CERB ends for millions of Canadians, new EI program takes its place

ONTARIO (680 NEWS) — The Canada Emergency Response Benefit has officially expired, even as COVID-19 cases rise across the country.

Earlier this week, the Trudeau government sided with NDP demands to make the new employment insurance payments equal to that of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit — $2,000 per month.

There are over two million Canadians currently collecting CERB payments. According to the Toronto Star, as of Sunday, the E.I. program will only cover about half of the Canadians on the benefit.

Canadians transitioning to providing regular and special employment benefits must report at least 120 hours of work in the past 52 weeks or since their last claim in order to qualify for E.I.

But people who have been getting served through Service Canada should be seamlessly transferred to the new E.I. system.

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If you’ve been getting paid through the Canada Revenue Agency, you’ll have to reapply through the Service Canada site.

The government is also adding three new benefits:

• The Canada Recovery Benefit: $500 per week for up to 26 weeks to self-employed workers or those not eligible for E.I. but still need income support.
• Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit: $500 per week for up to two weeks, for those who cannot work because they are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19.
• Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit: $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household to eligible workers who cannot work because they must care for children or family members due to the closure of schools, day cares or care facilities.

The new temporary benefits will only affect those who don’t currently qualify for employment insurance.

The biggest change, according to the Toronto Star, is that you’ll have to be ready to self-report every two weeks to continue getting cash.

E.I. payments are also taxed at the source, so they may be different than what they were under the emergency benefit.

– With files from Mike Eppel