CERB: New Help for Under-Employed & Front-Line Workers

The eligibility criteria for the CERB has been criticized for its failure to help those that have jobs but are under-employed and under-earning during the pandemic. This was addressed on April 15, when the federal government introduced new eligibility criteria for those earning less than $1,000 per month. It’s been a gap since zero income for at least two consecutive weeks has been a requirement to receive the CERB so far.

Specifically, there are now three additional categories of people who qualify for the CERB:

• Contract and gig-economy workers
• Those who have seasonal employment and are unable to get work due to COVID-19
• Those who have exhausted their EI benefits

Although it was initially unclear if this $1,000 of earnings would apply to everyone in order to receive the CERB, the government has now added it to their general criteria. The CERB will now be available based on the following earning criteria:

• 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 claims for subsequent periods (for the first time or when continuing to collect the CERB), 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. Prior to April 16, the income threshold was changed from $0 in earnings to $1,000. If these new criteria makes you eligible, it appears as though you can now apply and receive backdated payments for past periods.

In addition, those who depleted EI previously can also apply using this method. Per the CRA:

“You received regular EI benefits for at least 1 week since December 29, 2019 . You are no longer eligible for EI benefits.”

During Wednesday’s press conference, Prime Minister Trudeau also announced that help for front-line workers is also coming soon and will be delivered at the provincial level. The plan is to introduce a wage boost for essential workers earning less than $2,500 per month.

We’ll reveal further details as they become available.

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