Over the past weeks, we have been receiving questions from clients, friends and family on how the Federal Covid-19 Relief Program could help in their situations. We hope this chart provides some clarity.
(1) Regular EI Benefits – Eligibility, benefit and application process
Regular EI benefits pay 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, to a maximum of $573 per week. To be eligible for EI, you need between 400-700 work hours based on the unemployment rate in your area in the last year or from the start of the previous claim, whichever is shorter. There is currently a one-week waiting period.
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-regular-benefit.html
(2) EI Sickness Benefits or Caregiving Benefit – Eligibility, benefit and application process
Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits can provide you with up to 15 weeks of financial assistance if you cannot work for medical reasons. You could receive 55% of your earnings up to a maximum of $573 a week.
Through Employment Insurance, you could receive financial assistance of up to 55% of your earnings, to a maximum of $573 a week. These benefits will help you take time away from work to provide care or support to a critically ill or injured person or someone needing end-of-life care.
To be eligible for these benefits, you need 600 work hours in the last year or from the start of your previous claim, whichever is shorter.
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-sickness.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/caregiving.html
(3) Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
Provides a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months (to October 3, 2020).
The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will be accessible through a secure web portal starting in early April. Applicants will also be able to apply via an automated telephone line or via a toll-free number.
(4) Working while on EI
If you work while receiving regular benefits and have served your waiting period, you will be able to keep 50 cents of your EI benefits for every dollar you earn, up to 90 percent of the weekly insurable earnings used to calculate your EI benefit amount.
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/ei-regular-benefit/while-receiving.html
(5) Work Sharing Program
Work-Sharing (WS) is an adjustment program designed to help employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary reduction in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer. The measure provides income support to employees eligible for Employment Insurance benefits who work a temporarily reduced work week while their employer recovers.
https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/work-sharing.html