Please be advised that this site is not affiliated with the Service Canada office.
It was created to provide general EI information only.
If you recently exhausted your EI benefits
You may be able to establish a new EI claim if you worked during your EI claim. To determine your EI eligibility, you should make an EI claim before you apply for the CRB.
If you no longer qualify for EI
Your EI benefit period must end before you can apply for the CRB. You must meet the CRB eligibility criteria to apply.
Once your EI benefit periods has ended, you must wait for the current CRB period to end before you can apply. You may receive $600 ($540 after taxes withheld) for a 2-week period. The CRB ends after period 28 (October 10 to 23, 2021).
If your EI benefit period ends in the middle of a CRB 2-week period, you may apply for the second week of the CRB period. This only applies if your EI benefit period ends on any of the following dates:
- September 18, 2021
- October 2, 2021
- October 16, 2021
If this applies to you, the option to select 1 week will be provided for that CRB period only. You will receive $300 ($270 after taxes withheld) for the period.
The CRB does not renew automatically. To keep getting your payments, you must re-apply after each period.
Find out which periods you can apply for.
How to apply
The fastest way to apply is online using CRA My Account.
You must file your 2019 or 2020 taxes before you can apply for the CRB.
Details: How to apply
If you get code COV-026 when you apply
Even if you are no longer receiving EI payments, your benefit period may still be open. This will prevent you from completing your CRB application. Make sure your EI benefit period has ended before you apply for the CRB.
Get details about an open EI claim
Compare EI and CRB
Find out how the CRB is different from EI.
| How it works | Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) | Employment Insurance (EI) |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | You must attest to the eligibility criteria when you apply and CRA will validate your application | Service Canada determines if you qualify when you apply |
| When to apply | Apply every 2 weeks, at the end of each set 2-week periods | Apply once, as soon as you lose your job |
| How to apply | Online or by phone with CRA | Online or in person with Service Canada |
| Keep getting payments | Apply again for each eligible 2-week period | Complete a report every 2 weeks |
| How much you get | $600 for 2 weeks ($540 after taxes withheld) | Based on prior earnings, up to a maximum of $595 per week, but no less than $300 per week for claims between September 26, 2021 and November 20, 2021 |
| Earning income | Eligible if you had a 50% reduction in your average weekly income due to COVID-19
Details: eligibility criteria |
Your ongoing entitlement is based on your bi-weekly reports |
| When the benefit ends | Maximum of 27 periods (54 weeks) or until October 23, 2021 | When your benefit period ends or you have received your maximum number of weeks |
source: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/benefits/recovery-benefit/crb-transition-ei.html
