligible for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, you must have a minimum 50% reduction in scheduled work per week as a result of illness and/or quarantine related to COVID-19.

If you are able to work from home for more than 50% of your scheduled work per week you will not be eligible.

Can I receive the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit if I choose to stay home to avoid catching COVID-19 but was not advised to do so by a medical professional?

No.

You are eligible for up to 4 weeks of the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit if you are either sick with COVID-19, have been directed to self-quarantine by your employer, a medical practitioner, a nurse practitioner, a person in authority, a government or a public health authority for reasons related to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions that in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority would make you more susceptible to COVID-19

If I am advised by person in authority to stay home to avoid catching COVID-19, can I receive the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit?

Yes.

You are eligible for up to 4 weeks of the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit if you are either sick with COVID-19, have been directed to self-quarantine by your employer, a medical practitioner, a nurse practitioner, a person in authority, a government or a public health authority for reasons related to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions that in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority would make you more susceptible to COVID-19

I already received CRSB for 2 weeks in the fall of 2020, the maximum number of weeks available at that time. I was also sick for a week due to COVID at the end of January 2021. Can I apply retroactively?

Yes, but you must apply for that week within 60 days from the beginning of the last week in which you were working and stopped working due to COVID-19. Effective March 15, 2021, the maximum number of weeks that can be claimed under the CRSB has increased from 2 weeks to 4 weeks. Retroactive applications within 60 days can be requested on the CRSB website.

Access

Am I required to provide a doctor’s note to access the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit?

No.

You are not required to have a medical certificate to qualify for the benefit, as long as you meet all eligibility criteria.

If I work shift work, how do I calculate the 50% reduction in my work week?

To qualify for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, you must be unable to work at least 50% of their normal work schedule because you are sick, quarantined or have been directed to self-isolate due to COVID-19.

For example, if you normally work 35 hours per week, you would be eligible if you can only work 17.5 or fewer hours.

Why do I have to use a full week’s worth of Benefit if I am only required to isolate myself for 2 or 3 days, for example while waiting for test results?

The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is a temporary income support program to enable workers to stay home if they are unable to work because they are sick or potentially exposed to COVID-19 or at greater risk if exposed to COVID-19. The Government has put the emphasis on providing quick and direct access, which has required a simplified approach to delivery of the benefit. As a result, it is not possible to provide the benefit for periods of less than a week.

If I am sick for reasons related to COVID-19, should I apply for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit or Employment Insurance (EI) Sickness benefits?

If you are sick or must self-isolate due to COVID-19 and are eligible for both Employment Insurance sickness benefits and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, you can choose which benefit you want to claim.

However, you can’t get both EI sickness benefits and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit for the same period.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

Eligibility

Who is eligible for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit?

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit will be available to residents in Canada who are present in Canada for the week in which they are applying for the Benefit and who:

  • are at least 15 years of age on the first day of the period
  • have a valid Social Insurance Number
  • had a total income of at least $5,000 for 2019, 2020, or in the 12-month period preceding the day on which they make my first application for this benefit, from 1 or more of the following sources:
    • employment income
    • self-employment income, or
    • Employment Insurance (EI) maternity or parental benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits
  • was unable to work for at least 50% the time they would have otherwise worked or devoted to their work because of 1 of the following reasons:
    • had to take care of a child who was under 12 years of age on the first day of the period for which they are applying because:
      • their school or other facility that they normally attended was closed, open only certain times, or open only for certain children for reasons related to COVID-19
      • they could not attend school or other facility that they normally attend under the advice of a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner who is of the opinion that the child would be at high risk of having serious health complications if they contract COVID-19
      • they were in isolation on the advice of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority for reasons related to COVID-19
      • they contracted or might have contracted COVID-19, or
      • the individual who usually provided care for the child was not available for reasons related to COVID-19
    • had to provide care to a family member who requires supervised care because:
      • their day program or facility that they normally attended was closed, open only certain times, or open only for a certain persons for reasons related to COVID-19
      • they could not attend the day program or other facility that they normally attend under the advice of a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner who is of the opinion that the family member would be at high risk of having serious health complications if they contract COVID-19
      • they were in isolation on the advice of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority for reasons related to COVID-19
      • they contracted or might have contracted COVID-19, or
      • the care services that are normally provided to the family member at their normal place of residence were not available for reasons related to COVID-19
  • are the only individual from their household claiming the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit
  • are not applying for a week that would exceed the 42-week maximum per household
  • was not in receipt of paid leave from an employer
  • was not in receipt of the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), short-term disability benefits, any Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits
For how many weeks can I receive the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit?

