Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (New)
The new Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit, would be effective from September 27, 2020 for one year, and provide $500 per week, for up to 26 weeks per household to eligible Canadians.
The closure of schools and other daycare and day program facilities to prevent the spread of COVID 19 has meant that many Canadians have been unable to work because they needed to provide care to children or support to other dependents who had to stay home. While it is anticipated that facilities will gradually re-open as the economy restarts, the Government of Canada recognizes that access may vary over time and across communities. The Government is committed to ensuring that parents and others with dependents do not need to choose between caring for them and paying the bills.
In order to be eligible for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit, individuals would need to:
- reside in Canada;
- be at least 15 years of age on the first day of the period for which they apply for the benefit;
- have a valid Social Insurance Number;
- be employed or self-employed on the day immediately preceding the period for which the application is made;
- have earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020;
- have been unable to work for at least 60% of their normally scheduled work within a given week because of one of the following conditions:
- they must take care of a child who is under 12 years of age on the first day of the period for which the benefit is claimed:
- because their school or daycare is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- who cannot attend school or daycare under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19; or
- because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic; or
- they must provide care to a family member with a disability or a dependent:
- because their day program or care facility is closed or operates under an alternative schedule for reasons related to COVID-19;
- who cannot attend their day program or care facility under the advice of a medical professional due to being at high risk if they contract COVID-19; or
- because the caregiver who usually provides care is not available for reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic;
- they must take care of a child who is under 12 years of age on the first day of the period for which the benefit is claimed:
- not be in receipt of paid leave from an employer in respect of the same week; and
- not be in receipt of the CERB, the EI Emergency Response Benefit (ERB), the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, short-term disability benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, or any EI benefits or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) benefits in respect of the same week.
Workers would apply after the period in which they are seeking income support and attest that they meet the requirements. Two members residing in the same household could not be in receipt of the benefit for the same period. The benefit is taxable.
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Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit scenario: school closure
Single father with one child (employed and earns $48000 / year)
- Steve is a single father in Cranbrook, BC with a daughter aged 8.
- He earns $48,000 per year.
- His daughter’s school had to close for four weeks beginning October 25th due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Steve arranged with his employer to take unpaid leave from work as he doesn’t have anyone else who can take care of his child.
What could Steve qualify for?
- Steve could apply for the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit after each week of leave he takes to provide care for his daughter.
- He could receive $500 per week, in total $2000 for the period that the school is closed.
Source: Government of Canada. Please refer to the website as programs may be subject to change.
