Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

Last updated: April 23, 2020

As of Monday April 6th, you can sign-up and apply for your CERB support via your CRA My Account.

If you choose for direct deposit, you can receive payment within 3-5 business days.

If you choose to receive the benefit by mail, you can expect to receive within 10 business days.

Apply for Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with CRA

The CERB supports Canadians by providing urgently needed financial support to employed and self-employed Canadians who have been directly affected by COVID-19. It provides a payment of $2,000 for a 4 week period (equivalent to $500 a week) for up to 16 weeks.

Who can apply

The CERB will be available to workers:

residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
who have stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits;
who have not voluntarily quit their job; and
who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application.

On April 15, 2020, the following changes took in effect to the eligibility rules:

Allow people to earn up to $1,000 per month while collecting the CERB.
Extend the CERB to seasonal workers who have exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to undertake their regular seasonal work because of COVID-19.
Extend the CERB to workers who have recently exhausted their EI regular benefits and are unable to find a job because of COVID-19.

The income of at least $5,000 may be from any or a combination of the following sources: employment; self-employment; maternity and parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program.

The Benefit is only available to individuals who stopped work and are not earning employment or self-employment income as a result of reasons related to COVID-19. If you have not stopped working because of COVID-19, you are not eligible for the Benefit.

Apply again every 4 weeks

You will need to apply and confirm your eligibility for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit every 4 weeks (to a maximum of 16 weeks) if your situation continues.