Eligibility examples for the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit

The CWLB closed for retroactive applications on May 19, 2022. You can no longer apply for this benefit.

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Eligible examples

Eligible example 1: Reduced income directly linked to lockdown

Dez works at a movie theatre and normally works 40 hours a week during matinee and evening shifts. A public health order has been issued and the region where they work has been designated as a lockdown region. Because of the lockdown order, the theatre’s capacity has been limited to 50% for at least 7 days. With the reduced capacity and fewer people attending the theatre, Dez has been scheduled to work fewer shifts and is now working only a maximum of 20 hours a week. Because Dez’s income has been reduced by at least 50%, they may be eligible for the CWLB.

Eligible example 2: Reduced income indirectly linked to lockdown

Carl is a self-employed delivery driver for a local grocery and convenience store that prepares and provides lunches for businesses in the area. A public health lockdown order has been issued for at least 7 days and Carl’s region has been designated as a lockdown region. Carl’s employer is an essential business and has not closed or been subject to a reduction in capacity of 50% or more. However, the grocery store’s clients have been impacted by the lockdown and there has been a reduction in the number of orders that the store receives. Carl’s deliveries have been greatly reduced, resulting in a reduction of over 50% of his expected income for that week, because there are not enough orders for the store to continue with lunch delivery. Carl may be eligible to apply for the CWLB.

Eligible example 3: Business closure

Dan is on parental leave and receiving EI parental benefits. Dan was scheduled to return to his job as a hairdresser at the end of his parental leave. Because of a lockdown order for at least 7 days, the hair salon is temporarily closed and he can no longer return to work. His region has been designated as a lockdown region. Since he was scheduled to return to work, but couldn’t because of the salon being closed for public health reasons, he may qualify for the CWLB. If he meets the eligibility criteria for both EI and CWLB, he has the choice of which benefit to claim. However, he cannot receive both EI benefits and the CWLB for the same period.

Non-eligible examples

Non-eligible example 1: Not working before lockdown

Sandra lost her job as a graphic artist in March 2021. She was not eligible for EI but did receive the Canada Recovery Benefit until the benefit ended on October 23, 2021. Since then, she has not been able to find work. A public health lockdown was issued in December 2021 and her region was designated as a lockdown region. However, she did not lose her job because of the most recent lockdown. Therefore, Sandra would not be eligible for the CWLB, since she was not working when the most recent lockdown was imposed in her region.

Non-eligible example 2: Layoffs not related to lockdown

Jiera worked at a manufacturing plant. Because of supply-chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jiera was laid off from her job on December 27, 2021. A public health lockdown has been issued and Jiera’s region has been designated as a lockdown region, but her employment was not affected by the capacity-limiting restrictions under the lockdown order. Jiera would not be eligible to apply for the CWLB because her loss of employment is not directly related to a lockdown order, even though it was impacted by the pandemic. Jiera may be eligible for EI regular benefits.

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