The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) is a new temporary measure to assist individuals facing a loss of work. The Benefit is available from March 15, 2020, to October 3, 2020. You can apply no later than December 2, 2020 for payments retroactive to within that period. Eligible applicants can receive a taxable benefit of $2,000 every four weeks for up to 28 weeks and is intended to support workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19 (NOTE – maximum eligibility was originally set at 16 weeks, however, in June this was previously extended for 8 additional weeks, and then on August 20, the program was further extended for an additional four week period up to September 26, 2020).

The Canada Revenue Agency recently confirmed that all employers who were eligible to claim the 10% Temporary Wage Subsidy for Employers (TWS) for the period of March 18 to June 19, 2020, will be required to complete and submit information regarding the subsidy claimed for each eligible payroll account either through the payroll section of their My Business account (under menu option “10% Temporary Wage Subsidy”), or by completing form PD27 “Temporary Wage Subsidy Self-Identification Form for Employers”.

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for employers was implemented by the passing of Bill C-14 on April 11, 2020, and expanded with the passing of Bill C-20 on July 27, 2020. The subsidy is widely accessible to employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy, with the exception of public sector entities. It is intended to support businesses that are hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and would help protect the jobs Canadians depend on during these difficult times.