Who can apply

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

If you have completed an application for Employment Insurance (EI) or for the CERB through Service Canada and have received a payment or are waiting for a payment from Service Canada, you cannot apply for the CERB with the CRA.

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, 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
- Your regular or fishing EI benefits have run out (any time between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020)
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 for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period. New
- 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, and you expect this to continue during the entire 4-week period. New
What counts towards the $1,000 in income you can earn?

You are eligible and ready to proceed

The current eligibility period is June 7, 2020 to July 4, 2020. The next eligibility period is July 5, 2020 to August 1, 2020.

Verifying your eligibility

The CRA will be verifying that you are eligible to receive the benefit. In cases where claimants are 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 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.

Language selection

Search

Applying for CERB with CRA

Who can apply

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

Eligibility criteria

Verifying your eligibility

Thank you for your help!