What is the Canada Emergency Response Benefit

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit provides temporary income support to workers who have stopped working and are without employment or self-employment income for reasons related to COVID-19.

The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit is paid in blocks of four weeks in the amount of $2,000, which is equivalent to $500 per week. A maximum of 16 weeks of benefits can be paid.

Eligibility

The benefit will be available to workers:

• Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
• Who has stopped working because of COVID-19 and have not voluntarily quit their job;
• Who had an income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and
• Who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period. For subsequent benefit periods, they expect to have no employment income.

The Benefit is only available to individuals who stopped work as a result of reasons related to COVID-19. If you are looking for a job but haven’t stopped working because of COVID-19, you are not eligible for the Benefit.

Where can I apply for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit?

The portal for accessing this new benefit will launch on April 6. Applicants will be able to apply for the benefit retroactively to March 15, 2020.

Pending the launch of the portal, individuals who are without work and are eligible for Employment Insurance can continue to apply for employment insurance.