The CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) extension has been announced by the Canadian Government after much speculation. Many were wondering when and if this would happen due to the fact that a number Canadians who are on CERB would see their benefits end as early as the first week of July. And many people still don’t have jobs to go back to and the economic situation overall still feels pretty shaky. Here are the CERB extension details that were announced below:
CERB Extension Details
The CERB program has been extended an extra 8 weeks. So the maximum number of weeks a person can collect is now 24 weeks from 16 weeks. The amount remains the same, which means you would still collect $2000.00 for each 4 week period.
The criteria for collecting the additional 8 weeks are listed below from the government’s website:
CERB extended from 16 weeks to 24 weeks for workers who:
- stopped working due to COVID-19 or
- are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits or
- have exhausted their Employment Insurance regular benefits or Employment Insurance fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020.
Only apply for the CERB through either Service Canada or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) – not both.
CERB Extension Details – End Date of Program
Even though the number of weeks has been been extended, the program still ends on October 3, 2020. This means you would have to collect all 24 weeks before this date to get the maximum CERB benefit amount.
Conclusion
The announcement of the CERB extension is a relief for many Canadians as even though parts of the country are starting to open up, many Canadians are still in a perilous financial situation. Regarding what will happen afterwards, no one knows as the situation is fluid and still unpredictable. The reality is that a lot depends upon how Covid-19 spreads in the next while or if there is a second wave of the pandemic. Also, a lot depends upon how quickly the economy can recover. One thing is for sure: we are living in truly unique times.
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When can I apply for the cerb extension? It still says I am only allowed 16 weeks….
Hi Norma,
Thank you for your question. From what I researched, it looks like you should be able to apply as of July 5, 2020. It appears that the government wants to put an attestation for the extension indicating that you want to go back to work when you apply. There is a CBC article that discusses this further and will point the link to it. Take care. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/cerb-extended-trudeau-1.5613782