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.
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.
Taxation
What does “income tax withheld at source” mean?
“Income tax withheld at source” means that some of the benefit amount will be withheld by the Canada Revenue Agency before you get your payment, which will be credited against any income tax you need to pay for the year.
This helps avoid a large unexpected tax bill at the end of the year.
No such deductions at source were applied to the CERB, to ensure that Canadians who required support received the maximum amount when they needed it. Individuals need to include the CERB payments they received on their 2020 tax returns, and could be subject to tax, depending on their overall income for the year.
How will you decide my taxes?
The Canada Revenue Agency will apply a flat 10% deduction at source for the Recovery Benefits.
What should I expect when I file my taxes?
Both the CERB and the Recovery Benefits are taxable. At the end of the year, the Canada Revenue Agency will calculate the amount of tax you owe based on your total income including both the amounts received for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and the Canada Recovery Benefit.
With respect to the clawback for the Canada Recovery Benefit, you will be required to repay $0.50 of the Benefit for every dollar in net income you earn above $38,000 (excluding the amount received for the Canada Recovery Benefit) to a maximum repayment of the Canada Recovery Benefit received in the year. Amounts repaid will not be included in your taxable income. This will be reconciled on your T1 tax return and the repayment will be incorporated in your total payable.
International travel
How is eligibility being changed for the 3 recovery benefits?
The 3 Canada Recovery Benefits were created to provide income support to eligible workers who are unable to work for COVID-19 reasons. They were never intended to provide support to Canadians who travel internationally and are then required to quarantine as a result.
The Government of Canada has changed eligibility rules so that international travelers who are required to quarantine upon their return to Canada will not be eligible to receive the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit or the Canada Recovery Benefit during the period of their quarantine. These changes are retroactive to October 2, 2020.
Once they have served the mandatory quarantine period, individuals would be able to claim the recovery benefits for subsequent periods if they meet the eligibility criteria.
How will the Government know I am in a mandatory quarantine period?
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) updated the application process for the 3 recovery benefits on Monday, January 11. For claims covering a period beginning on or after October 2, 2020, applicants will need to indicate whether they were self-isolating or in quarantine due to international travel.
When does this change come into effect?
The legislation to amend the Canada Recovery Benefits Act came into effect retroactively on October 2, 2020.
How do I know if I have to quarantine and am impacted by these changes?
These changes apply to all international travelers who, on or after October 2, 2020, are required to quarantine when they return to Canada.
However, you may be eligible for one of the 3 recovery benefits if:
- you travelled for medical treatment certified by a medical practitioner
- you accompanied a person who is incapable of travelling without assistance of an attendant to receive a medical treatment certified by a medical practitioner
- you are an essential worker who travelled for reasons normally exempt from quarantine when you return to Canada (such as health care workers or truck drivers who need to cross the border for work) but were required to this time
Information on travelers who are required to quarantine and travelers who are exempt can be found here: Mandatory quarantine or isolation.
I am exempt from the mandatory quarantine, but subsequently fell ill with COVID-19 or had to self-isolate. Am I eligible to claim the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit?
If you are exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements, you may be eligible to claim the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit. You would need to meet the other eligibility criteria to receive the benefit.
I am exempt from the mandatory quarantine, but subsequently am unable to work at least 50% of my normally scheduled hours because I have to care for my children who are required by the government to home school. Am I eligible to claim the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit?
If you are exempt from the mandatory quarantine requirements, you may be eligible to claim the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit. You would need to meet the other eligibility criteria to receive the benefit.
I returned from international travel and began serving the mandatory quarantine prior to October 2, 2020. Am I eligible for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit?
You are not entitled to the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit for the period of your quarantine that falls after October 2, 2020. However, if you meet the other eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to the benefit during the period of your quarantine that falls before October 2, 2020.
If I am unable to work due to a COVID-19 reason after my mandatory quarantine period, will I be able to access the recovery benefits?
The eligibility restrictions for international travelers who need to quarantine only apply for the period during which they have to quarantine.
For example, if a person is unable to work due to COVID-19 after their quarantine period ends and meets the eligibility criteria for one of the 3 recovery benefits, they could be eligible to receive that benefit.