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The Government of Canada launches applications for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

The Government of Canada launches applications for the Canada Recovery Benefit
OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Many people continue to feel the impacts of COVID-19 and require temporary income support. To ensure that Canadians continue to receive the help they need the Government of Canada has introduced three new benefits, delivered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA): the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB), and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB).
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue, opened the application process for the CRB. Applications for the CRSB and the CRCB opened on October 5, 2020.
The CRB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks, 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 CRA is providing a simple and efficient application process for the CRB similar to the one that millions of Canadians relied on to access Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). 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 ensure that the recovery benefits provide more targeted support for those people who continue to need it, the application process for the CRB includes new elements, such as:
- shorter eligibility periods of two weeks;
- retroactive periods, meaning that people will be required to apply after the two-week period has ended;
- a 10% tax withholding at source; meaning that people will receive payments of $900 for each two-week eligibility period;
- a three-to-five day window to receive payments for applications made by direct deposit, and a 10-12 day window for cheque by mail.
The Government is committed to having safeguards in place to protect Canadians from fraud and non-compliance. To this end, the CRA is taking steps to implement additional verification and security measures up-front, to help ensure that we deliver benefit payments only to people who are entitled to receive them.
To apply for these benefits, we encourage Canadians to 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.
CRB two-week periods and when to apply
Period | Two weeks covered | When you can apply |
---|---|---|
Period 1 | September 27 to October 10, 2020 | October 12, 2020 |
Period 2 | October 11 to October 24, 2020 | October 26, 2020 |
Period 3 | October 25 to November 7, 2020 | November 9, 2020 |
Period 4 | November 8 to November 21, 2020 | November 23, 2020 |
Period 5 | November 22 to December 5, 2020 | December 7, 2020 |
Period 6 | December 6 to December 19, 2020 | December 21, 2020 |
Period 7 | December 20 to January 2, 2021 | January 4, 2021 |
Period 8 | January 3 to January 16, 2021 | January 18, 2021 |
Period 9 | January 17 to January 30, 2021 | February 1, 2021 |
Period 10 | January 31 to February 13, 2021 | February 15, 2021 |
Period 11 | February 14 to February 27, 2021 | March 1, 2021 |
Period 12 | February 28 to March 13, 2021 | March 15, 2021 |
Period 13 | March 14 to March 27, 2021 | March 29, 2021 |
Period 14 | March 28 to April 10, 2021 | April 12, 2021 |
Period 15 | April 11 to April 24, 2021 | April 26, 2021 |
Period 16 | April 25 to May 8, 2021 | May 10, 2021 |
Period 17 | May 9 to May 22, 2021 | May 24, 2021 |
Period 18 | May 23 to June 5, 2021 | June 7, 2021 |
Period 19 | June 6 to June 19, 2021 | June 21, 2021 |
Period 20 | June 20 to July 3, 2021 | July 5, 2021 |
Period 21 | July 4 to July 17, 2021 | July 19, 2021 |
Period 22 | July 18 to July 31, 2021 | August 2, 2021 |
Period 23 | August 1 to August 14, 2021 | August 16, 2021 |
Period 24 | August 15 to August 28, 2021 | August 30, 2021 |
Period 25 | August 29 to September 11, 2021 | September 13, 2021 |
Period 26 | September 12 to September 25, 2021 | September 27, 2021 |