The Government of Canada launches applications for the Canada Recovery Benefit

The Government is committed to having safeguards in place to protect Canadians from fraud and non-compliance. To this end, the CRA is taking steps to implement additional verification and security measures up-front, to help ensure that we deliver benefit payments only to people who are entitled to receive them.

To apply for these benefits, we encourage Canadians to sign up for CRA’s My Account, ensure that personal information with the CRA is up-to-date, and register for direct deposit. People are encouraged to file a 2019 tax return, if they haven’t done so yet, as this will reduce the likelihood that the CRA would need to request additional information before the application could be processed.

For information about these benefits including eligibility requirements, how to apply, and eligibility period dates, we encourage Canadians to visit the CRA’s webpages .

Quotes

“We know some Canadians are still struggling because of COVID-19. That is why today we launched the Canada Recovery Benefit, which will ensure Canadians who remain unemployed or have a reduced income due to the pandemic, qualify for financial support. The CRA understands how important the delivery of the recovery benefits is to Canadians during this difficult time, and we remain committed to continue doing this essential work. Now more than ever, it is vital that eligible Canadians get the support they are entitled to.”

- The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue

“Throughout the pandemic, our government has provided people with the support they need to continue to make ends meet while staying safe. While many Canadians have been able to go back to work safely, we know that not all regions have been able to re-open at the same rate and that this continues to have a real impact on workers and their families. These new recovery benefits will provide stability and certainty while also helping to fill gaps in the way Canadian workers qualify for income support. Our Government will continue to support Canadians through this next phase of the recovery. We will get through these challenging times together.”

- Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough

Quick facts

• The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit provides $500 per week for up to two weeks, for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19, or have underlying conditions that would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
• The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household, for eligible people unable to work because they must care for a child under 12 years old or other family member requiring supervised care, who is unable to attend their school or regular care facility, due to COVID-19.
• People may earn income of up to $38,000 for the calendar year while receiving the Canada Recovery Benefit. People will have to reimburse $0.50 of the Canada Recovery Benefit for every dollar of net income earned above $38,000, up to the maximum benefit they received. This will be calculated and repaid as part of their income tax return filing when they do their taxes for the year.
• To be eligible for any of the recovery benefits, people must have earned at least $5000 (before deductions) in 2019, 2020, or in the 12 months prior to applying.
• To be eligible for the Canada Recovery Benefit , individuals must be available and looking for work, and must accept work when it is reasonable to do so
• In some cases, we will ask people to provide us with additional information so that we can verify their eligibility before we process their application. For example, if our records do not show that an applicant has earned the minimum amount of $5000 as required to be eligible, we may ask the applicant to provide documentation to support their claim. As with the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, people who have received benefit payments but are later found to be ineligible will be required to repay the amounts.
• People cannot apply for or receive, for the same period, more than one Recovery Benefit, Employment Insurance benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or Québec Parental Insurance Plan benefits.

Associated links

• Canada Recovery Benefit
• Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit
• Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit
• Legislation to support new recovery benefits and extend funding for COVID-19 measures receives Royal Assent

Contacts

Jeremy Bellefeuille
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of National Revenue
613-995-2960
Jeremy.Bellefeuille@cra-arc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Canada Revenue Agency
613-948-8366
cra-arc.media@cra-arc.gc.ca

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