Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) – FAQ
(last update: December 24th, 2021)
The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) is extending until May 7, 2022. The maximum number of weeks you can apply for also increases to 44 weeks.
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, 2021, 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
- 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:
- are the only individual from their household claiming the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit
- are not applying for a week that would exceed the 44-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 44 weeks of benefits within the period of September 27, 2020 and May 7, 2022.
You may share the 44 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 44 weeks in total in the period from September 27, 2020 to May 7, 2022.
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.
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 44 weeks within the period from September 27, 2020 to May 7, 2022.
In the case of shared custody, an individual in another household is also eligible for a maximum of 44 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 44 weeks within the period from September 27, 2020 to May 7, 2022.
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