Federal Resources

Support for Individuals and Families

+ Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

What is it:

A taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months

Who Qualifies:

Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old;
Who have stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits:
Who had income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and
Who are or expect to be without employment or self-employment income for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period. For subsequent benefit periods, they expect to have no employment income.
The income of at least $5,000 may be from any or a combination of the following sources: employment; self-employment; maternity and parental benefits under the Employment Insurance program and/or similar benefits paid in Quebec under the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan.
The Benefit is only available to individuals who stopped work as a result of reasons related to COVID-19. If you are looking for a job but haven’t stopped working because of COVID-19, you are not eligible for the Benefit.
For example if you are a student who had a job last year and were planning on working this summer you do not qualify for the benefit.

How to get it:

The Canada Emergency Response Benefit will be accessible online starting on April 6 through the CRA My Account. Set up your CRA My Account now and sign up for direct deposit to the benefit more quickly.
Direct deposits will be deposited in 3 to 5 days after application; cheques will be mailed within 10 days

+ Canada Student Loans

What is it:

Effective March 30, there will be a six-month interest-free moratorium (April to September 2020) on the repayment of Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans for all student loan borrowers.
No payment on student and apprentice loans will be required during this period.
Interest will not accrue during this time.
Pre-authorized debits will be stopped.
If your non-repayment period is set to end during the suspension period, payments and interest will automatically be suspended until September 30th and you will start repaying your loan in October 2020.

Who Qualifies:

Those with existing loans through Canada Student Loans or Canada Apprentice Loans.
If your loan was issued by NL, NB, ON, SK or BC, this applies to both the federal and provincial portions of your student loan.
If your loan was issued by PEI, NS, AB or MB, NSLSC only administers the federal portion of your loan, and therefore, this applies to your Canada Student Loan only.
This exemption does not apply to those still in school or not in repayment.

How to get it:

Students do not need to apply for the repayment pause, it will automatically come into effect.
If you have a pre-authorized debit, it will automatically be paused.
If you are paying by other means you do not need to make payments at this time.
If you choose to make payments at this time, those payments will be interest free.

+ Federal Income Tax Deferrals

What is it:

Deferring the filing due date for the 2019 tax returns of individuals.
For individuals (other than trusts), the return filing due date will be deferred until June 1, 2020.
Any new income tax balances due, or instalments, to be deferred until after August 31, 2020 without incurring interest or penalties.

Who qualifies:

Individuals filing 2019 taxes.

How to get it:

Interest and penalties will be automatically waived during the applicable deferral time period.

+ Employment Insurance (EI) - Sickness Benefits

What is it:

EI sickness benefits provide up to 15 weeks of income replacement and is available to eligible claimants who are unable to work because of illness, injury, or quarantine.
You could receive 55% of your insurable earnings* up to a maximum of $573 a week.

Who Qualifies:

You’re unable to work for medical reasons.
You’re regular weekly earnings from work have decreased by more than 40% for at least one week.
You have accumulated 600 insured hours* of work in the 52 weeks before the start of your claim or since the start of your last claim, whichever is shorter.

How to get it:

You can apply online through the EI sickness benefits website.
The one-week waiting period will be waived for new claimants who are quarantined so they can be paid for the first week of their claim.
People claiming EI sickness benefits due to quarantine will not have to provide a medical certificate.

+ Registered Retired Income Fund (RRIF)

What is it:

A registered retirement income fund (RRIF) is an arrangement between you and a carrier (an insurance company, a trust company, or a bank) that Canada has registered.
Reduction of the required minimum withdrawals from RRIFs by 25% for 2020.

Who Qualifies:

Anyone currently with a registered RRIF.

How to get it:

The reduction of the minimum withdrawal will be automatically applied.

+ Canada Child Benefit (CCB)

What is it:

The Canada child benefit (CCB) iis a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18 years of age
Eligible recipients will receive $300 more per child with their regular May CCB payment

Who Qualifies:

Those already receiving the CCB will not need to re-apply

How to get it:

This benefit will be delivered as part of the scheduled CCB payment in May

+ Special GST Payment

What is it:

The average additional benefit will be close to $400 for single individuals and close to $600 for couples who are receiving GST/HST credits.

Who Qualifies:

Those already receiving their GST/HST credits will not need to re-apply.

How to get it:

There is no need to apply for this payment. If you are eligible, you will get it automatically.
You can check your CRA MyAccount Online for more information.

+ Mortgage Support

What is it:

Canadians who are impacted by COVID-19 and experiencing financial hardship as a result should contact their financial institution regarding flexibility for a mortgage deferral .
COVID-related mortgage deferral is available for an indefinite period and customers do not face a deadline for having to seek relief.
Mortgage deferral means that payments are skipped for a defined period of time, during which interest which would otherwise be part of the deferred payments is added to the outstanding balance of the mortgage.

Who Qualifies:

All customers who are currently in good standing and have been impacted by COVID-19 can apply for mortgage relief from their bank.

How to get it:

Contact your bank branch/mortgage specialist directly.

Support for Business

What is it:

The Work-Sharing (WS) program is offered to workers who agree to reduce their normal working hours because of developments beyond the control of their employers.
WS helps 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 maximum duration of the Work-Sharing program will be extended 38 weeks to 76 weeks.
If an employer's agreement is signed between March 15, 2020 and March 14, 2021 (with an agreement start date no later than March 14, 2021) or begins or ends between March 15, 2020 and March 14, 2021, then they may be eligible for a 38-week extension for a total of 76 weeks.

