Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (New)
The new Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit would provide $500 per week, for up to two weeks, effective September 27, 2020 for one year, for workers who are unable to work because they are sick or must self-isolate due to COVID-19. This new benefit would fulfil the Government of Canada’s commitment as part of the Safe Restart Agreement with provinces and territories to provide up to two weeks of sick leave to all Canadians in the context of COVID-19.
The benefit would be available to:
- Residents in Canada who are at least 15 years of age and have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN);
- Workers employed or self-employed at the time of the application; and
- Workers who earned at least $5,000 in 2019 or in 2020.
Workers would not be required to have a medical certificate to qualify for the benefit. Workers could not claim the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit and receive other paid sick leave for the same benefit period. Workers would need to have missed a minimum of 60% of their scheduled work in the week for which they claim the benefit.
Workers would apply after the one-week period in which they are seeking income support and attest that they meet the requirements. The benefit would taxable.
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Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit scenario: two weeks of paid leave
Minimum wage worker needs to self-isolate due to COVID-19
- Anita is working in a small grocery store in Saskatoon, SK and earns about $35,000 a year
- She has been working throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
- She just found out she must self-isolate for 14 days as a family member has tested positive for COVID-19.
What could Anita qualify for?
- With the new Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, Anita may be eligible to receive $500 per week, for up to two weeks provided that she is not in receipt of paid leave from her employer.
Source: Government of Canada. Please consult with the Government website as this may be subject to change.