Each household can receive up to 42 weeks of benefits within the period of September 27, 2020 and October 23, 2021.

You may share the 42 weeks with other caregivers who live in the same house, as long as only 1 of you is claiming the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit for any given period. No matter how many people in the same house claim the Benefit, together you cannot get more than 42 weeks in total in the period from September 27, 2020 to October 23, 2021.

Do I need to use up all my vacation and/or any other types of leave I have before I can apply for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit?

No.

You do not have to use all other leave before applying for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

You cannot receive the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit for the same period in which you are getting any other paid benefits, including EI Benefits or paid leave.

Am I eligible if my child’s school is open but I choose not to send them back as I don’t feel it is safe?

No.

If you choose to stay home to care for your children if the childcare centre/school is open, you are not eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

An exception is where the child would, in the opinion of a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner, be at risk of having serious health complications if the child contracted COVID-19. In this situation, you would be eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, you must have a minimum 50% reduction in scheduled work per week and the childcare centres/schools must be closed or not available to them due to COVID-19 or the child must be sick and/or directed to quarantine by a medical professional.

Am I eligible if my child’s school is open but I choose not to send them back because we have family members who are immuno-compromised?

No.

If you choose to keep your children at home if the childcare centre/school is open to them, you are not eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit.

An exception is where the child would, in the opinion of a medical practitioner or nurse practitioner, be at risk of having serious health complications if the child contracted COVID-19. In this situation, you would be eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria.

Am I eligible if my child is over the age of 12?

No.

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit is only available to those providing care for children under the age of 12.

Situations may exist where a child over the age of 12 has unique needs that mean they cannot stay alone and require special supervised care while you are working.  If that care is not available due to COVID-19, you may be eligible for the Benefit.

Am I eligible for the Benefit if I have to provide care but am able to work from home at the same time?

No.

To be eligible for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, you must have a minimum 50% reduction in scheduled work per week.

My child’s school is open but they only attend part-time, and study from home the rest of the time, so I have to be there to care for them. Am I eligible?

To be eligible for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, you must have a minimum 50% reduction in scheduled work per week because the childcare centres/schools must be closed or not available to them due to COVID-19 or the child must be sick and/or directed to quarantine by a medical professional.

Access

What evidence will I be required to provide to prove that alternate care arrangements are not available?

Eligibility for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit is attestation based. It will be up to you to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria.

You may be asked to provide supporting documentation at the time of application or at a later date.

Can my partner and I living in the same household take the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit at the same time if we both stay home from work? What if we are separated and share custody?

Only 1 individual in a household may receive the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit at any 1 point in time.

You could share the maximum number of weeks with your partner. However, in total, the household is only eligible for a total of 42 weeks within the period from September 27, 2020 to October 23, 2021.

In the case of shared custody, an individual in another household is also eligible for a maximum of 42 weeks as the maximum duration is determined by household, not by the individual requiring care.

Can I apply for other EI benefits while receiving the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit?

No.

You cannot receive the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit for the same period in which you are getting any other paid benefits, including EI Benefits or paid leave.

What if my partner and I need to stay home for different reasons – for example I am taking care of our child/children while my partner takes care of elderly parents – can we both get the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit?

No.

Only 1 individual in a household may receive the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit at any 1 point in time.

You could share the maximum number of weeks with your partner. However, in total, the household is only eligible for a total of 42 weeks within the period from September 27, 2020 to October 23, 2021.

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