Who can apply

You cannot apply for the CERB with CRA if you already applied through Service Canada

If you are applying for the CERB for the first time and are not sure where to apply, answer the questions under Determine where to apply, on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit page. We will direct you to the service option that best fits your situation.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for the $2,000 CERB payment, you must meet the following conditions:

You did not apply for, nor receive, CERB or EI benefits from Service Canada for the same eligibility period
You did not quit your job voluntarily
You reside in Canada and are at least 15 years old
You earned a minimum of $5,000 (before taxes) in the last 12 months, or in 2019, from one or more of the following sources:
- employment income
- self-employment income
- provincial benefit payments related to maternity or parental leave
One of the following:
- Your work hours have been reduced because of COVID-19 (see last checkbox below for more details)
- You have stopped or will stop working because of COVID 19
- You are unable to work because of COVID-19, for example because you are taking care of someone
- You have been paid EI regular or fishing benefits for at least one week of benefits since December 29, 2019 and have used up your entitlement to those benefits
One of the following:
- If you are applying for the first time: You have stopped or will stop working, or you are working reduced hours due to COVID-19, and you don't expect to earn over $1,000 in employment or self-employment income (before deductions) for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
- If you are applying for a subsequent period: You are still not working, or you are working reduced hours due to COVID-19, and don't expect to earn over $1,000 in employment or self-employment income (before deductions), and you expect this to continue during the entire 4-week period.
- Current eligibility period: August 30 to September 26, 2020 Final eligibility period
What counts towards the $1,000 in income you can earn?

You are eligible and ready to proceed

Seeking work opportunities

The CERB is available to provide support to those who are unable to work due to COVID-19. Workers should be seeking work opportunities and/or return to work when their employer makes a request for their return, provided they are able and it is reasonable to do so. You are encouraged to consult Job Bank, Canada’s national employment service that offers tools to help with your job search.

For students who are not eligible for the CERB

Post-secondary and graduating high school students may be eligible for the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB).

Verifying your eligibility

The CRA will be verifying that you are eligible to receive the benefit. You may receive a notice from the CRA asking you to contact the CRA to validate your application. This is needed to verify your information and process your application.

In cases where claimants have received a payment and are later found to be ineligible, they will be contacted to make arrangements to repay any applicable amounts. Canadians can also report suspected CERB misuse through the CRA's Leads program.

As part of the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the CRA will also be comparing employers' payroll records with information provided by CERB claimants to ensure that individuals who have returned to work and who have therefore become ineligible for the CERB repay those amounts.

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Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) with CRA