Canada's New EI Is Starting & There Are Other Benefits You Can Get Once CERB Ends
Here's everything you need to know! With the new and improved EI Canada is offering, you can still get money to boost your income once the CERB ends if you qualify. However, there are also other benefits you can get if you're not eligible for the program.
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What will I get with the new EI program?
Even though the CERB is ending on September 26, Canadians will be transitioned to a temporarily simplified EI program if they still can't work because of COVID-19.
If you qualify for the new program on or after September 27, you'll get a minimum of $400 per week or $240 for extended parental benefits.
Usually, the benefit is based on your average weekly earnings before you made your EI claim.
That's changed because the pandemic might have affected your earnings if you lost your job or had your hours reduced.
You'll get at least 26 weeks of regular benefits with the new program.
How do I get on EI?
Depending on where you got the money from before, you might have to apply for EI.
If you received the CERB through Service Canada, you'll be transitioned to the new program once you've been paid all of the money you were entitled to.
That move will happen if you're eligible for EI and still need income support from the federal government.
If you got the CERB from the Canada Revenue Agency, you'll need to apply for EI through Service Canada after September 26 if you think you're eligible.
You can qualify if you were employed for at least 120 insurable hours in the last year, got the CERB, were forced to stop working and didn't quit your job voluntarily.
For EI regular benefits you have to be ready and willing and capable of working every day.
For EI maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care, and family caregiver benefits, you have to be temporarily unable to work while you care for yourself or someone else.
What if I'm not eligible for EI?
If you're not eligible for EI, you might be able to apply for one of three new benefits offered by the federal government.
There's the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) which starts on September 27 and runs for one year.
You can get $500 a week for up to 26 weeks if you can't return to work because of COVID-19 or had your income reduced relative to what you were making before.
The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives $500 a week for up to two weeks if you can't work because you have COVID-19 or need to self-isolate because of the virus.
You can claim this benefit any time during the year following September 27.
Then there's the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) if you're unable to work because you have to take care of your child or other dependents who are forced to stay home.
This benefit gives $500 a week for up to 26 weeks per household and is also available for a year.