With the CRSB Benefit, The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick.
The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. The CRSB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
If you are eligible for the CRSB, you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for a 1-week period.
If your situation continues, you will need to apply again. You may apply for up to a total of 6 weeks between September 27, 2020 and May 7, 2026.
Sections
Who can apply: Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
Eligibility criteria for the CRSB
How much you can get: Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
Payment amounts for each period
Weeks you can apply for: Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
How periods work, when each period starts and ends
How to apply: Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
When and how to apply for the CRSB
Keep getting your payments: Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
When to re-apply, when to expect your payment
Impact on your taxes: Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
How the CRSB is taxed and what you need to do at tax time
Return a payment: Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
How to return or repay the CRSB
Contact us about CRSB: Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
If you have questions about the CRSB
CRSB FAQS
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: 1-800-959-2026 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?
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 44 weeks and the number of weeks available under the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) remains at 6 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?
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.