Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

Details of the CERB income-support, which provides payments of $500 per week for up to 28 weeks.

Latest: On August 20th, it was announced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit would be extended for an additional four weeks, to a maximum of 28 weeks.

What is the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)?

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) provides temporary income support to individuals who have stopped working due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides $500 per week for up to 24 weeks to eligible applicants. The program runs until October 3rd, 2020. You can apply until December 2nd, 2020. 

You can apply online or by phone at 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041. Both of these services are available 21 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Who is Eligible?

The CERB is available to all wage earners, including contract workers and self-employed individuals, regardless of their eligibility for Employment Insurance. The benefit is available to workers:

• Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old
• Who have stopped working because of reasons related to COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits or have exhausted their Employment Insurance regular benefits or Employment Insurance fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020
• Who had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application
• Who have not quit their job voluntarily

Transitioning Back to Employment Insurance (EI)

As part of the Government of Canada's preparations to transition as many Canadians as possible back to the Employment Insurance (EI) system at the end of September, 2020, a minimum unemployment rate of 13.1 per cent will be applied temporarily for all EI economic regions across Canada.

Those living in EI regions with an unemployment rate lower than 13.1 per cent will have their EI benefits calculated on the basis of the 13.1 per cent rate. This means EI recipients are guaranteed a minimum of 26 weeks of benefits. Recipients in regions with a higher unemployment rate will have their benefits calculated using the actual rate for that region. 

Read more about Employment Insurance Changes.

Key Facts

• The CERB provides $500 per week for up to 28 weeks to eligible applicants
• Only apply for the CERB through either Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
• The Benefit is available from March 15, 2020 to October 3, 2020
• You can apply no later than December 2, 2020 for payments retroactive to within that period
• When submitting your first claim, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for 14 or more consecutive days within the four-week benefit period of your claim
• When submitting subsequent claims, you cannot have earned more than $1,000 in employment and/or self-employment income for the entire four-week benefit period of your new claim

Important Dates

Useful Resources

• Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
• Frequently Asked Questions About CERB
• Find other benefits you may qualify for
• How to return or repay the CERB
• Get help applying