Things are changing for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
Today, newly appointed Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland said the country has to prepare for the future and potential new Covid-19 waves.
Canadians will still have access to four more weeks of CERB the way it is for a total of 28 weeks.
But the CERB transition to EI will start September 27th.
A minimum national unemployment rate was recently set at 13.1 per cent which sets the eligibility for regular EI benefits at the lowest threshold possible.
Today a one-time top-up to Canadians applying for EI regular and special benefits was announced by Freeland.
“Canadians accessing regular benefits for job loss will receive a credit of 300 hours and Canadians accessing special benefits including sickness, maternity and parental benefits will receive a credit of 480 hours – this means that millions of Canadians will only need 120 hours to access any EI Benefit,” said Freeland.
Several new benefits were announced today.
They include a Canada Recovery Benefit for those ineligible for EI which will provide $400 a week.
A Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit will provide $500 a week to Canadians who can’t work because they need to care for a dependent or family member.
And the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit of up to $500 is for workers unable to work who are sick or who have to self-isolate due to Covid-19.
Both the recovery and caregiving benefit are available for up to 26 weeks over a 1-year period.
The sick benefit will be available for two one-week periods over the year.
To watch the Federal Government’s full Aug 20th CERB to EI Transition plan announcement, see below.
