Canadian benefits are all set to ease the burden on immigrants due to the Coronavirus pandemic

Immigrants who are experiencing financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 can be eased off their burden by the support provided by the Canadian government.

To aid its citizens, the Canadian government is implementing new measures that can be accessed even by the immigrants.

Extension of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) until the end of September is among the most recently implemented things. After this extension, the total number of weeks in the duration of benefits will become 28. By this measure, citizens or migrants who are supposed to make payments for several things by the end of August will get an additional month to support themselves.

CERB is one of the temporary income support programs for those affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Under this program, $2000 per month is provided to the beneficiaries as financial aid.

Temporary foreign workers and international students, in order to qualify for the emergency benefits offered by the government of Canada, should meet the same eligibility criteria as the Canadians. The temporary residents must be currently residing in Canada and should have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN).

In September, if the CERB comes to an end, the government considers three new proposals of benefits to offer for those who still have financial hardships due to the loss of jobs during the pandemic.

Suppose the immigrants are already eligible for Employee Insurance (EI). In that case, they can apply for it if they are not eligible for the insurance program to apply for the three new restoration benefits, which starts from September 27th.

These benefits are:

1. The new Canada recovery benefit (CRB): This program will provide $400 per week until 26 weeks to the self-employed individuals or those who are not considered for Employment Insurance but still need financial support.

2. Canada recovery sickness benefit (CRSB): This program will provide $500 per week for every family who is unable to work due to the caregiving responsibilities for 26 weeks. The responsibilities may include:

a. Having a child under 12 years of age who school or day-care is closed due to COVID-19

b. Having a member in the family, who has a disability or who is a dependent and whose day-care facility is suspended or closed due to the pandemic.

c. Having a child or a disabled family member who is not attending school or day-care facility on the advice of either a doctor or a health professional because they are in the high-risk spectrum of COVID-19

Canadian residents whose age is at least 15 years and who has a valid SIN can apply for the new recovery benefits. All the new proposed benefits will start from September 27th, 2020, and will be in effect for one year.

Access to CERB temporary residents 

In May, the government of Canada introduced a special factor, which makes it easier for the temporary work permit holders and international students who are eligible to remain in Canada and apply for CERB.

It is that the government has lifted the rule of requiring proof of a valid study or work permit or the confirmation of application for renewal by email by the newcomers. Verbal communication will be sufficient proof of this benefit.

This change was one of the many measures introduced by the Canadian government to facilitate immigrants and give more support to foreign workers and international students during difficult times and aid them in staying in Canada.