:format(webp)/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/politics/2022/07/13/heres-what-the-2021-census-says-about-how-many-canadians-received-covid-benefits "Here’s what the 2021 census says about how many Canadians received COVID benefits")
OTTAWA – New data released Wednesday provides the clearest snapshot yet of how many Canadians accessed COVID-19 support programs that the government hastily put in place at the start of the pandemic.
Statistics Canada released the information as part of its release of national census findings in May 2021.
More than 20.7 million people received at least some financial support from the government, including 16.9 million who received top-ups from existing programs.
In total, 8.4 million received benefits specifically designed to respond to COVID-19, the agency reported.
Within that category, here’s the breakdown of who got what.
Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB)
Who it was for: Workers who stopped working or had their work hours reduced due to COVID-19, and who had earned at least $5,000 in income during 2019.
What they got: $2,000 for each four-week period, for a maximum of 16 weeks.
How long was it available: March 15 to September 26, 2020
How many people received it: 7,621,950
Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)
Who it was for: Workers who, for a two-week period, were unable to work or had a 50 percent reduction in income due to COVID-19, and were not entitled to employment insurance benefits.
What they got: $1,000 or $600 for a two-week period, depending on when they applied.
How long was it available: September 27, 2020 to October 23, 2021
How many people received it before the census was taken: 1,150,575
Canada Sickness Recovery Benefit (CRSB)
Who it was for: Employees or self-employed who were sick or needed to self-isolate due to COVID-19, or had an underlying health condition that put them at higher risk of contracting it.
What they got: $500 for each one-week period, for up to six weeks.
How long was it available: September 27, 2020 to May 7, 2022
How many people received it before the census was taken: 231,456
Canada Recovery Care Benefit (CRCB)
Who it was for: People who couldn’t work because they needed to care for a child under the age of 12 or a family member who needed supervised care, either because schools, programs or facilities were closed, or because they were sick, isolated or at risk of serious health problems due to COVID-19.
What they got: $500 for each one-week period, for up to 44 weeks.
How long was it available: September 27, 2020 to May 7, 2022
How many people received it before the census was taken: 197,335
Canada Student Emergency Benefit (CESB)
Who it was for: Post-secondary students and recent post-secondary or high school graduates who are unable to find work due to COVID-19.
What they got: $1,250 per four-week period, for a maximum of 16 weeks, plus an additional $750 per four-week period if they had a disability or dependents.
How long was it available: May 10 to August 29, 2020
How many people received it: 732,005
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 13, 2022.
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