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Covid-19 and EI or Government support

H

Highlander

Well-known member
Thought I would separate this from other coronavirus thread.  My son was on EI that ran out on March 15th.  He thought he had a Chef job lined up for April1 at a leading BC golf club, (that just notified him his position is on hold).  Went to town and Service Canada is closed, you call the 800 number and it says due to the volume they can't handle you call and tell you to call back. After 100 attempts its getting crazy.
Does anyone have any advice on what to do, cause at this point I am stumped on how to help the kid get some money in.  Is there any update on a Trudeau stimulus that may be similar to the money that the US  people will receive?  Thanks for any advice or comments in advance.
 
Right now it looks like applying for the just passed Virus-related EI expansion won't begin until April 6th and actual money will be going out sometime after that. Obviously though the extent to which they'll be successful getting it up and administered in time is still to be seen.
 
Also, it would help if your son has a online CRA account because when I sign in to mine it keeps telling me that will be one of the ways to apply for the new benefit.
 
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/covid19-individuals.html

The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit
We will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:

-workers who must stop working due to COVID19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.
-workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19.
-working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.
-workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.
-wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.
Click to expand...

As Nik said, this was just announced today.
 
Nik Bethune said:
Also, it would help if your son has a online CRA account because when I sign in to mine it keeps telling me that will be one of the ways to apply for the new benefit.
Click to expand...
Thanks Nik, it is a good idea. 
 
CarltonTheBear said:
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/covid19-individuals.html

The new Canada Emergency Response Benefit
We will provide a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to:

-workers who must stop working due to COVID19 and do not have access to paid leave or other income support.
-workers who are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19.
-working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children that are sick or need additional care because of school and daycare closures.
-workers who still have their employment but are not being paid because there is currently not sufficient work and their employer has asked them not to come to work.
-wage earners and self-employed individuals, including contract workers, who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance.
Click to expand...

As Nik said, this was just announced today.
Click to expand...
Found out that CERB as it will be called will not be available till early April and only on-line through a CRA link. 
 
Highlander said:
Found out that CERB as it will be called will not be available till early April and only on-line through a CRA link.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify I don't think it'll be online only. They say there will also be a dedicated phone line.
 
Nik Bethune said:
Highlander said:
Found out that CERB as it will be called will not be available till early April and only on-line through a CRA link.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify I don't think it'll be online only. They say there will also be a dedicated phone line.
Click to expand...
Good news, even though if you try the EI hotline it will hang up on you after a while.  The pity is when my son got laid of in October, the same thing was happening, back when Corona was a beer with a lime in it.
 
Highlander said:
Good news, even though if you try the EI hotline it will hang up on you after a while.
Click to expand...

I think it's safe to say that just about all of these services are being hit with a volume of calls unlike anything they've ever seen compounded by the fact that a lot of them are having to adjust to the physical distancing requirements for call centres that are requiring a lot of ingenuity.

Hopefully we come out of the end of this with a renewed commitment to making sure our vital federal services are well funded and well run.
 
Highlander said:
Has anyone heard anything about CERB lately? I have a feeling it's going to be a cluster___k.
Click to expand...

Like, lately meaning since it was announced? I've heard things about who's eligible for it.
 
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