CRB applications open on October 12, 2020.
The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are directly affected by COVID-19 and are not entitled to Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. 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 19 eligibility periods (38 weeks) between September 27, 2020 and September 27, 2021. (Feb 19, 2021 updated)
You may earn employment or self-employment income while you receive the CRB. But the CRB has an income threshold of $38,000. You will have to reimburse $0.50 for every dollar of net income you earn above $38,000 on your income tax return for that year (2020 or 2021).
Eilgibility
- 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 have not quit your job or reduced your hours voluntarily on or after September 27, 2020
- 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
- You were not eligible for EI benefits
- You did not apply for or receive any of the following for:
- Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
- Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
- short-term disability benefits
- workers’ compensation benefits
- Employment Insurance (EI) benefits
- Québec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) 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 (before deductions) in 2019, 2020, or in the 12 months before the date you apply from any of the following sources:
- Counts as income:
- Maternity and parental benefits from EI or similar QPIP benefits
- All employment income (total or gross pay) or net self-employment income (after deducting expenses), including:
- tips
- non-eligible dividends
- honoraria (nominal amounts paid to volunteers)
- royalties (payments to artists)
- Does not count as income:
- disability benefits
- student loans, bursaries or scholarships
- pension income
- amounts from other COVID-19 benefits:
- Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
- Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)
- Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
- Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
- Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
- Counts as income:
How to Apply
- Online: Click to apply
- Phone: 1-800-959-2019 or 1-800-959-2041
- Hours: Monday to Sunday, 6 am to 3 am (Eastern time)
- Instructions:
- Select your language preference: English or French
- Press ‘1’to apply for one of the new Canada recovery benefits
- Press ‘2’ to apply for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
- Follow the prompts to enter your information, including:
- your SIN
- confirmation of your postal code
- date of birth
- the period you are applying for
- Certify that you qualify for the benefit
