COVID-19 Recovery Benefits – CLEO

These 3 benefits were created to replace the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). They’re for people who don’t qualify for Employment Insurance (EI). If you qualify for EI, you must apply for that instead. For more information about all COVID-19 and EI benefits, visit https://stepstojustice.ca/covid-19.

COVID-19 Recovery Benefits (PDF)

CLEO

Learn about new benefits for people who don't qualify for EI

Reviewed: March 30, 2021

Recovery Benefits	There are 3 new recovery benefits for people who don’t qualify for Employment Insurance (EI). To qualify for these benefits, you must: • be at least 15 years old, a Canadian resident, and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) • have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months before you apply
	Who’s eligible	Amount and how to apply	Notes
Canada Recovery Benefit	This is for people who don’t qualify for EI because they’re self-employed or independent contractors. To qualify, you must: have stopped working for 2 weeks, or lost 50% of your income over 2 weeks look for work during the weeks you apply for 1	$500 a week for up to 38 weeks wait until you’ve missed work for 2 weeks to apply must confirm that you still qualify every 2 weeks	This means that you must look for work, be available to work, and not refuse reasonable offers of work.
Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit	This is for people who don’t qualify for EI who are sick or must self-isolate because of COVID-19. To qualify, you: can’t be on a paid sick leave or get money from a workplace sickness benefit must lose at least 50% of your work for the week you apply because of COVID-19 (1)	$500 a week for up to 4 weeks wait until you’ve missed work for 1 week to apply must confirm that you still qualify every week	1. This means that: you have COVID-19, your employer or a medical authority told you to self-isolate, or you have a condition that a medical professional has told you puts you at risk from COVID-19.
Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit	This is for people who don’t qualify for EI who can’t work because they need to care for a child or family member for reasons related to COVID-19. To qualify you: can’t be on a paid sick leave or get money from a workplace sickness benefit must lose at least 50% of your work for the week you apply because you’re caring for a child or family member because of COVID-19 (1)	$500 a week for up to 38 weeks wait until you’ve missed work for 1 week to apply must confirm that you still qualify every week	1. This could be because: they have COVID-19, they are not able to go to school or their care home because of COVID-19, or their regular caregiver is unavailable because of COVID-19.