The federal government says it has streamlined its COVID-19 emergency benefits program and Canadians struggling financially can expect payments within weeks.
The federal government says it has streamlined its COVID-19 emergency benefits program and Canadians struggling financially can expect payments within weeks.
The application process is scheduled to open in early April, with income support payments amounting to about $2,000 a month expected to flow about 10 days later. The benefits will be available for four months.
The government is streamlining the financial support regime as it struggles to cope with an unprecedented volume of employment insurance claims.
The new program collapses two previously announced benefits — the Emergency Care Benefit and the Emergency Support Benefit — into one.
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) offers income support for up to 16 weeks to those who lose pay because of the pandemic. A government news release says the “simpler and more accessible” program will cover Canadians who lost their jobs, got sick, are under quarantine or have to stay home because of school closures.
It’s available to wage earners, contract workers and self-employed people who don’t qualify for employment insurance (EI).
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Wednesday that nearly one million people have applied for EI in the last week alone. In his daily address to the nation from his residence at Rideau Cottage, he acknowledged that many Canadians are feeling stressed about paying their bills as they lose inco