When COVID benefits were introduced, there was an understanding that they would eventually end or transition into something new. Despite COVID continuing, the federal government has decided to end certain pandemic subsidies in favor of a more targeted approach. What is gone is not ultimately lost, because pulling the plug on some benefits has been replaced with others. After all, subsidies were always a temporary fix to a problem we’re all hoping to go away sooner than later. But you should keep track of what is available depending on your current financial situation.
Here are the latest COVID benefits that have recently expired or changed:
- The Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) program ended on October 23, 2021; but was replaced by the Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit. CWLB provides $300 a week to eligible workers who are unable to work during between due to lockdowns. This new replacement program will be in effect until May 7, 2022.
- The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) was scheduled to end on November 20, 2021. But both subsidies have been extended until May 7, 2022. Their duration also increased from 42 to 44 weeks for CRCB and from 4 to 6 weeks for CRSB.
Note: Like most individual benefits, workers are eligible if they are not receiving paid employment insurance benefits at the same time.
On October 23, we also said goodbye to the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), and Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS). However, these programs were replaced by new, more targeted benefits, to continue to help businesses affected by COVID. These subsidies are the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and the Hardest Hit Business Recovery Program.
Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program
The THRP is targeted at businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry that have been disrupted by pandemic lockdowns. Those eligible for this program include hotels, restaurants, bars, festivals, travel agencies, convention centers, and other related businesses.
Hardest Hit Business Recovery Program
If your business is unrelated to the tourism or hospitality industry, this is the program for you. The HHBRP provides rent and wage subsidies for those not qualified for the THRP. But you need to prove average monthly business reduction of 50% during the pandemic and current revenue loss of 50%.
Talk to a financial expert to determine your eligibility and how much your business can claim from these recovery programs.
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