Canadian Emergency Response Benefit applications start April 6

The federal government’s Canadian Emergency Response Benefit website has gone live as of Wednesday.

Applications will begin April 6.

This benefit is meant to help Canadians who’ve been laid off or are unable to work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will provide a payment of $2,000 for a 4 week period (equivalent to $500 a week) for up to 16 weeks.

The CERB will be available to workers residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old, who have stopped working because of COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits, who’ve seen income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to applying, and are expected to be without work for at least 14 consecutive days in the initial four-week period.

You can apply online on the CRA My Account or through telephone.

The best day to apply is broken down by birth month.

If you were born in the month of January, February or March the best date to apply is Monday, April 6.

Those with April, May, or June birthdays are best to apply is April 7.

Those born in July, August, or September should apply April 8 and in October, November, and December on April 9.

If your situation continues, you can re-apply for a payment for multiple 4-week periods, to a maximum of 16 weeks (four periods).