Why you may need to repay

If you received COVID-19 benefits in error or later found out you did not meet the eligibility criteria, you must repay the full amount of any payments you received.

Individuals who intentionally made fraudulent claims may face additional consequences.

Select the benefit you received:

Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)

The CERB was available from March 15, 2020 to September 26, 2020. The last day you could have applied was December 2, 2020.

You must repay the CERB if you:

You must repay the full $2000 amount for each period you were not eligible for.

Review each 4-week CERB eligibility period in a calendar.

 

If you're unsure if you need to repay the CERB

 
Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB)

The CESB was available from May 10, 2020 to August 29, 2020. The last day you could have applied was September 30, 2020.

You must repay the CESB if you:

  • did not meet the CESB eligibility criteria
  • received a payment in error
  • earned more than $1,000 (before taxes) during an eligibility period you applied for

Each CESB payment was $1,250 or if you received the extra $750 benefit top-up amount, your payment was $2,000. You must repay any amounts that you were not eligible for.

Review each 4-week CESB eligibility period in a calendar.

Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)

The CRB was available from September 27, 2020 to October 23, 2021. The last day you could have applied was December 22, 2021.

You must repay the CRB if you:

You must repay the full amount of any payments you were not eligible for.

If you applied for CRB periods before July 18, 2021

Your CRB amounts were reduced after your first 21 payments:

  • Your payment was $1000 per 2-week period for your first 21 periods
  • Your payment was $600 per 2-week period for your next 6 periods

If your first CRB period started on or after July 18, 2021

Your payments were $600 for each 2-week period.

Review each 2-week CRB eligibility period in a calendar.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)

The CRCB was available from September 27, 2020 to May 7, 2022. The last day you could have applied was July 6, 2022.

You must repay the CRCB if you:

  • did not meet the CRCB eligibility criteria
  • received a payment in error
  • received a payment for the same period as another member in your household

You must repay the full $500 amount for each period you were not eligible for.

Review each 1-week CRCB eligibility period in a calendar.

Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)

The CRSB was available from September 27, 2020 to May 7, 2022. The last day you could have applied was July 6, 2022.

You must repay the CRSB if you:

You must repay the full $500 amount for each period you were not eligible for.

Review each 1-week CRSB eligibility period in a calendar.

Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB)

The CWLB was available from October 24, 2021 and May 7, 2022. The last day you could have applied was May 18, 2022.

You must repay the CWLB if you:

  • did not meet the CWLB eligibility criteria
  • received a payment in error
  • received a payment for a period when your region was not a designated COVID-19 lockdown region
  • did not file the required tax returns by December 31, 2022 or December 31, 2023 depending on when you received the benefit
    Tax filing requirements

    You must have filed your 2021 taxes by:

    • December 31, 2022 if you received the benefit for a period that started in 2021

    You must have filed your 2021 and 2022 taxes by:

    • December 31, 2023 if you received the benefit for a period that started in 2022

You must repay the full $300 amount for each period you were not eligible for.

Review period start and end dates for designated regions.

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