CERB, EI Or Wage Subsidy? What COVID-19 Financial Assistance Do You Qualify For?
As we settle into a new month of life in the coronavirus pandemic, more and more details are emerging about the financial assistance available to Canadians impacted by the spread of COVID-19.
Last week, the federal government unveiled a huge financial relief package aimed at stimulating the economy and supporting Canadians who have been laid off because of the pandemic. A big feature of that package was the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), a $2,000 monthly payment available to Canadian workers impacted by COVID-19 layoffs. It comes on top of existing programs like employment insurance (EI) and new benefits at the provincial level.
But new details keep rolling out daily on who qualifies and what they should apply for. Since writing guides on how to apply for employment insurance and how to apply for the CERB in the past few weeks, I’ve been inundated with dozens of questions from readers and friends about their specific circumstances.
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On Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released further details on the CERB and announced that applications would open on April 6. He called the financial support package — including the CERB and new wage subsidy program — the “largest economic program in Canada’s history.”
“Canada hasn’t seen this type of civic mobilization since the Second World War,” Trudeau said.
Big government mobilizations come with big questions. So here’s what you need to know.
Can I apply for both the CERB and EI?
No, not at the same time. The CERB is designed to fill in some of the gaps in the existing EI structure and shoulder some of the application load.
