It’s to ensure that all workers in Canada are supported in a time of crisis.
Delta MP Carla Qualtrough is encouraging all those affected by a loss of income due to COVID-19 to take advantage of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit.
The benefit will provide $500 per week for up to 16 weeks.
The benefit will be available to workers residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old, and who:
· have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the year prior to their application from any or a combination of the following sources: employment, self-employment, EI maternity and parental benefits, and/or similar benefits paid in QC under the QC Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP); and
· are without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in a four-week period, for reasons related to COVID-19, including if they have temporarily stopped working, lost their job, are sick or in quarantine, or need to care for a child or a family member.
The portal for accessing this new benefit will be available by April 6. Until then, EI eligible Canadians who have lost their job or are in quarantine can continue to apply for EI online.
https://www.canada.ca/…/be…/ei/ei-regular-benefit/apply.html
Accessing the Canada Emergency Response Benefit will not have an impact on future eligibility of EI claims.
“From the beginning we wanted to make sure that all workers were supported in this time of crisis, so whether or not you qualify for EI, we knew we had to go beyond the number of workers that qualify for EI,” Qualtrough told the Optimist. “We put in a number of measures and released we needed to simplify things and deliver money on a quicker turnaround, which is why we put this benefit into place. I encourage everyone who is eligible to ensure they take the time to sign up for a My Service Canada or a CRA account before April 6 so they can apply for this and within 10 business days will get their first payment.”
