RETURNING TO WORK PART-TIME OR REDUCED HOURS? BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR CERB. AVOID REPAYMENT. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

• $500 weekly – maximum of 16 weeks

• Retroactive to Mar. 15, 2020

• Available between Mar. 15 and Oct. 3, 2020

• Must be 15 and Canadian resident

• Must have declared $5,000 total income in preceding 12 months or in 2019 (including by self-employment)

• 7, 4-week eligibility cycles or claiming periods

• Does not need to be consecutive claiming periods – maximum of 16 weeks (4 months) in total during entire period of program

• Taxable benefit (not deducted at source; must be claimed in next personal income tax filing)

• When first applying, cannot earn more than $1,000 from other sources for 14 or more consecutive days within the 4-week claim period

• For future claim periods, cannot earn more than $1,000 income during the claim period

• Cannot qualify if laid off, but earns income from other work or on reduced hours

• Cannot voluntarily withdraw or quit – must qualify for an approved statutory leave of absence under the Employment Standards Act or work disruption must be related to COVID-19

• Cannot be topped up by employers, unless the top up is not more than $1,000 in any 4-week claim period

• Replaces EI regular benefits if unemployment occurs on or after Mar. 15, 2020

• Not EI

• Can collect CERB without affecting future EI benefit eligibility

• Note: payment of accrued vacation time if a lay off or termination could disqualify CERB (if more than $1,000 within 14 days before initial application or during the subsequent claim period)

• Note: if recalled during a CERB claim period, resulting in income more than $1,000, may be required to repay the CERB during that claim period

Examples:

• Salaried employee (including self-employed) – eligible if stops working for reasons related to COVID-19 (also eligible for CEWS and CEBA)

• Sole proprietor – eligible of stops working for reasons related to COVID-19 (not eligible for CEWS or CEBA)

• Own a corporation and paid by dividends, not salary – eligible of stops working for reasons related to COVID-19 (not eligible for CEWS or CEBA)