What you need to know about the new COVID-19 benefits program

The federal government has announced the COVID-19 emergency benefits program, and Canadians can expect payments within weeks.

The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:

    • workers who must stop working due to COVID-19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support
    • workers who are sick, quarantined or taking care of someone who is affected with COVID-19
    • working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures
    • workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work
    • wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will be accessible through a secure web portal starting in early April, and the payments will be processed about 10 days later.

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