CRB, CRCB and CRSB to provide additional weeks of coverage

March 2, 2021

With millions of people worried their emergency benefits would expire in late March, Ottawa has announced it plans to boost the number of weeks available.

The government is introducing regulatory and legislative amendments for the Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB), the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB) and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB) along with employment insurance (EI) regular benefits.

The proposed changes would

  • increase the number of weeks available under the CRB and CRCB by 12 weeks extending the maximum duration of the benefits from 26 weeks to up to 38 weeks
  • increase the number of weeks available under the CRSB from the current two weeks to four weeks
  • increase the number of weeks of EI regular benefits available by up to 24 weeks to a maximum of 50 weeks, for claims that are made between Sept. 27, 2020 and Sept. 25, 2021

To ensure employees in the federally regulated private sector can access the proposed additional weeks of CRCB and CRSB without the risk of losing their jobs, the maximum length of the leave related to COVID-19 under the Canada Labour Code would also be extended.

Source: HR Reporter