The Canada Recovery Benefit

The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) gives income support to workers who have stopped working or had their employment/self-employment income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for EI. The CRB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). If you are eligible for the CRB, you can receive $1,000 ($900 after taxes withheld) for a 2-week period.

If your situation continues past 2 weeks, you will need to apply again. You may apply up to a total of 13 eligibility periods (26 weeks) between September 27, 2020, and September 25, 2021.

To be eligible for the CRB, you must meet all the following conditions for the 2-week period you are applying for:

• You were not working for reasons related to COVID-19 or, you had a 50% reduction in your average weekly income compared to the previous year due to COVID-19.
• You did not apply for or receive any of the following:
  • Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB),
  • Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB),
  • short-term disability benefits,
  • workers’ compensation benefits,
  • Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, or
  • Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits.
• You were not eligible for EI benefits.
• You reside in Canada.
• You were present in Canada.
• You are at least 15 years old.
• You have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).
• You earned at least $5,000 in 2019, 2020, or in the 12 months before the date you apply from any of the following sources:
  • employment income (total or gross pay)
  • net self-employment income (after deducting expenses)
  • maternity and parental benefits from EI or similar QPIP benefits
• You have not quit your job or reduced your hours voluntarily on or after September 27, 2020, unless it was reasonable to do so.
• You were seeking work during the period, either as an employee or in self-employment.
• You have not turned down reasonable work during the 2-week period you’re applying for.

Before You Apply:

When to Apply:

You may start applying on the first Monday after the 2-week period you’re applying for has ended. Applications do not renew automatically.

You must apply for each period separately. You may apply for any period you are eligible for that is open for application, including up to 60 days after the period has ended.

How to Apply:

Eligible people can apply for these benefits online through the CRA’s My Account portal or by phone through our automated toll-free phone line at 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041.

To apply for these benefits, 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.