The CRB, or Canada Recovery Benefit, was a phase of government aid for people affected by the coronavirus pandemic – it ran from September 2020 to October 2021 and is no longer available.
The Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) replaced the CRB, offering financial support to employed and self-employed people who couldn’t work due to COVID-19 lockdowns. THE CWLB was available from October 2021 through May 2022 but is also no longer available.
Below, you'll find a guide to both the CRB and CWLB, discussing how these programs were implemented and more.
Key Takeaways
- The CRB was a Canadian Government supplement provided from September 2020 through October 2021.
- Eligible Canadians received up to $1,000 every two weeks for up to 13 weeks.
- The CRB was replaced in October 2021 with the Canadian Worker Lockdown Benefit, which offered financial support for those who couldn’t work due lockdowns.
The Canadian government ended CRB and replaced it with new programs
In October 2021, the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit (CWLB) replaced the CRB. The CWLB was a more targeted form of income support for people who couldn’t work due to COVID-19 lockdowns in their region.
The CWLB was only available for people directly affected by a lockdown in their region. Beneficiaries received a $300 taxable benefit for each 1-week period they were prevented from working.
The eligibility requirements were as follows:
- Be a Canadian citizen
- Have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- Be at least 15 years old
- Live in a COVID-19 lockdown region
- Lost your job or are unable to work due to a lockdown OR experienced a 50% reduction in income
- Not receiving any other benefits, including Employment Insurance, Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, and more
- Earned at least $5,000 in the 12 months prior to application
- Filed a 2020 tax return
- Did not quit your job, voluntarily stop working, or refuse reasonable work
- Did not refuse to resume self-employment work when possible or return to work when asked by employer
- Receive the COVID-19 vaccination (if required by your employer)
- Not isolating due to international travel
What was the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)?
The CRB was income support for Canadians whose income was directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This means you either lost your job or weren't able to work as much.
The CRB replaced CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit), another government effort that ended in late September 2020.
This replacement only lasted for a year, ending in October 2021.
Who was eligible for the CRB?
The CRB had multiple eligibility requirements:
- You lived in Canada
- You were present in Canada during the eligibility period
- You were at least 15 years old
- You had a valid Social Insurance Number
There were further, more specific requirements as well. The first of these requirements was the biggest one, but you needed to satisfy all criteria to get CRB support.
These were the specific requirements:
- You didn't work during the eligibility period OR you had a 50% reduction in your average weekly income compared to the previous year
- You didn't apply for or receive any other benefits (including EI, CRSB, CRCB, QPIP, disability, or worker's compensation)
- You were NOT eligible for EI benefits
- You earned at least $5,000 in 2019, 2020, or the 12 months before your application date
- You didn't quit your job or reduce your own hours after September 27, 2020
- You were seeking work at the time of application
- You didn’t turn down reasonable work during the eligibility period
How to apply for the CRB
Applications to the CRB are closed as the program ended in October 2021.
You were able to apply to the CRB through your CRA My Account. You were also able to apply over the phone.
This benefit didn't auto-renew. Instead, you were required to reapply for CRB every 2 weeks.
How much was the CRB?
Eligible Canadians received $500 per week for 2-week periods.
The CRA withheld a 10% tax, meaning payments were $900 per eligibility period.
As you continued to meet eligibility requirements, you could reapply for the CRB at then end of each eligibility period. There were 13 of these periods over 26 weeks.
The maximum amount available from the CRB was $13,000 each year ($11,700 after tax).
What happened if you made over $38,000 a year
Income levels didn’t affect CRB eligibility, but they did affect how much of the benefit you could keep.
If you claimed more than $38,000 in income on your tax return, you had to repay $0.50 for every $1 you earned above that threshold.
That said, you weren't required to repay more than you made through CRB. The maximum amount you could have earned through CRB in 2020 was $6,000 (six eligibility periods, starting on September 27). So this was the maximum you needed to pay back.
FAQ
What was the Canada Recovery Benefit?
The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) was income support for Canadians whose income was directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. If eligible, Canadians could receive $1,000 for each 2-week eligibility period for up to 13 weeks.
Who could apply for the CRB?
The CRB was available for Canadians who couldn’t work because of COVID-19. These support payments were available for those who experienced a 50% reduction in average weekly income, didn't receive other benefits, and met a few other criteria.
When can I apply for CRB?
This program ended in October 2021 and therefore isn't taking applications anymore. However, there are many other federal benefit programs available. These include the Canada Child Benefit, Advanced Canada Workers Benefit, and Veteran disability pension.
How much could I get with CRB?
Eligible Canadians were able to receive $1,000 ($900 after 10% tax was withheld) every two weeks. This was available up to 13 times per person, for a total of $13,000 (or $11,700 after taxes).
Could I get CRB and EI at the same time?
No, one of the eligibility requirements for the CRB program was that you didn't already receive EI, CRSB, CRCB, QPIP, disability, or worker's compensation. In fact, you weren't supposed to even be eligible for EI payments.
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