Information for employee's affected by COVID-19

 

What to do if you are an employee laid off due to work closures:

  • To apply for regular EI benefits, you will need to have worked 700 insurable hours in the last year.

  • You will need a Record of Employment (ROE) saying you've been laid off by your employer to get benefits.

  • You will need your social insurance number and proof of identity.

  • There is a 1-week waiting period before you are eligible so you will not be paid for that first week.

  • Apply online: www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html

  • Call 1-800-206-7218

Note: The phones and online applications are being overwhelmed so have patience during this process. 

What to do if you were laid off and are normally ineligible for EI:

What to do if you are an employee and have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or are looking after someone with COVID-19:

  • Apply for the EI Sickness Benefit.

  • You will need 600 insurable work hours in the last year.

  • You do not need a doctor's letter or a Record of Employment (ROE) to qualify.

  • The 1-week waiting period has been waived for people facing COVID-19 sick leave.

  • Apply online: www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei.html

  • Call 1.833.381.2725 for more information

What to do if you are an ineligible worker sick with COVID-19 or looking after a family member with COVID-19:

  • Apply for the Emergency Care Benefit for workers that are not eligible for EI, including self-employed people and contractors, who are sick with COVID-19 or have to stay home to take care of a family member with COVID-19 and are quarantined.

  • Parents staying home to care for children because of school closures are also covered, and can apply whether or not they qualify for EI.

  • Up to 15 weeks of benefits, paid up to $900 every two weeks.

  • Applications are not currently available.

  • We will update this post as soon as the process is available.

What to do if you want to apply for the 10% Wage Subsidy:

  • Eligible businesses are:

    • a non-profit organization, registered charity, or a Canadian-controlled private corporation (CCPC);

    • have an existing business number and payroll program account with the CRA on March 18, 2020; and

    • pay salary, wages, bonuses, or other remuneration to employees

  • Provides up to 10% wage subsidy for the next 90 days, up to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer.

  • The subsidy must be calculated manually. For example, if you have 5 employees earning monthly salaries of $4,100 for a total monthly payroll of $20,500, the subsidy would be 10% of $20,500, or $2,050.

  • Once you have calculated your subsidy, you can reduce your current remittance of federal, provincial, or territorial income tax that you send to the CRA by the amount of the subsidy.

  • You can start reducing remittances of federal, provincial, or territorial income tax in the first remittance period that includes remuneration paid between March 18, 2020, and June 20, 2020. For example, if you are a regular remitter, you can reduce your remittance that is due to the CRA on April 15, 2020.

    More information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/frequently-asked-questions-wage-subsidy-small-businesses.html

 
Aleah Chaytor