The federal government is extending many of its emergency COVID-19 benefits as the pandemic rages on, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Friday.
Sickness benefits, caregiving benefits and the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) are all getting top ups when it comes to duration during which each can be claimed — meaning Canadians will be able to access financial help for an even longer stretch of time.
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“To begin with, we are extending the Canada Recovery Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit by 12 weeks. That makes the new maximum that you can claim 38 weeks in total,” Trudeau said.
He added that the government is also increasing the EI availability to 50 weeks in total, meaning an additional 24 weeks can be claimed. Trudeau also said the $500-per-week Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit is getting a boost, from offering two weeks of missed work to a new total of four weeks.
“No one should be going to work sick right now. It’s that simple,” Trudeau said.
More to come…
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