Category: COVID-19 benefits

Taxpayer Watchdog Tracking CRA Efforts to Collect on Overpayment of COVID-19 Benefits

The office of Canada’s Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson says it is monitoring complaints from people who say they’ve continued to receive collection letters from the Canada Revenue Agency despite having repaid the government for COVID-19 benefits they did not qualify for. François Boileau’s office says in a press release published today that it continues to receive such…


Over 600,000 Canadians Ineligible for CERB Have Yet to Repay Benefit: Gov’t Document

A total of 620,310 Canadians who received the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) but were deemed ineligible for it have not repaid any of their CERB debt, states the response from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to an MP’s recent Inquiry of Ministry. The CRA further states that 264,546 Canadians deemed ineligible for the benefit…


SNAP Beneficiaries Could See Monthly Food Benefits Shrink as Pandemic Ends

Americans in 32 states are expected to see their benefits under the SNAP food assistance program shrink by $95 per month, starting in March, as the federal government ends the temporary emergency allotments introduced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal program that offers low-income people…


CRA Should Warn Benefits Applicants About Risk of Clawbacks: Taxpayers’ Watchdog

Taxpayers’ Ombudsperson François Boileau says the Canada Revenue Agency should warn Canadians applying for benefits about the risk of potential clawbacks to other income supports. In his latest annual report, Boileau recommended that the CRA make it clear to applicants that benefits that increase their income could affect other benefits they receive, including provincial benefits….


Extra Weeks to Be Added to COVID-19 Benefits for Workers, Parents, Trudeau Says

OTTAWA—Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government is adding 12 weeks of eligibility to two key benefits for unemployed workers and parents at home with children. The extra life for the Canada Recovery Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit will raise the maximum number of weeks available to 38 from 26. Trudeau also…


Ontario’s Expands Eligibility for Emergency Child Care Program in Remote Learning Regions

Ontario says it is expanding the list of eligible workers under its emergency child care program in regions where students continue to engage in remote learning mandated by the government in their effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.  The new list will allow additional workers and their families to have access to free child…