Why you may need to repay: Repay COVID-19 benefits

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:

did not meet the CERB eligibility criteria
received a payment in error

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

Choose the situation that applies to you

Received a letter from the CRA about the $5,000 income eligibility requirement
Did you earn a minimum of $5,000 (before taxes) in employment or net self-employment income in 2019 or the 12 months before you applied for the CERB?

Net self-employment income includes your revenue minus any expenses you incurred to earn the self-employment revenue.
- Yes
- No
  Did you earn more than $5,000 if you include your gross self-employment income in 2019 or the 12 months before you applied for the CERB?
  
  You may have used your gross instead of your net self-employment income when you applied. Gross self-employment income includes all revenues before expenses and taxes.
  - Yes
  - No
  - Not sure
- Not sure
  Did you earn more than $5,000 if you include your gross self-employment income in 2019 or the 12 months before you applied for the CERB?
  
  You may have used your gross instead of your net self-employment income when you applied. Gross self-employment income includes all revenues before expenses and taxes.
  - Yes
  - No
  - Still not sure
Earned more income than expected during the time you received the CERB payment
Choose the eligibility period you may need to repay
- March 15 to April 11, 2020
  For the period of March 15 to April 11, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
  Do you still meet this criteria?
  
  Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
  - Yes
  - No
  - Unsure
- April 12 to May 9, 2020
  In addition to the period April 12 to May 9, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period March 15 to April 11, 2020?
  - Yes
    During the period of April 12 to May 9, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    For the period of April 12 to May 9, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- May 10 to June 6, 2020
  In addition to the period May 10 to June 6, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period April 12 to May 9, 2020?
  - Yes
    During the period of May 10 to June 6, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    For the period of May 10 to June 6, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- June 7 to July 4, 2020
  In addition to the period June 7 to July 4, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period May 10 to June 6, 2020?
  - Yes
    During the period of June 7 to July 4, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    For the period of June 7 to July 4, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- July 5 to August 1, 2020
  In addition to the period July 5 to August 1, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period June 7 to July 4, 2020?
  - Yes
    During the period of July 5 to August 1, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    For the period of July 5 to August 1, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- August 2 to August 29, 2020
  In addition to the period August 2 to August 29, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period July 5 to August 1, 2020?
  - Yes
    During the period of August 2 to August 29, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    For the period of August 2 to August 29, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
- August 30 to September 26, 2020
  In addition to the period August 30 to September 26, 2020, did you also receive the CERB for the period August 2 to August 29, 2020?
  - Yes
    During the period of August 30 to September 26, 2020, was your income more than $1,000 (before deductions)?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
  - No
    For the period of August 30 to September 26, 2020, you must not have earned over $1,000 in income for at least 14 days in a row during the 4-week period.
    Do you still meet this criteria?
    
    Include all income from employment and self-employment earned during this eligibility period.
    
    Yes
    
    No
    
    Unsure
Applied for and got the CERB from both Employment Insurance/Service Canada and from the CRA for the same eligibility period
Applied for the CERB but later realized you’re not eligible
You were a student in 2020 and were asked to repay the CERB
None of the above

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:

did not meet the CRB eligibility criteria
received a payment in error

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:

did not meet the CRSB eligibility criteria
received a payment in error

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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Why you may need to repay

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

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