Government Assistance Programs Currently Available (January 2022)
Employment Insurance is available for those who meet the requirement. The current insurable hours requirement for EI is 420 hours, you must have worked for the required number of insurable employment hours in the last 52 weeks or since the start of your last EI claim, whichever is shorter. Please click the link below to check your EI eligibility.
For those who do not meet the hours criteria for EI there is a new benefit called the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB). This benefit provides $300 ($270 after taxes withheld) per week for employees who have been affected by lockdown measures in your region. Employees in Ontario are currently eligible for this benefit. You must apply for each period as they open up. Please click the link below to apply.
There is also a caregiver benefit available to employees affected by school closures. The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if their school, regular program or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they are sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. Please click the link below to check your eligibility for this program.
The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is still available for those who have contracted Covid-19. The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they are sick or need to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or have an underlying health condition that puts them at greater risk of getting COVID-19. If you are eligible for the CRSB, you can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for a 1-week period. If your situation continues, you will need to apply again. You may apply for up to a total of 6 weeks between September 27, 2020 and May 7, 2022. Please click the link to check your eligibility.
Tweets by @WorkersUnitedCA