Canadians Can Get $500 Per Week If They're Caring For A Child During COVID-19
If you’ve been caring for a child under 12 during the COVID-19 pandemic, you could be eligible for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB).
It’s there to support parents who continue to be affected by school shutdowns and remote learning, as well as those who need to stay at home due to daycare closures.
If you have a child at home right now, here's what you need to know:
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What is the CRCB?
The CRCB is one of Canada’s newer COVID-19 benefits, designed to replace the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
While other benefits support those who are out of work right now or those who may be sick with COVID-19, the CRCB is there to help parents and caregivers.
In particular, it supports anyone who is at home right now looking after a loved one, instead of going to work.
To be able to apply for the funding, claimants must meet all of the government’s eligibility criteria, including being employed or self-employed on the day before the first application period.
The benefit is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
How much can you get?
The benefit provides eligible applicants with $500 per week, per household.
As all of the government’s COVID-19 benefits are taxable, the CRA withholds 10% at source.
This means claimants will get $450 after tax per every one-week period.
A household can apply for a maximum of 26 weeks between September 27, 2020 and September 25, 2021.
The payment will remain the same every week, regardless of the number of family members being cared for.
It also remains unchanged regardless of the amount of income lost by an individual or household.
Who can apply for the CRCB?
According to the federal government, the CRCB is there to support employed and self-employed Canadians who are unable to work because they’re caring for family during the ongoing pandemic.
Applicants must be unable to work at least 50% of their normal week because they are caring for another person.
This includes children under 12 years old or family members that need “supervised care.”
Parents, or caregivers, can apply for the benefit if the child’s school, day care or regular facility is unavailable right now.
It can also support those caring for somebody who is sick, self-isolating, or “at-risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19.”
It’s worth noting that only one adult per family can apply for the benefit every week, regardless of the number of children.