Canada Recovery Benefits Act

Marginal note:Eligibility

• 3 (1) A person is eligible for a Canada recovery benefit for any two-week period falling within the period beginning on September 27, 2020 and ending on September 25, 2021 if

  • (a) they have a valid social insurance number;

  • (b) they were at least 15 years of age on the first day of the two-week period;

  • (c) they were resident and present in Canada during the two-week period;

  • (d) in the case of an application made under section 4 in respect of a two-week period beginning in 2020, they had, for 2019 or in the 12-month period preceding the day on which they make the application, a total income of at least $5,000 from the following sources:

    • (i) employment,

    • (ii) self-employment,

    • (iii) benefits paid to the person under any of subsections 22(1), 23(1), 152.04(1) and 152.05(1) of the Employment Insurance Act,

    • (iv) allowances, money or other benefits paid to the person under a provincial plan because of pregnancy or in respect of the care by the person of one or more of their new-born children or one or more children placed with them for the purpose of adoption, and

    • (v) any other source of income that is prescribed by regulation;

  • (e) in the case of an application made under section 4 in respect of a two-week period beginning in 2021, they had, for 2019 or for 2020 or in the 12-month period preceding the day on which they make the application, a total income of at least $5,000 from the sources referred to in subparagraphs (d)(i) to (v);

  • (f) during the two-week period, for reasons related to COVID-19, other than for reasons referred to in subparagraph 17(1)(f)(i) and (ii), they were not employed or self-employed or they had a reduction of at least 50% or, if a lower percentage is fixed by regulation, that percentage, in their average weekly employment income or self-employment income for the two-week period relative to

    • (i) in the case of an application made under section 4 in respect of a two-week period beginning in 2020, their total average weekly employment income and self-employment income for 2019 or in the 12-month period preceding the day on which they make the application, and

    • (ii) in the case of an application made under section 4 in respect of a two-week period beginning in 2021, their total average weekly employment income and self-employment income for 2019 or for 2020 or in the 12-month period preceding the day on which they make the application;

  • (g) no benefit period, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Employment Insurance Act, was established or could have been established in respect of any week that falls within the two-week period;

  • (h) no income referred to in any of the following subparagraphs was paid or was payable to the person in respect of any week that falls within the two-week period:

    • (i) allowances, money or other benefits paid to the person under a provincial plan because of pregnancy or in respect of the care by the person of one or more of their new-born children or one or more children placed with them for the purpose of adoption,

    • (ii) a Canada recovery sickness benefit or a Canada recovery caregiving benefit, and

    • (iii) any other income that is prescribed by regulation;

  • (i) they sought work during the two-week period, whether as an employee or in self-employment;

  • (j) they did not place undue restrictions on their availability for work during the two-week period, whether as an employee or in self-employment;

  • (k) if they have not previously received any benefits under this Part, they have not,

    • (i) on or after September 27, 2020, quit their employment or voluntarily ceased to work, unless it was reasonable to do so, and

    • (ii) in the two-week period in respect of which their application under section 4 relates and in any of the four two-week periods beginning on September 27, 2020 that are immediately before that two-week period

      • (A) failed to return to their employment when it was reasonable to do so if their employer had made a request,

      • (B) failed to resume self-employment when it was reasonable to do so, or

      • (C) declined a reasonable offer to work in respect of work that would have started during the two-week period; and

  • (l) if they have previously received any benefits under this Part, they have not,

    • (i) on or after the first day of the first two-week period for which any benefits were paid to them under this Part, quit their employment or voluntarily ceased to work, unless it was reasonable to do so, and

    • (ii) in the two-week period in respect of which their application under section 4 relates and in any of the four two-week periods beginning on September 27, 2020 that are immediately before that two-week period

      • (A) failed to return to their employment when it was reasonable to do so if their employer had made a request,

      • (B) failed to resume self-employment when it was reasonable to do so, or

      • (C) declined a reasonable offer to work.

• Marginal note:Income from self-employment

  (2) For the purpose of paragraphs (1)(d) to (f), income from self-employment is revenue from the self-employment less expenses incurred to earn that revenue.

• Marginal note:Program of instruction or training

  (3) For the purpose of paragraph (1)(j), a person has not placed undue restrictions on their availability for work if they attended during the two-week period a course or program of instruction or training that they were referred to by a provincial government or body.

• Marginal note:Regulations

  (4) The Governor in Council may, by regulation, fix a lower percentage for the purpose of paragraph (1)(f).