Who qualifies (businesses):

Must be experiencing a recent decline in business activity of at least 10%.
Must be experiencing a recent decline in business activity directly or indirectly related to the impact of COVID-19, the downturn in the forestry and steel and aluminum sectors demonstrate that the shortage of work is temporary, beyond your control, and not a cyclical/recurring slowdown.
Demonstrate that the shortage of work is temporary, beyond your control, and not a cyclical/recurring slowdown.
Be a year-round business in Canada for at least two years.
Be a private business, a publicly held company, or a not-for-profit organization.
Have at least two employees in the WS unit.
Be willing to implement a recovery plan to support the on-going operations and viability of the business.

Who qualifies (employees):

Must be year-round, permanent, full-time or part-time employees needed to carry out the day-to-day functions of the business (your "core staff").
Be eligible to receive EI benefits.
Agree to reduce their normal working hours by the same percentage and to share the available work.

How to Get it:

For more information check the Applicant Guide for Temporary Special Measures for the Work Sharing Program

+ Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

What is it:

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would apply at a rate of 75% of the first $58,700 normally earned by employees – representing a benefit of up to $847 per week. The program would be in place for a 12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.
Companies that get the subsidy are asked to rehire workers laid off over the last two weeks, and ensure that all the money through the program goes to employees.
Those organizations that do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy may continue to qualify for the previously announced wage subsidy of 10% of remuneration paid from March 18 to before June 20, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
The Subsidy is pending parliamentary approval and details listed here may be subject to change.

Who qualifies (Businesses):

Eligible employers who suffer a drop in gross revenues of at least 30 per cent in March, April or May, when compared to the same month in 2019, would be able to access the subsidy.
Eligible employers would include employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy, with the exception of public sector entities.
An eligible employer’s entitlement to this wage subsidy will be based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees. * All employers would be expected to at least make best efforts to top up salaries to 100% of the maximum wages covered.

How to Get it:

Eligible employers would be able to apply for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy through the Canada Revenue Agency’s My Business Account portal as well as a web-based application.
Employers would have to keep records demonstrating their reduction in arm’s-length revenues and remuneration paid to employees. More details about the application process will be made available shortly.

+ Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy

What is it:

The Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy would apply at a rate of 75% of the first $58,700 normally earned by employees – representing a benefit of up to $847 per week. The program would be in place for a 12-week period, from March 15 to June 6, 2020.
Companies that get the subsidy are asked to rehire workers laid off over the last two weeks, and ensure that all the money through the program goes to employees.
Those organizations that do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy may continue to qualify for the previously announced wage subsidy of 10% of remuneration paid from March 18 to before June 20, up to a maximum subsidy of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.
The Subsidy is pending parliamentary approval and details listed here may be subject to change.

Who qualifies (Businesses):

Eligible employers who suffer a drop in gross revenues of at least 30 per cent in March, April or May, when compared to the same month in 2019, would be able to access the subsidy.
Eligible employers would include employers of all sizes and across all sectors of the economy, with the exception of public sector entities.
For non-profit organizations and registered charities similarly affected by a loss of revenue, the government will continue to work with the sector to ensure the definition of revenue is appropriate to their circumstances.
An eligible employer’s entitlement to this wage subsidy will be based entirely on the salary or wages actually paid to employees. All employers would be expected to at least make best efforts to top up salaries to 100% of the maximum wages covered.

How to Get it:

Eligible employers would be able to apply for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy through the Canada Revenue Agency’s My Business Account portal as well as a web-based application. Employers would have to keep records demonstrating their reduction in arm’s-length revenues and remuneration paid to employees. More details about the application process will be made available shortly.

+ Access to Credit - Business Credit Availability Program

What is it:

Export Development Canada (EDC) and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) will provide more than $65B in direct lending and other types of financial support at market rates to businesses with viable business models whose access to financing would otherwise be restricted.
BCAP is currently available. Interested businesses should contact their financial institution for more information.
Deloitte has prepared a short guide on understanding the BCAP for new and existing BDC/EDC clients

Who qualifies (businesses):

All credit-worthy businesses with viable business models whose activities fall within the mandate of either BDC and/or EDC are eligible to benefit from BCAP.

How to get it:

Businesses interested in accessing the BCAP should first contact their financial institution, which will contact BDC and/or EDC where appropriate.

+ BDC Announces Additional Measures to Provide Relief for Canadian Entrepreneurs

What is it:

Working capital loans of up to $2 million with flexible terms and payment postponements for up to 6 months for qualifying businesses.
Flexible repayment terms, such as postponement of principal payments for up to six months, for existing BDC clients with total BDC loan commitment of $1 million or less.
Reduced rates on new eligible loans.
Additional details regarding Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) measures.

Who qualifies (businesses):

Businesses seeking support through BCAP should first contact their financial institutions for an assessment of their situation.
Financial institutions will refer to EDC and BDC their existing clients whose needs extend beyond what is available through the private sector alone.
Existing BDC clients should reach out to their account manager for additional information.

How to Get it:

If you are a BDC client, contact your account manager directly.
If you are not a BDC client, contact your financial institution and visit BDC online for more details.

+ Tax Deferrals for Business

What is it:

Deferring the filing due date for the 2019 tax returns of corporations.
For corporations the return filing due date will be deferred until June 1, 2020.
Any new income tax balances due, or instalments, to be deferred until after August 31, 2020 without incurring interest or penalties.

Who qualifies:

Corporations filing 2019 taxes.

How to get it:

Interest and penalties will be automatically waived during the applicable deferral time period.