At 6:00 a.m. EDT, CRA’s My Account began accepting applications for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). The CERB provides a payment of $2,000 for a 4-week period for up to 16 weeks. Payments will be processed in 3 business days if registered for direct deposit.
When can I apply?
CRA is asking that only people born in certain months apply on certain days.
As an alternative to My Account, individuals can call 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041. They will need to provide their SIN, their postal code, the period that they are applying for, and attest that they qualify.
Eligibility Periods
Eligibility periods are fixed in 4-week periods. Individuals may receive benefits for up to 4 of the 7 periods.
The 4-week periods are:
Certification
Applicants must certify:
- I reside in Canada.
- I am 15 years of age or older at the time of application.
- For my first CERB application: I have stopped or will stop working due to reasons related to COVID-19 and, for at least 14 consecutive days of the four week period for which I am applying, I will not be receiving:
- employment income;
- self-employment income; or
- provincial or federal benefits related to maternity or paternity leave.
- For my subsequent CERB applications: I continue to not be working due to reasons related to COVID-19 and, for the four week period for which I am applying, I will not be receiving:
- employment income;
- self-employment income; or provincial or federal benefits related to maternity or paternity leave.
- I have not quit my job voluntarily.
- I have not applied for, nor am I receiving, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or Employment Insurance (EI) benefits from Service Canada for the same eligibility period.
- I have earned a minimum of $5,000 income within the last 12 months or in 2019 from one or more of the following sources:
- employment income;
- self-employment income; or
- provincial or federal benefits related to maternity or paternity leave.
Special note: Individuals in receipt of non-eligible dividends (generally, those paid out of corporate income taxed at the small business rate) are eligible for CERB.
An individual could count this income towards the $5,000 income requirement to be eligible for CERB.
For a CRA FAQ on CERB, click here.
For more details on the application process, click here.