General information by telephone
Answers to top questions
Find financial support after CERB
If you continue to need income support, find out if you are eligible for Employment Insurance or other Recovery benefits.
Do I qualify for the simplified Employment Insurance (EI) program
We announced temporary changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) program to better support Canadians looking for work.
As of September 27, you may be eligible for EI if you:
- were employed for at least 120 insurable hours in the past 52 weeks
- received the CERB, the 52 week period to accumulate insured hours will be extended
- stopped working through no fault of your own
- have not quit your job voluntarily
- are ready, willing and capable of working each day (EI regular benefits)
- are temporarily unable to work while you care for someone else or yourself (EI maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care, and family caregiver benefits)
If you become eligible for EI benefits on or after September 27, you will receive a minimum benefit rate of $500 per week.
If you do not become eligible for EI, you may be eligible for the proposed new benefits:
Do I qualify for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)?
OpenThe CRB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks for workers who have stopped working or had their income reduced by at least 50% due to COVID-19, and who are not eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).
Do I qualify for the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)?
OpenThe CRSB provides $500 per week for up to a maximum of two weeks, for workers who:
- Are unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they contracted COVID-19
- Are self-isolated for reasons related to COVID-19
- have underlying conditions, are undergoing treatments or have contracted other sicknesses that, in the opinion of a medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, person in authority, government or public health authority, would make them more susceptible to COVID-19.
Do I qualify for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB?)
OpenThe CRCB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household for workers:
- unable to work for at least 50% of the week because they must care for a child under the age of 12 or family member because schools, day-cares or care facilities are closed due to COVID-19
- because the child or family member is sick and/or required to quarantine or is at high risk of serious health implications because of COVID-19.
Most requested
- Consult the frequently asked questions about the changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program due to COVID-19
- Questions about mandatory hotel stayover
- Questions about ArriveCAN
- Employment Insurance (EI) and other support
- Financial support during COVID-19
- Contact your program about your specific case or file
- Fake text messages and calls
General assistance by telephone
Telephone service hours
Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm (your local time)
Wait time: What to expect
Wait time: What to expect
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Contact information
- Telephone: 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)
- TTY: 1-800-926-9105
- From outside Canada: Call 1 800 O-Canada from abroad
What COVID-19 information do you need?
- Travel
- Income support
- Health and safety
- Prevention and vaccines
- Risks and spread
- Symptoms and treatment
- Reduce COVID-19 in your community
- What can I do to care for my mental and physical health?
- Drug and medical device supply monitoring
- For clinical trial sponsors
- Additional economic and financial support
- Individuals
- Support for businesses
- Avoiding layoffs, rehiring employees and creating new jobs
- Financial support, loans and access to credit
- Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) interest-free loans
- Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS)
- Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program (HASCAP)
- Loan Guarantee for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Co-Lending Program for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
- Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF)
- Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
- Mid-Market Financing Program
- Mid-Market Guarantee and Financing Program
- Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF)
- Additional support by sector
- Provincial and territorial support
- Self-employed individuals
- Indigenous businesses
- Support for sectors
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Aquaculture and fisheries
- Cultural, heritage and sport
- Energy
- Infrastructure
- Organizations helping Canadians
- Vulnerable populations
- Indigenous organizations and communities
- Foreign workers coming to Canada
- About COVID-19
- E-mail updates on COVID-19
- Current confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in Canada
- More details about the cases reported in Canada
- How does it spread?
- Where can I get information specific to my province or territory?
- How governments are working together
- How can I make a difference in Canada’s COVID-19 response efforts?
- Resources for parents and children
- Resources for youth, students and young adults
- Resources for seniors and their caregivers
- Resources for Indigenous communities
- People with disabilities
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